While you’re in the interview process for a job one of the most awkward subjects for people to discuss can be the topic of money / salary expectations – do I mention it / do they / are we on the same page? Don’t worry if this sounds like you as many people feel the same way. The last thing you want to do is approach the subject of money the wrong way while in the recruitment process but it is an important factor that does need to be addressed. So what is the best way to do this?
Check out some of the below points that will guide you in how to approach the subject and help you to stay confident when talking about your salary expectations:
Know your value & what you’re looking for
Before getting involved in any recruitment processes take some time to do some research on the market and decide what is important for you in a new role, whether it a certain salary, location, level of role, healthcare, size of company etc. Put some thought into all of the factors that are important to you and decide whether you would be negotiable on certain factors like salary if other benefits were to be available to you, for example if you were provided with an option to work from home or had a shorter commute. Try to have these thoughts clear in your head before you start looking for new roles so you know what opportunities are more likely to give you what you want and make sure you research the market to see if your expectations are realistic and if you are knowing your worth. Salary guides can be a good starting point for this.
Don’t go it alone
Use a recruiter. Working with a recruiter you will have an opportunity to explain to them what is important for you in making a move and what salary expectation or expectations in general you have for it. They will be able to help you find what roles and companies might then be most of interest to you so it’s important to try and be as honest as possible about what you want when speaking with them. They also have strong relationships with their clients and a strong understanding of the market so they will be able to guide you on whether your expectations are realistic and whether they would be able to be met by certain companies. They will also be able to give the company you are applying for an idea of your salary expectation so they know what you’re looking for from the outset.
“What is your salary expectation?”
As mentioned above if you are going through the interview process using a recruiter they will have already guided a salary expectation to the company prior to interview after you discussed this with them previously. During the interview it is always better not to bring up the subject of money unless the interview brings it up, and more often than not this is something that is avoided especially if they are aware of your expectation from your recruiter. However, even if you don’t think they will ask the question of money it is better to be prepared for it and know what you plan to say. It is very acceptable to be clear about your salary expectation when asked about it and make sure that you are confident and clear about it when giving your answer. Never say a number or that you are open to negotiation unless you genuinely mean it because this can cause confusion or lead to an unrealistic offer down the line.
Receiving the offer
If the company decides to offer you the role they will provide an offer to you via your recruiter. When discussing the offer make sure you listen carefully, weigh up everything presented and decide whether you are happy with the salary of or not. Never agree to accept an offer unless you are happy with it as accepting but then going back with issues on the salary later may cause concerns for the company. If you are not happy with the salary offered then talk to your recruiter about this and explain why you aren’t happy with it. They will be able to tell you if there might be room for negotiation and will be able to go back to the company and explain your reservations on accepting, so if there are important factors you want them to ask about then make it clear to them. Companies might not always be able to negotiate on salary due to budgeting so it is also worth mentioning if you would be negotiable if there were other benefits made available to you e.g. work from home one day a week or an option to carry out further studies through work. Whatever your expectation just make sure you remain clear in what you’re looking for!
While you’re in the interview process for a job one of the most awkward subjects for people to discuss can be the topic of money / salary expectations – do I mention it / do they / are we on the same page? Don’t worry if this sounds like you as many people feel the same way. The last thing you want to do is approach the subject of money the wrong way while in the recruitment process but it is an important factor that does need to be addressed. So what is the best way to do this?
Check out some of the below points that will guide you in how to approach the subject and help you to stay confident when talking about your salary expectations:
Know your value & what you’re looking for
Before getting involved in any recruitment processes take some time to do some research on the market and decide what is important for you in a new role, whether it a certain salary, location, level of role, healthcare, size of company etc. Put some thought into all of the factors that are important to you and decide whether you would be negotiable on certain factors like salary if other benefits were to be available to you, for example if you were provided with an option to work from home or had a shorter commute. Try to have these thoughts clear in your head before you start looking for new roles so you know what opportunities are more likely to give you what you want and make sure you research the market to see if your expectations are realistic and if you are knowing your worth. Salary guides can be a good starting point for this.
Don’t go it alone
Use a recruiter. Working with a recruiter you will have an opportunity to explain to them what is important for you in making a move and what salary expectation or expectations in general you have for it. They will be able to help you find what roles and companies might then be most of interest to you so it’s important to try and be as honest as possible about what you want when speaking with them. They also have strong relationships with their clients and a strong understanding of the market so they will be able to guide you on whether your expectations are realistic and whether they would be able to be met by certain companies. They will also be able to give the company you are applying for an idea of your salary expectation so they know what you’re looking for from the outset.
“What is your salary expectation?”
As mentioned above if you are going through the interview process using a recruiter they will have already guided a salary expectation to the company prior to interview after you discussed this with them previously. During the interview it is always better not to bring up the subject of money unless the interview brings it up, and more often than not this is something that is avoided especially if they are aware of your expectation from your recruiter. However, even if you don’t think they will ask the question of money it is better to be prepared for it and know what you plan to say. It is very acceptable to be clear about your salary expectation when asked about it and make sure that you are confident and clear about it when giving your answer. Never say a number or that you are open to negotiation unless you genuinely mean it because this can cause confusion or lead to an unrealistic offer down the line.
Receiving the offer
If the company decides to offer you the role they will provide an offer to you via your recruiter. When discussing the offer make sure you listen carefully, weigh up everything presented and decide whether you are happy with the salary of or not. Never agree to accept an offer unless you are happy with it as accepting but then going back with issues on the salary later may cause concerns for the company. If you are not happy with the salary offered then talk to your recruiter about this and explain why you aren’t happy with it. They will be able to tell you if there might be room for negotiation and will be able to go back to the company and explain your reservations on accepting, so if there are important factors you want them to ask about then make it clear to them. Companies might not always be able to negotiate on salary due to budgeting so it is also worth mentioning if you would be negotiable if there were other benefits made available to you e.g. work from home one day a week or an option to carry out further studies through work. Whatever your expectation just make sure you remain clear in what you’re looking for!