What Are Appropriate Ways to Respond to a Salary Range?
The job interview is one of the first steps to receiving a lucrative job offer, and many job seekers know they should prepare for it by practicing their interview responses beforehand. Yet, even with practice and preparation, many qualified candidates get thrown off on the salary questions. This is understandable, as your starting salary is your livelihood and the base for all future raises, and many interviewees are concerned about losing the opportunity if they give the “wrong” number. However, you have several options on how to respond to questions about your desired salary range without losing your negotiation power.
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The Non-Answer
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Savvy interviewees know that if you can get the hiring manager to give the first number, you’ll have more negotiation power in the long run. This is because you can either give a number that’s too low, and essentially sell yourself short, or you give a number that’s too high, which can take you out of the running altogether. Always wait for as long as necessary to give a number. Ideally, you want to wait until the company has decided that you are the candidate for them, which gives you the upper hand. When the hiring manager asks about your desired salary range very early in the interview process, simply say, “I need to learn more about the position and all the aspects of the daily responsibilities before I can give any type of salary range.”
Turning the Question Around
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Most job seekers think that the position salary is set in stone, but many companies have leeway in the budgets for the right candidate. When asked about your salary range, you can say, “What salary range did you have in mind for this position?” or you can position the question in a different way. Rather than thinking like a negotiation novice, ask the interviewer, “What salary do you think fits someone with my background and experience?” This way, the salary discussion is no longer simply about the open position. You are asking for a salary that is customized for you and what you bring to the table.
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Using Research
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Some interviewers will simply not accept the non-answer and will sit there until you actually give them a numbered salary range. When you’re researching the company, research salary ranges for the position description as well. There are a wide variety of free websites that give average salary ranges for both the job title and your city or region. Rather than saying, “My salary range is X to X,” state, “My research says that the estimated salary range for this position in this industry is X to X.”
Giving a Range
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When you do have to give a salary range, remember that the hiring manager is hearing your low number. Therefore, give a low number that’s actually higher than what you need or expect to give yourself later negotiating power. For example, if you want to make $50,000, then say your range is between $55,000 and $65,000.
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