How to answer salary expectation question in job Interviews?
One of the trickiest moments in any job interview is when the recruiter asks, “What are your salary expectations?” It’s a question that can catch anyone off guard, especially when you’re unsure how to respond. Ask for too little, and you risk undervaluing yourself and settling for a salary that doesn’t reflect your worth. Aim too high, and you might price yourself out of the opportunity altogether. The situation gets even more difficult when the job listing doesn’t specify any salary range, leaving you confused about the expectations. In this article, I will share how you can answer this question confidently and score a great impression.
Why recruiters ask this question?
Before diving into the best strategy to answer this question, let’s understand why recruiters even ask this question.
Recruiters ask this question because :
- Budget Alignment: The company has already allotted a specific budget for the position. It is important for the recruiter to ensure that your expectations are within the specified budget.
- Understanding Expectations: Recruiters ask about your salary expectations to ensure alignment before proceeding further in the interview process. If your expectations significantly exceed their budget, addressing it early helps avoid wasting time for both parties.
- Clarifying role perception: Your response provides insight into how you view the role’s responsibilities and seniority, helping recruiters understand your perspective and ensure alignment with the company’s expectations.
Now that we understand why recruiters ask this question, let’s dive into the best strategy to answer this question.
1) Do your market research.
Find out what is the average pay for the job role you are interviewing for on these websites :
Pro tip: No need to make an account on these websites. You can simply do a google search like “Product Manager Salary in Berlin” and then simply follow the link to these websites. However, in some cases these websites will force you to create a free account.
2) Find out a suitable range of salary which is acceptable to you.
After you understand what industry pays for the job role you are applying for, come up with a range of salary which is acceptable for you. Ensure that the average pay of the industry is within this range.
- If you have less years of experience, you can have the average salary in the upper half of the range. For example, if average salary for the job is 62000 EUR per year, and you feel that you are slightly less experienced, then you can give a range of 55000 to 65000.
- If you are well experienced, then you can do the opposite and keep the average salary in the lower half of the range. For example if the average salary is 62000 per year, you can have the range of 60000 to 70000.
3) Discuss the salary confidently with recruiter in interview
With a data-backed approach, you can confidently address the recruiter’s salary expectations question by providing a well-researched range.. You can also discuss it further with the recruiter and ensure that it is within the budget of the job role.
Sample Answers to the question "What are your salary expectations?"
“Based on my research and understanding of similar roles in the market, I think a salary range of $40,000 to $50,000 would be appropriate for me. I’m open to discussing it further according to your budget alignments.”
“Considering my X years of experience, I feel that a salary in the range of 90000 to 100000 will suit me well. I am open to discuss it further depending on your company’s compensation structure.”
“At this stage of my career, it is important to join an organisation which is aligned with my long term goals and values. Money is not the highest priority for me at the moment. Can you tell me what is the budget for this role?”
Conclusion
The key to handling this question successfully is to stay composed and remember that both you and the recruiter share the same goal: finding a mutual fit for expectations. Clearly and confidently present your salary range, and remain open to further discussion to ensure alignment.