Salary Expectation

[Manhattan]

This question is asked at the end of every interview. Just wondering how important it is when HR is deciding on a hire. If you ask for a minimum acceptable wage at the interview than the position actually pays, does HR assume you wont take the offer and call the next person in line? Or do negotiations begin at that point?

[ExtraSlow]

If it's a job I'm truly interested in, I usually say something like "I'm more concerned with the quality of experience than salary. I assume you use the Marcer survey to ensure your compansation is competitive, so I don't think salary will be an issue."

Then, if they give me an offer, that's when salary negotiations can begin if they are too low.

But, I've never made a move for salary reasons. As I'm early in my career, I'm chasing good expereince. The salary takes care of itself.

[beyond_ban]

That is actually a good question... You would hate to low ball yourself to lock down the job, but you don't want to seem high maintenance either seeing as how it is a first impression.

[Grogador]

We use it to weed out people with unreasonable salary expectations. In our case, HR doesn't even know the answer to this question. It's more efficient to re-neg/revise a reasonable offer later in the process than waste our time making offers to people with their heads in the salary clouds. Mmm, celery clouds.

[Orbie]

I'm not in HR but I do a lot of interviews, I'm sure all companies are a little bit different, but with mine it really depends what kind of hire you are. If you are an experienced hire coming in for a manager or above type position, absolutely we would negotiate your benefits and salary since your skills would be higher in demand and you would have leverage. For a new hire in a starting position then definitely no negotiations, we do try and offer a competitive industry salary based on your skills but if you don't like it then we'll just bring in the next guy in line.

In my experience you do have to be careful what you say here though. If you think that giving a lower salary expectation will make them think you're a bargain and take you, that won't always fly. Here if you do that we think you don't believe you are worth much value and thus won't be a big contributer. If you give too high a range (that isn't backed by your resume), we'll think you overvalue yourself and will likely undervalue your role and responsibilities (ie. big ego, think things are below you). Oh and not answering is not an option with me, in addition to asking what you think your salary should be it's also a question about self-worth as I've mentioned above which tells alot about your personality.

In the end the only solid answer is to answer truthfully on what you think you're worth, that way you're not screwing yourself if they hire you and if they don't you know you weren't being too greedy either.

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
But, I've never made a move for salary reasons. As I'm early in my career, I'm chasing good expereince. The salary takes care of itself.

Great attitude. Not enough of this out there....

[Grogador]

Originally posted by Orbie
In the end the only solid answer is to answer truthfully on what you think you're worth, that way you're not screwing yourself if they hire you and if they don't you know you weren't being too greedy either.

Yeah... Not answering or giving a "range" usually doesn't fly, but it's probably good to throw in a little footnote regarding benefits, vacation, bonuses, etc.

[Manhattan]

Originally posted by Grogador
We use it to weed out people with unreasonable salary expectations. In our case, HR doesn't even know the answer to this question. It's more efficient to re-neg/revise a reasonable offer later in the process than waste our time making offers to people with their heads in the salary clouds. Mmm, celery clouds.

What happens if the expected salary is a bit higher than the actual wage but the person is well-qualified for the position (like me :banghead: )? Would you make an effort to negotiate?

[Grogador]

Originally posted by Manhattan
What happens if the expected salary is a bit higher than the actual wage but the person is well-qualified for the position (like me :banghead: )? Would you make an effort to negotiate?

Depends on the level of position and other qualified candidates :)

[lint]

Do your research, know what the salary range is for the position you're looking at, set yourself a range that you would accept to take the job, factoring in benefits/vacation/options/upward mobility etc etc.

Ultimately a company that doesn't put forth a competitive compensation package will not acquire nor retain top talent. Because being underpaid but working on "cool stuff" gets old when the bills start piling up.

[TheCheff]

I usually answer this question by telling the company that I would prefer to see an offer sheet and adjustments can be made from there. If they are interested in you as an employee they will give you one.

[Euro838]

Okay, who here goes into a job interview or even applies for a job without any clue on what they pay or how much they are willing to do that job for?

If I ask that during the interview process and the applicant dances around the question, then they aren't confident enough to value themselves. Like others have said, it's a question that's often part of the interview process and how you answer it will determine your fit for the position.

Just like any question, give an answer and provide supporting details. More often than not, if you answer this question well, the offer that you do get will be higher.

[rumeo]

My first big interview I got asked how much I wanted to get paid, I responded by saying I want to get paid the same as the interviewer (who was the gm at the time). He just laughed at me and said no. Turns out I got the job anyways though.

[Sancho_Cheeto]

Good luck.

[Tomaz]

Originally posted by rumeo
My first big interview I got asked how much I wanted to get paid, I responded by saying I want to get paid the same as the interviewer (who was the gm at the time). He just laughed at me and said no. Turns out I got the job anyways though.

This works sometimes. It really depends on what you are getting into.

I usually ask for $5/h more then what i am getting paid now (which is not beyond-baller status by far).

Still trying...

[wintonyk]

My dad works for a pretty big company doing interviews. When interviewing someone for a communications position with 15 years in the industry experience. Asking her that exact question. She responded I won't settle for anything less than 50. He laughed as they were prepared for something in the 70's. Needless to say she didn't get a job offer.

Research you industry. And it will give you an idea what to look for.

[Dumbass17]

I don't like this question either haha.

I've only had it twice.
The first time I was getting along really well with the guys and I said a number. They replied with 'oh weird we usually start higher than that'
Unfortunately for me, the offer letter came a week letter with the exact number I gave so I kind of got screwed on that deal haha.

Then with the job I just started (2 days ago) I told them I wasn't sure what my expectations were because I am in a different country and when I researched it is says 'this position usually pays between xx,xxx and xxx,xxx dollars'. which isn't helpful.
I was pretty hard up for cash so i would've taken any offer really. but in the end i got more than i expected!

i don't know if that helps or if i'm just rambling haha

[kaput]

.

[AndyL]

Personally, I love getting to the meat and potatoes of this question - because it really tells me a lot about the company.

On one interview I did a while back; the question about my salary expectation came up - I stated it. Knowing it was much higher than they intended (it was an entry level inside sales - think monkey at a typewriter/fax). Both the HR guy and manager - raised their eyebrows noticeably - guessing they were planning about 2/3rds of what I was asking.

Then I proceeded to lay it out for them; "Look either you're looking for a data entry clerk; or you're looking for a knowledgeable inside sales guy. Cheap will get you a monkey at a typewriter who'll take the order without questions or attempt to upsell - maybe that's what you want. Personally I'm big on the upsells and ensuring the product is going to work exactly as intended with the correct components and no compatibility issues - which I know is a problem you've had in the past."

Yeah - I did go into that interview a bit cocky, was I serious about the job - not really, it was entry level - I have 10yrs experience. But I did want a much better insight into that company - as they're a competitor (with great animosity) - Getting a chance to walk their facility and meet a bunch of their staff - was priceless to me...

[Mckenzie]

I usually give a base salary range that is pretty large, but throw in there that it depends on the "whole compensation package" in terms of bonus, options, stock plan, benefits, flex days, vacation, etc. Those things add up and salary should not be the one decider, but I have not had one company balk at a higher salary expectation when stated like that.

[themack89]

If you don't care too much about the job I would say always overshoot the salary that you actually want because its easier to negotiate down than to purposely lowball yourself and then you can't do anything. Don't be cocky, but be confident. You have to believe that you are more valuable to the company than the company is to you, I always try to put myself in the driver seat first by thinking this (even if it isn't true).

My buddy got offered a job as a La Senza store manager, he told them expected wage was $30/hr and they counter offered with $15/hr.

Point is you never know what the interviewer is fishing for, so craft your answer based around your intentions and not theirs and don't sell yourself short!

Not many people realize how much they do for companies, it's usually proportional though. When I worked my very first job as a cashier I tallied $13,500 in grocery sales in my best shift. That means I generated $1,687 revenue per hour and they paid me $9/hr for that. The working world is all proportional like that to some extent--view yourself as a valuable tool for generating revenue! :clap:

[Dumbass17]

Originally posted by kaput
^Out of curiosity, what is the job?
me?
structural draft(monkey)er

[2EFNFAST]

You have to read the interviewer and the scene (job, etc....)

For anybody I hired or helped to hire, the thing I hated the most was hearing the usual 'it's the experience, i'm sure you're competitive with industry, blah blah'. To me that's playing it safe and unwilling to just put it out there - tell me what you want.

Of course, this wouldn't work if you're applying for a 40k/yr secretary job, heh.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by 2EFNFAST


Of course, this wouldn't work if you're applying for a 40k/yr secretary job, heh.

No doubt, as we all know what you're looking for in a secretary.

[2EFNFAST]

Originally posted by TomcoPDR


No doubt, as we all know what you're looking for in a secretary.

Of course - she needs to be able to S my D on command - you know, staple my documents....... http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww89/efnfast/lookme.gif

[l/l/rX]

Being this my first career job like we discussed through PM, I am very very very glad they didn't ask how much i was expecting to get paid. The agency called me told me what was up and told me my pay and I was in utter disbelief.

I am very very very very content with my pay especially this being my first job.

[Grogador]

Originally posted by l/l/rX
Being this my first career job like we discussed through PM, I am very very very glad they didn't ask how much i was expecting to get paid. The agency called me told me what was up and told me my pay and I was in utter disbelief.

I am very very very very content with my pay especially this being my first job.

Watchoo doin' and how much Jamaican? :)

[jonnycat]

I've got an interview coming up and have zero clue on what they are going to offer. I'm just hoping it's on par with what I make now plus vehicle allowance and a gas card and thats what I'm going to ask for.