How to Answer the Interview Question "What is Your Expected Salary?"

[@CarriesMom]

I just finished a phone interview and was asked my salary expectations at the beginning of the call. I used your tactic and said I wanted to learn a little more about the position before giving that. She proceeded to look up the salary range and give it to me and asked if that range met my expectations! I said yes! She didn’t ever ask for my number again! Thank you for helping me not sell myself short!!!

[@LifeWorkBalance]

WOW! What an incredible success story!! Thank you so much for looping back to me and letting me know how this worked so well for you!

[@engrsketchtechhub8198]

I was asked this question at the beginning of my recent interview. The job did not specify the salary range so I had to give a range. I feel there must be a better way to answer this sort of question and this video presented a way to approach it. Thank you so much for this video.

[@LifeWorkBalance]

This question can certainly take us by surprise! Thanks for watching and for your feedback :)

[@nounatak79]

What happens if you make the mistake of giving a low range before the interview because you were thrown of guard, and after researching you found out you compromised way too much? Can you give a different answer during the interview or is it all lost cause?

[@kate68applenyc]

Thank you for the great videos. I started watching and love them!! I wish I saw this before my interview...I gave my number, $3k less than their max pay, didn't give my bonus amount knowing they probably cannot much 😞My manager compensated me for my overload work. Since I will be supporting less people & probably less work, I don't expect the kind of bonus but want to keep the salary... My final interview are coming up in few days.

[@LifeWorkBalance]

I hope your final interview went well!

[@AmandaM-od7yu]

Thank you so much! I never know what to say with this question cuz like you said I know what I would like to get paid, but I don’t want to overshoot or undersell myself. So towards the end I gave a range, but said “if possible” which I was like ehhh I think there has to be a better way to respond to this so I’m not so hesitant.

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Thanks for watching - this is a super hard question to answer!

[@christinagarcia8434]

What happens if you negotiate a salary for a job, get hired and are over worked. What I mean by over worked is doing a job for 2 people? Some companys hire you and give you extra workloads because they are short staffed but don't expect to compensate you with extra pay for doing a 2 person job.

[@LifeWorkBalance]

This is so hard! This is a good opportunity to sit down with your direct supervisor and re-clarify expectations of the role. Be honest about feeling burnout and overwhelmed and ask for help reprioritizing what’s on your plate. If things don’t change, I’d recommend beginning a new job search to find something that’s a better fit.

[@natashabezuidenhout2380]

I have an interview for a marketing administrator and two of the questions that I am concerned about is, why do you want to leave your current company and what are your salary expectations. Please help.

[@echofoxtrot2.051]

To further your career and branch out from your current position. This video answers the salary expectation question.

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Here's a link to a video on how to answer why you want to leave your current company: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4myk6qIatFnp6M

[@miaevans7437]

Can I ask potential employers if the salary range or amount is open for negotiation, or is there some key ways to notice that?

[@LifeWorkBalance]

You can! I wouldn't do this right off the bat though. During your first interview, salary may come up via the interviewers/recruiter saying something like, "what is your expected salary?" or "the salary range is X, is that acceptable?" If these questions are asked it's perfectly reasonable to ask what the hiring range is and what the overall salary range is for the position. If they give you a number first, that sets you up to be the in the position to negotiate. If salary doesn't come up in the first interview, and it isn't coming up in the second interview, I would recommend asking the question so you don't waste your time or theirs if the salary is much lower than what you want/need. I'd ask something like, "The salary (or hiring) range was not listed on the job posting and we have not yet discussed it during our interviews. Could you please tell me the anticipated hiring and salary range for this position?" Asking for the range will show you where their wiggle room is for negotiation. You will want to make sure you have justification as to why you're asking for a certain amount, especially if it's on the higher range (such as: "based on my qualifications such as X, Y, Z...."). I hope this helps!

[@claudiamolinaro1010]

@@LifeWorkBalance Thank you!

[@brendareed5050]

If a potential employer posts the pay range and the max is 6% lower than my current pay, what is a good strategy to get them to increase the pay towards the end of the interview?

[@deidre-annburrell3038]

What do you do in instances where the expected salary is asked when applying on the company's website or on job boards?

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Great question! I usually leave this blank on an application unless it's required (and it usually isn't required, in the US at least). If it is required, do your research and know yourself - use O*Net to do your research on market trends/averages and know what you'd be willing to take/not willing to take.

[@angiemiller5534]

Hello, I am interviewing in person this week for a position that no salary range was shown. If this question is asked how should I answer?

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Hi, and I'm sorry for my late reply! Did they ask this question, and did you respond? I might put it back to the interviewer by asking something like, "no salary range was listed on the posting, could you share the hiring range for this position?" This doesn't mean I wouldn't do my research ahead of time to determine a range for the market rate. I'd be prepared to say, "I'm not comfortable providing a specific amount yet, as I feel like I need to learn more about the position and the organization." You could also say, "based on my market research, I'd expect a salary between X and X." You don't want your lowest number that you share verbally to be the lowest you'd actually take, go a bit higher than that!

[@TequilaPrincessMx]

what happens when you come from another country and they directly ask for previous salaries on the application form... if you convert one currency to the other it might seen either low or high for the recruiter but it might've being reasonable or fair back in your country... I'm in the middle of migration and it is hard to know how to answer this salary related questions when you know any answer you give might result in underpayment

[@suz0000]

Thanks!

[@harleymama5919]

But if it’s a different in the same company ?

[@LifeWorkBalance]

It's probably the same technique - just tailored more to the organization and what you know about the salaries they offer in the new role!

[@jacirajose2981]

what if you already know about the company, the position and what they expect from you, is it okay to give a range or to answer to this question at the beginning of the interview?

[@LifeWorkBalance]

It is okay, though I would recommend trying to have them give you a more concrete range first!

[@anilanee5835]

Hey, what if the salary range listed on the job announcement is lower than what you currently make? I have second interview coming up and they sent an email asking what was I expecting to make. I’m not sure how to respond. I have another offer that is higher. She asked my salary in the first interview but I wasn’t aware it was non ethical.

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Hmm...if the salary range (maybe the hiring range?) was listed on the job posting, and the highest range is lower than what you are currently making, it may be hard for them to accommodate anything higher than what they advertised. If you're having a second interview and they know what you currently make is more than what was advertised, that might be good news though! Maybe you can respond to the email and say something like, "I see on the job posting the salary range is listed as XX-XX. Is this the budget for the position or is there room for negotiation?" Then you can put the ball back in their court and see what they say. If they say there is no room for negotiation then it will be up to you if you want to continue with the interview process. If you do want to continue, then you can provide them a range that is realistic for you, even if it may be outside of the hiring range advertised. I hope this helps!

[@nishantpandya1279]

What if they say the job description is what work you will be going? So when they poise the question and you say I don’t know what the job responsibilities are then what do you say?

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Great question! Use this response ("I'd like to learn a little more about the position, the responsibilities, and what the team is like") at your discretion. If you feel like you have a good idea of those things, you can refer the question back to them: "What is the hiring range you are considering for this position?" (If the range isn't listed.) When it comes to salary, there is a LOT more at play than just day-to-day duties. You also want to consider the benefits offered, the team you'll be working with, the culture, etc. For example, the exact same job at two different companies may require different compensation because there are major differences in benefits packages.

[@rhapsody5645]

They should absolutely give you more detail than just what is in the job description. If they are not willing to elaborate on the duties of the position, I would immediately abandon all pursuit. I would even go further and eliminate that employer from any future consideration.

[@DanielaTorresARROYO]

Hello Aby, I just saw your video and I am struggling with my situation because I made a mistake giving a range number in my fist interview, they asked me my salary expectations and I say my actual salary and that the range will be higher to that number, but I fell I show my cards, tomorrow I have a second interview with my manager and then a third one with my colleagues team. Please give me some solutions on my situation to receive a fair salary and not to make them give me a lower offer. Thank you

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Did this conversation come up again? It's perfectly acceptable to say that after you learned more about the position (the role, the responsibilities, etc.) you now think a more appropriate/acceptable salary range would be XYZ.

[@hawaali4115]

What if the salary was listed in the advert, how should one respond?

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Good question! I would say you still need to do your research to determine what you're worth and what you're willing to take when it comes to the advertised salary. It was likely a range, so your expected salary should be realistic and fall within the range.

[@jkroher]

Thanks!

[@LifeWorkBalance]

Thank you for your support!!