{"id":65389,"date":"2023-12-07T16:40:32","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T16:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ernestgordonrecruitment.com\/?p=65389"},"modified":"2023-12-07T16:41:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T16:41:23","slug":"toughest-interview-questions-what-are-your-salary-expectations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ernestgordonrecruitment.com\/blog\/toughest-interview-questions-what-are-your-salary-expectations\/","title":{"rendered":"Toughest interview questions: What are your salary expectations?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
It’s one of the most dreaded interview questions: \u201cWhat are your salary expectations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, you don’t want to ruin your chances of getting the IT job you want. But you don’t want to undersell your value either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And… is this a test in itself? What if you answer foolishly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is everything you need to know about answering this toughest of interview questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you get down to specifics, it’s good to get some ballpark ideas in mind. You can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Check out a wide range of job postings for similar positions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-See if there might be any salary surveys available<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Explore online sources like Glassdoor or LinkedIn<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Network with current or former colleagues to check past salaries<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Talk with your recruiter, who should always be happy to advise you<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should also research whether your intended employer has any qualities (good or bad) that might mean its own salary expectations would vary from the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They might be based in London, for example. Or in an area with a lower cost of living that makes a lower salary actually still work out in your favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two sides to every negotiation. So, what are you bringing to the table?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people recognise that their own skills and experience will factor into the salary they can expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can’t expect the same salary from your first software engineer job as the one you have a decade into your career, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equally, maybe you have precisely matching experience that makes you an ideal (and more valuable) hire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now you’ve got some basics in mind, what do you actually say when asked about your salary expectations during an interview?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First of all, it is good to get as much information as possible. Usually, this means slightly deflecting the question towards specifics that can inform your answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might say, \u201cBefore we talk about salary expectations, I’d just like to go over…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Responsibilities of the role and any particular challenges<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-The benefits package in more detail<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Company culture and the team<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Growth and training opportunities<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Work-life balance, remote working possibilities, and so on<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key is to be very clear that you need this information to calculate your salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, if you don’t know exactly what the role requires, the promotion possibilities, or how often you’ll need to commute, you really do need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it eventually comes down to the question itself, it is always better to offer a salary range than a precise figure. To do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Take into account your initial salary research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Explicitly provide your reasoning for the range based on your own skills and your knowledge of the position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Make sure you think both the lower end and higher end are figures you could be happy with if it comes to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideally, you want to avoid this. But it’s not uncommon for an interviewer to insist that you provide a single figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you do have to be specific, choose a figure in the upper half of your salary range. That way, you’ve signalled that you’re realistic but you’re also signalling you think your worth is higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be prepared for the fact that many company decision-makers may try and bargain you down though unless your worth is inarguable and high. Sometimes, even then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Often, you’ll need to negotiate. That’s okay. Negotiation is a pretty standard part of the IT recruitment process. Getting good at it can be very helpful for your career as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, try to actively listen to what your interviewer is telling you and see if you can work out what their concerns are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equally, you should have a bottom line in mind that you’re not willing to go below (the bottom of your salary range, ideally).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A very beneficial approach to talking about your salary expectations is to provide a range, then a figure, and finally state that you’re willing to discuss other benefits or compensation as balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This can show that you’re a flexible and realistic person who might be easy to work with. However, if you’re confident you can and should be paid within your range, you might not say this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key to answering interview questions about what your salary expectations are is to do some research, know your own value, and provide a range as well as being open to some negotiation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bear in mind that salary is not the be-all and end-all of the compensations that a position can offer. There might be other benefits that could add up to your dream job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to make sure you’re applying for roles in the salary range that’s right for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s talk. <\/em>Ernest Gordon is a specialist engineering and IT recruitment company. We give you access to <\/em>exclusive jobs you won’t find elsewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n