So, you’re smashing the interview and your prospective employer is asking you questions to ensure you’ll be a great fit. You’re confident that a job offer will be coming your way if you can answer these favourably. When they ask you what your salary expectations are… what should you say?
The question about salary expectations can pull the rug from under your feet, because you know you need to demonstrate that you are a high value applicant, but you don’t want to go too high and put your interviewer off. There are strategies to help you cope with this all-important question and ensure that you use it to your advantage. Let’s take a look!
Most of the work you will do in an interview takes place before you walk through the door. Preparing for this opportunity means you are all set for the tricky questions such as salary expectations, and here’s how to answer this one well:
When you’re asked about salary expectations, you’ll want to sound professional in your answer. Before you attend your interview, do some research around the salaries other companies in the area are offering for similar roles, and look at salary guides online to find out what you can expect according to your experience level and your location.
If you are asked about salary, this is a great way to approach your answer – with a range rather than a specific number. To open the door for negotiations, you can say that you feel that a salary of between the two figures you have selected is fair, depending on the details and responsibilities of the final job offer. This ensures that you can be flexible in future negotiations and enables you to show that you are realistic and a serious prospect for the role.
As with any difficult question at interview, it is possible to reverse the sentiment – so you can instead ask your interviewer what the budget for the role might be. You can ask for the salary range before replying or say you’d need to know more about the role and the responsibilities it involves before discussing salary specifically. If the company is offering a lower salary than you are hoping for, it’s worth explaining to them that this is lower than you expected but that you would be open to negotiation if the role is ideal in other ways. Many employers will be willing to increase their offer for the right person.
Although it is wise to keep your answer to a broad range initially, you will need to settle on a figure in the end. If you are further on in the interview process or have discovered enough about the job to know that you want it, you will need to be more specific about the salary you expect. To come up with a figure here, you should take into account any responsibilities that were not mentioned in the initial job ad, and any additional duties that the role includes. Consider other perks of the job, including remote working potential, bonuses and benefits.
If you’ve been offered the job, take the time to think through the offer. Employers often expect some negotiation from successful candidates. Ask the interviewer or HR manager to provide you with a written offer and give you a day to think about it and then weigh up your options carefully. Look at all of the factors involved in the role and all forms of recompense as well as salary, and if you feel that this is a fair package, be sure to confirm all details when you accept. If you need to negotiate the salary or perks of the role you have been offered, you should put forward your case and demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate when you ask your potential employer to reconsider the salary you have been offered. If they are unable to increase the offer, you’ll need to consider whether you are willing to compromise and perhaps agree to a timeline for reviewing your salary.
As with every step of the recruitment process, take your time and think things through before you make any decisions. Assessing your worth is tricky but you’ll be very glad you did!
At CareerWise, we can help you throughout your job search. We offer Executive search, recruitment and contractor management services, and we take the time to get to know our candidates.
Our recruitment experts specialise in the Pharmaceuticals and Science industries, as well as Engineering, production and supply chain. We recruit for local, national and multi-national organisations and we will tailor our services to suit you. Contact us to make an appointment with a member of our expert team today.
Louise has a Marketing Degree from Limerick Institute of Technology. She has also completed a Certificate in Personnel Practice from the National College of Ireland. She is also CIPD accredited. She has 16 years Recruitment experience with Collins McNicholas (Dublin, Galway & Athlone), HRM (Dublin), Lionbridge (Mayo) and Team Horizon (Mayo & Dublin).
She has also worked in Quality Assurance in Allergan (Mayo) & with Ballina Beverages (Mayo).
She has successful recruitment experience involving key roles within Human Resources, Engineering, Quality Assurance and Planning for large multinational companies. She was involved in recruiting all levels including Senior Management for the Medical Devices, Electronic, Pharmaceutical & Manufacturing Industries both on the contracting and permanent side of the business. She has developed a Strong Network of Engineers built up over the last 16 years as she worked in the Mayo, Sligo, Dublin, Athlone and Galway Markets.
Louise has joined CareerWise in March 2017 with the responsibility of growing the business out of the new Mayo office with a primary focus on the West & North-West regions.
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CareerWise Recruitment. EastGate Village, EastGate, Little Island, Cork.
Phone: +353 (0) 21 206 1900
Email: info@careerwise.ie
