How to Address Salary in an Interview

Video Transcript

"Hi, this Katie Roney on behalf of Expert Village. We are going to discuss how you conduct an interview. One of the scariest part of being an interviewer is going over the salary history. Particularly if you are new to it you are going to feel a little uncomfortable asking a perfect stranger what he or she makes. You may feel a little uneasy asking them what they are looking for or even discussing what your position is going to pay them. Start small and start early. When you go over their resume with them earlier in the interview feel them out and say. Oh, I assume you were getting pay increases. OK, what were making here at this job? What were you making at the next job? That way they understand that there is going be a salary discussion. And they'll feel a little bit more comfortable with you as you go along and interview. With salary, of course, the history is going to be very important, so make sure you get that right off the bat. And when you go over their history with them and you ask them - So what is it that you are targeting? - Get their range. They are probably going to give you a range of 5 to 10 thousand dollars or if it is an hourly job with a couple of dollar differences in an hour. And say OK what's driven you to find that number. And is it that is most important to you. Is it salary or is it the position? Is it the commute? And kind of find out what is about their salary that they are so interested in. It may be medical benefits. They may take a lower salary if they have better benefits. So kind of feel them out, I guess see where their heart lies as far as that is concerned. That way they'll know that you are not only interested in finding a cheap candidate that you are in fact interested in finding the perfect candidate and that you are willing to work with them and that you are interested in their concerns as well."