Do you have an upcoming job interview? Check out my example answer to the interview question: “What are your salary expectations?” or “What do you want to earn?”
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Example Answer
“Well, at this point I need to know quite a bit more about what the job entails and the responsibilities that go along with it before I can give you an accurate answer on that, however I will consider any reasonable offer.”
In some cases, they want to hear what you’d consider as a reasonable offer, then you can answer it like this:
“That depends on the salary range for this position at your company. I mean, you are in a much better position to know how much I’m worth to you than I am.”
Some employers will still want to hear specific numbers. Then I’d suggest you provide a wide salary range:
“Well, based on my qualifications and knowledge of the industry, I’d consider a reasonable price range in between the [$X] and [$Y] annually, depending on details.”
TIPS
√ Do avert the question early on in the hiring process. It’s better to deflect the question until you know more about the job responsibilities and whether it’s a position you are actually interested in.
√ Do know the appropriate salary range for your position, experience, educational background, region and industry. Find out what you should earn using the free salary range calculators on the internet.
X Don’t blame the interviewer for asking this question. They usually want to ensure your salary expectations are in line with their set budget.
X Don’t ignore other compensation options. Some candidates focus too much on the actual paycheck and forget about other benefits such as additional PTO, shares in the company or additional health benefits.
