Two Tips for Negotiating Salary in a Job Interview
The power doesn’t have to be on only one side.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
In this time of the Great Resignation, those who have left their jobs may quickly find they need a new one. That of course means interviewing.
You know that moment towards the end of a job interview, when the interviewer asks you what salary you’re looking for? And you kind of freeze, especially if you’re applying in a slightly different area than before?
What if you ask for something too high, and they toss you out as unreasonable? Or for something too low, so they hire you and save themselves thousands of dollars (or more)?
What can you do?
First, make sure you have a dollar figure in mind. You know what you made at your last job. Are you looking for a similar position, doing the same kind of work, or are you moving into a new type of job? You should be clear on what salary is acceptable to you before you start
interviewing, so you’re ready for that dreaded question, “What salary are you looking for?” I have two answers that work well for me.
Ask, “What amount do you have budgeted for the position?”
The first time I tried this, I was scared that the interviewer would be insulted, or push back and make me say a number. Instead, the interviewer told me the range that was budgeted for the position, and asked if I would be comfortable in that range. She seemed quite happy to do so, and I told her that was an acceptable range (while hiding my relief that it was so easy).
Should that option not work, though it rarely fails, I have a fallback. Check out the major job hunting websites, and see what they list as an average salary for the position you want in the city where you live. Then, when asked for your salary expectations, you can say,
“According to WebSite.com, the average salary for this role in my town is X dollars.”
Finding this out is extremely simple, and sometimes eye-opening. It’s also hard to argue with. The interviewer can then tell you whether that number falls within the company’s salary range for this role.
At this point, since you gave them a specific number, they might also ask, “Is that what you’re asking for?” Be very careful here. The number you just gave them might be at the low end or the high end of their range, and at this point specifically asking for that exact amount might hurt you. I say, “I’m looking in that range” and leave it at that.
Remember that the company wouldn’t be interviewing you if they weren’t interested in possibly hiring you.
Salary is one piece of a compensation package, that should at least include health benefits (medical and dental at minimum) and paid vacation time, and may include stock options, or some other perks specific to that company. Don’t rush into anything, but don’t be greedy. And best of luck to you.