When applying for a job, there are many things to think about. From company culture to your skills to whether the job is a good fit to how much money you will make, your mind is likely in overdrive as you submit your resume. Today, we want to talk about a hot topic: salary expectations. While this is certainly an important facet to your career and whether you choose to take a position, there is a time to approach your salary when interviewing.
Let’s discuss this further.
What is important to you?
While your salary is important, there may be other factors to consider that outweigh how much money you will make. For example, what are the benefits associated with the position? Is there room to grow within the organization? Is the culture and scope of the job fitting for you and your skills? Is the position flexible and encourages work/life balance? Often, these types of questions can help you decide on whether the job will be a good choice for you or not, despite the salary.
Show your value
Your skills-based resume has already shown your value to the hiring manager, so once you get an interview, be sure to continue to build that further. Have concrete examples of what you have accomplished in previous positions. This is not the time to be generic and offer cookie cutter answers. Be clear and concise with your achievements and go into detail about the problems you were faced with, and the solutions you provided. This will help solidify your value add to the position, making discussing your salary, and your worth, much easier when the time arises.
Know the right time
While the question of salary may be discussed in the early part of the interviewing process, we suggest you wait until there is advancement in the process, such as second interview, or when a formal offer is presented. In some instances, hiring managers may use the question of salary to weed out candidates who are asking for too much. If the job aligns with most of your “pros” list, you are likely more open to negotiate your salary when the offer is given.
If the question is asked of you, you may want to consider answering with a salary range, rather than a concrete number. You can also express that you are excited to learn more about the job, your responsibilities, and salary expectations as you move forward in the interview process.
There are several advantages of waiting until a formal offer is given. You have been selected as the ideal candidate, which puts you in the perfect position for negotiating. Since other candidates have been dismissed, there are less options at this point than there was at the start of the interviewing process. Lastly, once the offer has been given, you are in a better position to decide what you think is fair, as the offer letter will include more about what the job entails.
We understand the importance of salary. You want to be compensated fairly for your skills and for the value you will bring to this new position. However, timing is key! Don’t rush the conversation but be prepared for when the time comes.
If you are curious about interview questions, please give us a call. Our team is here to help.