In this article, we will discuss how to address the question of salary during job interviews. When a question like this is asked of you, you will know the right answer to give.
What Are Your Salary Expectations: Best Answer
Asking about your salary would be one of the most sensitive questions in a job interview. Of course, your mind is more likely to struggle with a lot of controversies that will lead you to ask questions.
What happens if I charge an exorbitant amount for that job? Or what happens if the amount I am requesting falls short of expectations?
Having to deal with whether you overestimate the value of the job or undervalue the job is the link to the controversy. But never mind, we’re here to help you.
Why the Salary Question?
There are so many reasons why interviewers will ask about your salary expectations.
It’s either to know how much you value your job, see if your requests can fit into their budget, or determine your level of professionalism.
Let’s find out more about these reasons.
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Learn How Much You Value Your Work
Employers are seeking candidates with exceptional skills, experience, and professional accomplishments.
They ask this question diplomatically to know if you meet these qualities or not before they start investing their time and resources in undeserved candidates.
If you know how valuable you are, providing an answer to that question is not going to be a big deal.
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To Determine Whether Your Demands Fit in their Budget
Most, if not all, employers have set an amount per job title. Interviewers will want to know if your salary expectations fall within their budget.
In case you are asking for more than the expected amount, it simply means they have to go out of budget. As a result, they will prefer to consider other options.
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To Determine Your Professional Standard
How much you have claimed as a salary will determine your level of professionalism.
If you are asking for a significant amount of money like other job seekers, it will suggest to them that you might be too senior for the job.
Then, if you are asking for a lower amount, interviewers may feel that you have a low level of experience for the job you are looking for.
Getting Ready for a Salary Question
Most, if not all, interviewers will certainly ask about your expectations for salary. This means you need to be prepared to provide a positive response to this pending question.
How do you get ready? It’s simple. Make demands on the current market trends for the job you are looking for. You can obtain reliable results from employees working within the organization you are interested in.
The Best Way to Answer a Pay-Related Question
Here is some strategic approach you can employ to answer the salary question whenever it is hurled at you in an interview. Once you follow those strategies, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
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Play on the Interviewer’s Empathy
I suppose you’re wondering how you can play with the interviewer’s sense of empathy. All you need to do is answer the wage question in a very humble manner.
The interviewer will now feel that you are open to anything and will have a chance to take the initiative. In this way, they will be compelled to express the first digit. This is where you get the benefit of negotiation.
Since you are familiar with the organization’s salary structure, you can begin to negotiate between the standard rate and their proposed rate actual rate.
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Change the Subject Diplomatically
If you feel you have the wrong answer in terms of your salary expectations, change the question diplomatically. You do your best when the interviewer asks questions about wage expectations before discussing job details.
It is also expected that you will show the interviewer that your absolute priority is the position you are seeking. The salary structure is secondary.
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Try to Come Up with a Pay Scale
Giving a pay scale when you are looking for a job should not be one of your priorities.
As we correctly stated above, do not show them that you are very interested in their salary, even though we know that it is very important in this context.
But if things don’t go as planned, you can now provide them with an estimate of the salary scale based on your findings. Try not to call a specific number, as this can ruin the spectacle.
To the extent that you give a salary range, make sure you give the amount you are comfortable with. If there is a need to negotiate to adjust the figures, do so freely and demonstrate flexibility.
Most interviewers appreciate this flexibility on the part of candidates.
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Don’t Spill any Lies
As you discuss your salary expectations, you should be careful not to lie about your current and past work experiences.
Whatever set of skills or experiences is written on your curriculum vitae should be the same as you are discussing. Remember, if you’re lying, your resumé is there to hang you.
Additionally, any question you will be asked about your previous jobs and wages, you must provide honest answers. There’s nothing wrong with telling the truth.
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Don’t Panic
Your confidence level matters a great deal when it comes to answering a pay question in an interview.
Once you show a certain degree of confidence, your employers will know that you know your value and it can easily lead you into negotiation. However, you should not settle for less if it will lead to negotiation.
There are job seekers who are settling for less because they want to go forward.
What Next?
Once you have discussed your salary expectations and feel that they are similar to what you are looking for, you then express your appreciation to the interviewer or hiring manager.
If you choose to accept the position, talking about the date you will start working will not be bad. You may also see when to begin work upon receiving a letter of employment.
Answering a pay question during an interview is a little tricky. That’s because you can easily be disqualified if you don’t deal with it properly.
Using what we have discussed so far, you can see why such a question is warranted and how you can give a positive answer.