One of the most common questions we get asked on a regular basis by job seekers is: “How do I respond to questions related to salary and what I am looking for?” Remember; never discuss salary until you are completely sure about the job and aware of pay ranges in similar positions elsewhere. Remember, most employers will start negotiations at the lower end to allow them flexibility to move up if the initial salary is not accepted.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• If salary issue is mentioned before actual job offer: Ask the interviewer to postpone answering until you know more about the job. Once the nature of the job is clear, your best response is to push the question back and ask the employer what they have in mind.

• If the interviewer insists on knowing your present or previous salary: There are several ways to respond, but my favourite are: “I would prefer to fit into the company’s current salary range” or “At this point of my career I want to earn a salary that relates to my skills and experience and my previous salary did not reflect on this”.

• If the employer asks how much you want: Remember, you want to be paid what you are worth, not what you need. Let the employer know that salary should be based on what they think is your value to the company. For example: “Money isn’t my highest priority, however I know I could excel in this position and I would be an asset to the company; so how much do you have in mind?’.

• When the employer does provide you with a salary: Your best response should be silence, this shows you are considering the offer and you are not satisfied. Don’t get too anxious to accept anything offered to you. Be honest to yourself and negotiate your perceived self worth. “Although, I am enthusiastic about the position and company, I feel the salary does not completely reflect my self worth or the contributions I am prepared to make for the department and company long-term”. Be silent again and wait for the interviewer’s next offer. Think of this as a chess match.

• Once a salary has been negotiated: Don’t feel like you have to accept on the spot. Tell the employer that you would like to take the next 24 hours to get back to them after you have a chance to talk to family and have some time to think. During this time, you may also have additional questions for the employer or come up with a new negotiating tactic.

Remember, the better you handle yourself during the salary negotiations the more respect you gain from the employer once you accept. This will also set a tone for future advancements.

Information provided by HR Difference.

Our HR team specializes in providing small and medium sized companies with cost-efficient and customized human resources consulting solutions and learning management systems to meet your need and budget. We also provide custom resume writing and telephone job interview coaching for job seekers.

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