You’ve effectively got through every question and left an incredible primary impact on the hiring administrator. You’re all set to say your final words and suddenly the hiring manager throws the trickiest question at you, “What are your salary expectations?”

The question, “What are your salary expectations?” can be a tricky one as hiring manager might be trying to find out two of the things out of your answer:

One, whether or not their company could afford you,

Or, Second, to what extent do you value yourself.

However, if you get straight through this question, it may not be as tricky but definitely an uncomfortable topic to discuss about. You find yourself stuck in between the choices whether to save yourself the job by telling less salary expectation or to keep your self-worth by telling exactly the figure you expect to be paid.

So, what do you do? We have put few guidance to help you get through this tough, yet important question effectively:

1. Stick to a Salary Range
2. Stay Open for Negotiation
3. Do your Research
4. Look for the Package
5. Be Honest

Stick to a Salary Range

If the interviewer or hiring manager pushes for an exact figure, you should stick to a salary range. When offering a range, remember that employer will in general run with the lower end of your inclination, hence, just give a number that you would take.

Stay Open for Negotiation

If you feel like you’ve quoted a higher salary expectation and are okay with coming down with your actual expected figure, state the phrase like, “If this can be the suitable position for me, I’m positive we can come to an agreement.” This shows that you are flexible and genuinely interested in securing the position.

Do your Research

Always make the research of your worth as of how much the market is paying for the similar role. Your worth should be based on your years of experience, qualifications and expertise (if you have any).

Look for the Package

Some companies have policies of providing other benefits along with monetary value. Such benefits may include healthcare benefits, discount cards, gym memberships, a company phone or a company car. These benefits can make up for the otherwise lower salary. In such cases, you might want to accept the relatively lower pay as higher pay without benefits will eventually come down when you pay for your expenses.

Be Honest

Honesty is the key factor while telling your salary expectation. Don’t tell too low of the expectation just because you want to save the job. This might be the cause of your job dissatisfaction in future.

Also, make sure you don’t tell too high of expectation only to show how highly you think about yourself. This might not land you the job in the first place itself.

Be honest with your self and market evaluation and ask for a fair pay for both yourself and your employer.

 

In a conclusion, discussing salary can be somewhat an awkward situation. Follow the above guidelines to answer the question “What are your salary expectations?” clearly and effectively.