What Salary Should I Ask For?
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
When people interview for jobs, they usually do not know what salary to ask for unless they have an insider at the company who can advise them. Worse yet, a company wants to know what you are looking for in as salary during the screening interview (Have you done this? Have you done that? How did you do this? How did you do that?) when you don’t really know enough about the job, your future boss, your co-workers, timelines and expectations and more.
How should you respond when they ask about how much you’re looking for?
“I’m not really sure. I’ve just seen the ad (or job description or received a brief description from the Ronnie Recruiter who scheduled this interview). I haven’t met my future manager, or the team, heard what the job is all about, or have a sense of timelines and expectations. Could I answer that after I speak with s/he? By the way, what is the salary range for the role? I know it will depend on how they assess my qualification by what is the range the job is budgeted for?”
If they pressure you into a number, reply by saying, “I can give you a number but I want you to understand that it may change higher or lower after I learn more. If you’re OK with that, for now, I’m looking for (then tell them the high end of the range you were just told). I also want to make sure you understand I am not committed to that price yet but since you thought you needed a specific salary from me, I’ll consider something at this salary range for now.”
This gives you time to learn more about the job and not get trapped in too low a salary range.
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