how do you answer this interview question tactfully?

[bagaholic85]

i was going to start a thread with my question alone, but i realized other people probably have questions that would get good responses from the smart ladies on the forum :)

mine is: when you're asked what salary you would like?

[natalie78]

Do your research on the position to get an idea of the average salary range and go for the middle of it. I've always been in government...no salary negotiations.

[apey_grapey]

AAARGH! I HATE that question! i have been interviewing so this issue is very fresh. i've read that you should turn it around by asking what the salary range is for the position. it seemed reasonable and i tried it but found it didn't work because they just avoided answering the question ( frustrating).

in hindsight, i think the best thing to do is what i used to do: remind them of my compensation (my base is $X, bonus is Y-Z%, RSU and ISOs, etc...) then say i'm open to seeing what they would offer and that i hope they consider my experience and skill set when they put it together.

do not, under any circumstance, give a number. it will either eliminate you (asking for salary that is too high) or disadvantage you (asking for a salary lower than what the company would have given you). either way, you lose.

[shy*violet]

Originally Posted by bagaholic85

i was going to start a thread with my question alone, but i realized other people probably have questions that would get good responses from the smart ladies on the forum :) mine is: when you're asked what salary you would like?

Don't ever give them a hard number. You risk either disqualifying yourself from the position b/c they think you're asking too much, or "low-balling" yourself.

Do research (try sites like salary.com and glassdoor.com) to give yourself a good range.

When talking to the interviewer, tell them you've done research and give the range, and then tell them something along the lines of "Given my education and experience with ------- I think I'd be on the higher end of the range"

[apey_grapey]

this is a good response to the salary question (wish i had it last week):

"As for the requested salary history, I do not tend to provide that information in cover letters but I'm very motivated to work for (organization X) and I'm sure if you decide I'm the right candidate we can come to an agreement on salary." from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...010200488.html

[lorihmatthews]

If you're offered the job, never take the first offer. Let them give you the number first and then negotiate upward. I've done this with every position. They expect you to negotiate (unless like natalie78 mentioned it's a set salary).

[IcansPotaFake32]

I always used to ask the range question so I knew where to start. I used to have expectations for the minimum I would accept but I think the market is different now. My first job was a very different negotiating experience than my second one.
I would negotiate once I knew that I was one of the last candidates. Good luck!! Hope you get something great!

[kcf68]

Like the other poster said do research and list the amount you want and tell them you are willing to negotiate with them. Also, you could ask them the range that the position pays and then reply accordingly.

[juneping]

i would do research which i do on a daily basis...hehehe...and i would add 25% of my current salary to compare to the standard.
and i will call the ideal number (highest #) and have the potential employer knock it down a little. but i would never let it be lower than a base number that i have in mind..(would be 15% raise min.)
depends on how tactful you are....i can never see talking about money can be tactful.

[urologist]

You should research the going rates, but always let them make the first offer, then ask for 20% more. Usually they will meet you halfway.

[apey_grapey]

i wonder how many of the previous posters have looked for a job in this market? it's different now. with previous searches, salary talk has always occurred in the latter part of the process when you know what your and their interest level is and you can negotiate accordingly. this time, it was almost the first question asked of me! i have to say i was taken aback. the employers have the upper hand in this market and they are using it. i have to say it left a bad taste in my mouth; i've really felt taken advantage of.

[bagaholic85]

Originally Posted by IcansPotaFake32

I always used to ask the range question so I knew where to start. I used to have expectations for the minimum I would accept but I think the market is different now. My first job was a very different negotiating experience than my second one. I would negotiate once I knew that I was one of the last candidates. Good luck!! Hope you get something great!

when you say ask the range question, do u ask the interviewer? is it a faux pas to ask that?

[Zophie]

I guess it depends on what kind of job you have, but in my career they have asked what I want to make and I'll tell them and I'll ask what I can expect. I see no reason to beat around the bush. I don't want a job if it doesn't pay what I want to make anyway. But I work in a very specific field (court reporter) and it's not necessarily the typical job interview process.

[shy*violet]

Originally Posted by apey_grapey

i wonder how many of the previous posters have looked for a job in this market? it's different now. with previous searches, salary talk has always occurred in the latter part of the process when you know what your and their interest level is and you can negotiate accordingly. this time, it was almost the first question asked of me! i have to say i was taken aback. the employers have the upper hand in this market and they are using it. i have to say it left a bad taste in my mouth; i've really felt taken advantage of.

I actually looked for and landed a job in the last few months.

The salary question came up a few times in my interview process:

* With the Talent Mgmt "screener"
* With the hiring manager in the phone interview
* With the hiring manager again in the in-person interview

Different companies do it different ways, and sometimes they do it the same no matter what the job market is like. Five years ago when I interviewed for my 1st post-college job, I was asked that question in the very beginning by the HR-person, but not by the hiring manager in the in-person interview.

I don't think it's the companies necessarily taking advantage of the job market - it might just be the normal company protocol to ask in the beginning.

Salary is a good "weeding out" factor. If the Talent Mgmt/HR screener asks you and you said "I need to make $180,000 annually" they can weed you out and pursue candidates who answer the question with either a better number or range that they are looking for...which I think is why it makes sense to ask in the beginning - esp. with so many MORE candidates that they need to go through.