Salary Expectations Question?

Cona

Looking for advice on this question which is invariably asked at the opening interview process at ever job. Most common advice I see is to not reveal how much you would expect to be paid. Problem with this is that generally the recruiter/HR need a figure, and will push for one.

Can anyone offer some solid advice as to how to approach this? Particularly interested in someone who’s job is a recruiter and what they see everyday.....

Thanks

JustAThought

seriously. what type of job, what qualifications needed, what level of experience wanted, wht industry, where the location, how much danger/ disruption, whats the package, how many years experienced wanted,, how rare the skillset, etc etc

PukkaStukka

Q: What are your salary expectations?

A: negotiable

Batgurl

I’m sure you have a salary range for the job grade. Can you share that with me?

whoopsadaisy

Be realistic and transparent. Ask yourself this - How much are you earning at the moment and how much extra, realistically, would you need in order to make leaving your current job worthwhile?

This can depend on a number of factors so nobody is going to be able to tell you what's right or wrong. Are you happy in your current role? If the answer is yes, and there are really no reasons whatsoever to leave other than monetary reasons, then you might demand a higher salary than someone who is not currently working. Not because you are necessarily worth more than the person not working, but rather you are being realistic and upfront about the fact that entering into a recruitment process is not worth your time unless you can get at least X extra.

Location might be another factor - your job might be an hour commute away, while new job might be right next door. That might be attractive enough for you to move for the same money.

It is literally all relative.

But being coy and refusing to disclose what you're earning, if asked upfront, doesn't reflect well - it shows a lack of trust. Protect your reputation - Ireland is a small country.

Make It Real

> generally the recruiter/HR need a figure, and will push for one.

Who else would need a figure and push for one? Answer: You!

Its a two way thing....

Think of it like dating. At the start, you both need to know you're on the market and are talking roughly about the same thing. But you don't need to agree just yet who is going to take the kids to GAA on a Saturday morning once you're married.

So, you'll need to dance a bit, be pleasant when talking money, talk ranges depending on the opportunity, be vague when you need to, push a bit when you need to.

Get to the point where they want you (i.e. an offer) and that's the time to talk and agree specifics, in-line with what was discussed before.

Hope this helps - let me know if you want more!

s7ryf3925pivug

I just say how much I got in my last job. Probably only good advice if you were already on a high rate though.

Wildly Boaring

I always hear this stuff about not answering that question.

I tell them exactly what I want (not my current salary).
Or if they don't ask I will finish the initial contact by asking their range and perks for the role.

Not wasting my time or their time if we're on completely different wavelengths.

Foweva Awone

I don't see any point in being wishy-washy about it. Just name a realistic figure. If they're willing to pay that, great. If not, move on.

Make It Real

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

I always hear this stuff about not answering that question.

I tell them exactly what I want (not my current salary).
Or if they don't ask I will finish the initial contact by asking their range and perks for the role.

Not wasting my time or their time if we're on completely different wavelengths.

I totally agree on not wasting anyone's time. Either company or candidate not giving an indication at the outset leads there.

But, what if what you want is less than the company was prepared to pay?

Maybe you're ok with that - and I mean that genuinely - but many people would be frustrated if they found out they'd settle for less.

Or maybe you're in an area where skills and associated salaries are well known. But in many cases, there can be fair bit of play in package and not all candidates are equal.

So, horses for courses, I guess...

Make It Real

Foweva Awone wrote: »

I don't see any point in being wishy-washy about it. Just name a realistic figure. If they're willing to pay that, great. If not, move on.

I'm all for being realistic, otherwise we'd never get anywhere! But, usually the guy who names a figure first loses out, I think.

I'm no expert negotiator - from either side of the table - but that's my understanding and has been my experience.

You're going in blind on what they were prepared to pay, without really sounding it out. Then your hard figure may be used as a starting point to work downwards from. Or if it isn't, you asked for too little!

Foweva Awone

Make It Real wrote: »

I'm all for being realistic, otherwise we'd never get anywhere! But, usually the guy who names a figure first loses out, I think.

I'm no expert negotiator - from either side of the table - but that's my understanding and has been my experience.

You're going in blind on what they were prepared to pay, without really sounding it out. Then your hard figure may be used as a starting point to work downwards from. Or if it isn't, you asked for too little!

Nah being straightforward has always worked for me. I tell them (honestly) my current salary, and name a small (4k) range for my expected salary. I've always been offered the top end of that or usually more. Most employers seem to appreciate you being straightforward, and I don't think it's a bad thing to know your own worth.

If they offered lower than my expected range, I wouldn't enter negotiations, I would politely thank them for their time, decline their offer, and move on.

Make It Real

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Nah being straightforward has always worked for me. I tell them (honestly) my current salary, and name a small (4k) range for my expected salary. I've always been offered the top end of that or usually more. Most employers seem to appreciate you being straightforward, and I don't think it's a bad thing to know your own worth.

If they offered lower than my expected range, I wouldn't enter negotiations, I would politely thank them for their time, decline their offer, and move on.

Fair play for being straight and its good it works for you!

When I'm hiring, I do value straightness and do try to go out of my way to give a bit more than was asked for.

I can't say those candidates always end up doing as well as 'players' though, to be absolutely honest.

Many different ways on this, no one size fits all...