For many, the two most intimidating steps in applying for a new job are the interview and salary negotiations, so combining those two might seem overwhelmingly daunting. That said, bringing up your salary expectations during an interview isn’t actually as taboo as some people think it is.
In one survey, hiring managers listed the things an applicant could do to ‘destroy’ their prospects of landing the job, and discussing salary didn’t make the cut. Instead, interviewees were far more concerned with things like dress, attitude, and knowledge of the company.
In many cases, interviewees won’t even be the first to bring this topic up. It is common for applicants in today’s labor market to be asked about their past salaries as well as current salary expectations.
Remember—once you’ve gotten to the interview stage, that typically means you are one of only four to six applicants who were chosen to receive an interview. Not only do you have to sell yourself during the interview, the interviewer has to sell you on the company. They have an incentive to provide you with all the important details as well as a competitive offer.
That said, not every interview situation is going to be prime for salary negotiations, and it’s definitely not something you want to ask about right at the beginning. The when and how of this conversation are very important.
The first question you have to ask yourself before you bring up salary, is what kind of interview are you sitting down for. Video interviews are becoming increasingly popular, especially among companies with large applicant pools. If you are being asked to pre-record answers to important questions in leu of a formal interview, that is not the time to bring up salary. You never know what sort of algorithm your responses may be put through, and certain key words/phrases could be taken out of context, resulting in rejection.
It is generally a good idea to refrain from mentioning any of the more sensitive interview topics until you are speaking with a real human being. Even phone interviews, which on average only last about fifteen minutes, are not ideal for this conversation. If you don’t expect to have a face-to-face interview before receiving a job offer, then definitely bring it up. Otherwise, hold off until you are in a room with someone and you’ve already been talking for a little while.
Assuming you’ve landed that coveted in-person interview, it’s now time to prepare for the conversation itself. Every interview is going to be different, and you’ll want to use your common sense when it comes to bringing up sensitive topics, but the following tips will provide a framework for navigating the conversation smoothly.
Did you know that 91% of recruiters expect applicants to have knowledge of salary details before attending an interview?
It’s your job to research how much the average person in your desired position gets paid and come to the table with this knowledge in your back pocket. This will not only demonstrate to the interviewer that you did your research, but also it will help you understand your own worth as a potential employee.
One of the things applicants fear the most when bringing up salary is coming off as arrogant or like they’re asking too much. This fear isn’t baseless either. Research shows that 76% of recruiters stated they would reject a candidate who seemed arrogant. Still, as we outlined above, you don’t want to go in there having no idea what kind of salary to expect. This is why we suggest avoiding specific numbers and opting instead for a salary range. This will ensure that you are not offered anything below your standards as well as allows for the hiring manager to adjust their offer based on your application and interview performance.
For many, a decent benefits package can outweigh salary, which is why it’s important to keep the offered benefits and perks in mind when determining your salary expectations. For instance, let’s say the company offers you a generous amount of paid-time-off. If you’re someone who appreciates stress-free vacation time, those PTO days could make up for a lower salary.
There are online resources that can help you calculate how much your benefits actually add up to, that way you can have a fuller picture of what you’re being offered before you start negotiating.
As tempting as it might be, you should never try to use a low-ball salary suggestion as a way of getting a leg up on other candidates. Lying about anything in your interview is never a good idea, and neither is accepting a salary that doesn’t meet your needs or match your skill level. A study from 2021 showed that 63% of people who quit their jobs that year cited ‘low pay’ as their main reason for doing so. Even if quoting a low number lands you the job, chances are that same low pay will be the reason you quit shortly thereafter, and you’d be lucky to even find yourself back in that interview chair again.
Last, but not least, if at any point in the interview, the hiring manager gives you a salary number or range, make sure you have them write it down somewhere. Recruiters interview a large number of people on a regular basis, and they aren’t always going to remember everything that was said or promised to each applicant. If the offer is written down somewhere, however, then there won’t be any confusion going forward.
In a perfect world, discussions surrounding salaries would be less stressful, maybe even unnecessary, because money wouldn’t be on the forefront of every job seeker's mind. But in today’s economy, of course salary is at the top of the list. Yes, it’s true that you don’t want to appear as if that’s all you care about, but nobody is going to fault you for asking basic salary questions. Hiring managers are people too, and chances are they’ve felt the pressures of the recent economic hurdles as well.
They get it. We get it. Which is why we want to help further set you up for success. The expert recruiters at CyberCoders are eager to connect you with top-tier employers offering competitive wages, popular benefits, and more.
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