One of the trickiest questions that is often asked during an interview is “what are your salary expectations for this role”?
The question can put a prospective candidate off guard thus throwing the candidate into a web of confusion. You are stuck in between selling your skills for a low price or calling a high price that does not align with the role you applied for. There is no perfect answer to this question and most times, employers just want you to give a salary range or name a price to know that you have carried out market research on the role you are applying for.
Here are some important factors to consider when negotiating your salary during an interview;
Current salary: Most times, changing jobs means that you want higher pay. The pay you receive in your current salary can serve as a factor in determining how much you need to add to meet the salary target for the new job.
Nature/ Content of the Job: You must understand what the role you are applying for entails and the expectations before salary negotiation. Most entry-level jobs tend to pay low salaries, hence there is a need to research so you don’t get underpaid.
Stylishly turn the question around: At the early stage of an interview, when asked about your salary expectations, you can politely turn the question and ask “I’d like to learn more about the position and the duties, and what the team’s like, before discussing money. ” But may I ask what salary range you’re considering for this position?” This question demonstrates that your priority is learning whether the role is really what you’re looking for and you would feel more confident when discussing your expected salary.
Skills acquired and experience: Knowing the value of the skills and experience you have is very important. It is important to know the pay range in the industry and the location of the job. Learn not to undermine your worth and be confident.
Availability of the role applied for: The availability of the role in a particular location would also determine how good your salary range should be. In most situations, when talents and skills are not readily available in a certain location or industry would mean that the salary range for the job is high.
Be confident when answering this question and do not let the recruiter know that the question caught you off-guard. Carry out necessary research on the company’s work ethics and ask for relevant information from an insider by connecting with them on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.