What if asked for salary requirements

To help the conversation go smoothly and make sure you get a fair salary, here are a few additional pointers:. Aim high: Once you know the average salary range for a position, consider padding your expectations. In most cases, employers are going to start you off at the lower end of the amount you provide.

Be confident: Some employers are interested in your answer as well as your delivery. Be careful not to overshoot the amount too much or you could be considered overqualified. By giving an honest, informed response, you can help the interviewer better understand whether your expectations align and, if things go well, what sort of salary will be attractive enough to get you on board. Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in. Why employers ask about salary expectations.

At the end of the day, salary is important in a job or career, but your happiness and long-term goals are just as important. Consider all of the options, and create a pro and con list before making any decision to accept a salary offer.

Remember, show your enthusiasm, but do not be afraid to ask for a few days to consider the offer. Thinking things through and weighing your options will help you make the right objective decision rather than being impulsive and possibly regretting that decision at some later point. Our resume builder tool will walk you through the process of creating a stand-out Architect resume. If the employer asks for your salary requirements in a different way, follow their directions. You can give your salary requirement in your cover letter by stating something along the lines of:.

Try to keep your salary requirements brief, so that the employer can spend more time focusing on your cover letter and your application. If you are asked to give your salary requirements, you could ignore them, but then you might not even get the job. That being said, most experts agree that you should delay providing your salary expectations as much as possible. That pulls the ball in their court, which might end up better for you in the long run. I am open to learning more about ABC Corp.

I bring a unique blend of management , business, and customer service experience and skills to a position that requires all three, based on our conversations. Think back on the interview process when considering what information to use when explaining why you deserve more.

Start with a high number. Determine the highest reasonable salary you can justify and focus on that. Too low of a salary requirement could make potential employers see your flaws instead of your strengths. Be flexible. Take a lesson from your friendly neighborhood yogi and remember to be flexible.

Finally, remember that there are several things that go into compensation, like benefits and opportunities for growth. Remember that even though compensation is important, this is not the most important part of your application or your interview. You want the employer to be able to spend a lot of time reading or hearing about your strengths and qualifications.

Be willing to negotiate and justify your salary requirements. No matter how great the job interview goes, an interview question about your salary expectations can stop you short. It's difficult to know what to say and what not to say so that you receive a job offer that's a win for both yourself and the company. Why do interviewers want to know your salary expectations? Employers may ask this question to get a sense of whether or not they can afford your help.

They might also ask you this to see how much you value yourself and your work. By researching and preparing an answer ahead of time, you can demonstrate to the employer that you're not only flexible with your salary, but you also know what you're worth. If your target compensation is too low, you leave the employer room to go even lower and you could end up feeling miserable with the lack of proper compensation.

Salary is not an easy topic, and while there may be no right answer, there is a way to prepare for the question and get what you want. Some paper and electronic applications require you to list your salary expectations.

One option is to simply skip this question. However, if it's listed as a required question and you skip it, the employer might think you're bad at following directions. In this case, here are some options:. To prepare a response, you should have a sense of what someone in your industry, and geographic area typically earns.

This will allow you to determine a reasonable salary range for the job. Use one of the many websites that offer salary averages and estimates. Sites like Glassdoor. Salaries should be fairly similar across the board, but there may be some differences based on location, experience level, or company size.

If you have time to look at more than one source , you should. Remember to narrow your research to your region. A little research will help you come up with a reasonable salary range to suggest when asked about your expectations, but remember to follow your gut. My salary range is flexible. I would, of course, like to be compensated fairly for my decade of experience and award-winning sales record.

However, I'm open to discussing specific numbers once we've discussed the details of the position. So stand your ground, and understand that the interviewer is being as insistent as you are. And it might encourage you to know that research shows that if you mirror the behaviour of the interviewer, you are more likely to get the job.

Try it. You could come away lots richer. Want more interview advice? Penelope Trunk has founded four startups. Her most recent is Quistic.