Job interviewing is an art: it requires skill, dexterity and the right tools and environment. Make one wrong move and the result can be disastrous. This is especially true when it comes to discussing salary requirements. As a job-seeker, approaching a conversation with a prospective employer about salary requirements can be tricky.
Salary requirements should be based on the market value for a particular skill set or job … not on your needs or desires. If a position seems perfect for you, but the salary is lower than you had hoped for, go through the interview process and sell your value to the hiring manager throughout. Once a hiring manager decides that you are the right candidate, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate salary.
Don’t focus on salary alone, but also on opportunity. Ask yourself:
- Will this job provide me with crucial experiences, skills and accomplishments that I need to attain my dream job eventually?
- Will it fill in critical gaps in my industry or job experience?
- Will it give me visibility with an audience I previously was unknown to?
Quick Tips:
Never mention salary requirements in a cover letter. Salary is a way to screen you out (too high or too low), and you want a chance to look over a prospective employer before being eliminated.
If pressed, give a range for your salary requirements. It gives you wiggle room once you get to the salary negotiation stage.
Be prepared to discuss your salary requirements. It could arise at the first interview, so you need to know your competitive market value before you start interviewing. You may defer the conversation by saying you’d like to learn more about the job, so you can gauge whether it’s a good match before rolling out your salary requirements. If you get pressed for a “ball park figure,” ask the salary range for the job. If the prospective employer won’t divulge it, say based on your research, you’ve found that pay for such positions is “between X and Y,” and ask if that’s consistent with the company’s range.
If a prospective employer asks to verify your current salary, politely decline — it could jeopardize your current position. Once an offer is made, this is considered fair game as part of the due diligence process.
Be prepared to ask for perks. If the salary you desire simply cannot be negotiated, discuss additional perks in place of higher pay. For example, you may be able to get a few extra vacation days or be allowed to work from home once or twice a week. You may be able to negotiate tuition reimbursement for job-related training or education. Such perks might not be company policy, but that doesn’t mean a company won’t provide them in lieu of a higher salary.
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