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Answering the "desired salary" question for a possible employeer

T

trmiv

Lifer
I'm currently employed, and relatively happy in my job. I'm a contractor though, so I get no paid vacation, and with any contracting job, you never feel secure. The other day I was contacted out of the blue by a recruiter about an opportunity. He called about the position and talked to me a bit, liked what he heard and wanted to send me a screening questionnaire for me to fill out to send to the hiring manager.

Anyway, on the questionnaire they ask what my current salary is, and what my desired salary is. I don't want to price myself out or anything, but shooting too high is a risk too. So should I answer the question, or try to deflect it with something like "A competitive rate for this position." or "What is the salary range for this position? This is of course much easier to do in person, so I'm not sure how to pull it off on this questionnaire. Also, should I answer the "what is your current salary" part as well?
 
I always used the old standby. "Open"

That way you can find out more about the job, hours/workload/etc..., and decide what you should be paid for it. then go from there.
 
Never, ever give a number first.

Just say "competitive rate for the roles and responsibilities of the position"
 
120% of your current salary 🙂. I'm just making this up but should sound like a fair amount, esp since they are recruiting you.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Never, ever give a number first.

Just say "competitive rate for the roles and responsibilities of the position"
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That sounds pretty good. If I do that, do I answer the "current salary" part?
 
my opinion is not to short-change yourself
put what you deserve or want +10%

if they really want you, they'll try to get at asking price, or negociate down
if theyre not willing to pay close to whatever youre comfortable with , would you want to work there anyways?

especially during interviews, when the salary negociations come last... my view is that they pitch it out there because they already feel that they want you... and they offer a chance for negociation to sae themselves money. if theyre willing to pay you 10, and you ask for 8, they save 2. if you ask for 12, theyll negociate down to 10 or settle for 11. noones is going to say GTFO unless you demand something absolutely ludicrous
 
Originally posted by: trmiv
Originally posted by: spidey07
Never, ever give a number first.

Just say "competitive rate for the roles and responsibilities of the position"
Click to expand...


That sounds pretty good. If I do that, do I answer the "current salary" part?
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Me personally I'd never answer that. Its just like giving a number first.

If its a recruiter its probably just routine screening to see if its worth the effort to proceed.
 
This screening thing is a series of 10 questions, so in number 6 they ask this "What is your current salary? What is your desired salary?"

It would be OK to just ignore the first part, and stick "My desired salary is negotiable." as the answer to that question?
 
"As much as I can get"

^ That's the only correct answer.

I so much hate BS questions like that in interviews. It makes the interviewer look stupid, in my opinion.
 
Originally posted by: Wingznut
"NEGOTIABLE" is the correct answer. As for your current salary, just leave it blank.
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Actually, it's not.

You should almost always put a number. You should take the time, do the research, and put a number that you feel is the market rate for the position + what you feel you're worth.

Negotiable is OK for entry-level positions, but never for professional positions. There are a number of companies who will throw-out applications that have "negotiable" for the salary range. They figure if you don't take the time to put down a figure then they won't take the time to review your application.

Do not put negotiable/open. 9 times out of 10 the salary is open for negotiation anyway...but "negotiable" is lazy.
 
I don't know. I've seen some employers ask for salary requirements on resumes but that has a drawback. Many a times, I've been unsuccessful securing an interview with a company once the HR person discovers how much I'm seeking for a salary.
The best way is to negotiate it at the very end since the hiring manager has more leverage in getting a good number for you. At least thats how I've seen it work.

 
OK, a few conflicting answers here. Screw it, I'm just going to put down a decent range, and be done with it. It's not like I'm counting on getting this job or anything, I already have a decent job. If they want to give me what I ask and I like the job, score one for me.
 
Originally posted by: trmiv
OK, a few conflicting answers here. Screw it, I'm just going to put down a decent range, and be done with it. It's not like I'm counting on getting this job or anything, I already have a decent job. If they want to give me what I ask and I like the job, score one for me.
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Take everything posted with a grain of salt if you'd like. I'm simply speaking from experience, being a HR Generalist and all. 😉
 
Originally posted by: trmiv
OK, a few conflicting answers here. Screw it, I'm just going to put down a decent range, and be done with it. It's not like I'm counting on getting this job or anything, I already have a decent job. If they want to give me what I ask and I like the job, score one for me.
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If you put down a range, they're going to offer you the minimum of that range or less.
 
Originally posted by: DAGTA
Originally posted by: trmiv
OK, a few conflicting answers here. Screw it, I'm just going to put down a decent range, and be done with it. It's not like I'm counting on getting this job or anything, I already have a decent job. If they want to give me what I ask and I like the job, score one for me.
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If you put down a range, they're going to offer you the minimum of that range or less.
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Maybe so, but then you'll be able to negotiate from there...

This is why so many companies will discard applications that state "negotiable"...look at it from the organization's perspective...of course the salary is freaking negotiable...we didn't put "desired pay range" for you to write down "negotiable". Heck, in that box a lot of companies will put the $ sign in for you...which means...YES...you're supposed to write a number. Where do you see, "$Negotiable" in the english language as proper grammar?

There are some places where salaries are not-negotiable or at least not as much, such as where I currently work (a non-profit). Since our funds come from grants we can only a lot so much to each position, and sometimes we're restrticted by the grants themselves as too how much we can pay for each position...

BUT...in corporate america, you can damn near always negotiate salary. It's the American way! 😀

 
Originally posted by: DAGTA
Originally posted by: trmiv
OK, a few conflicting answers here. Screw it, I'm just going to put down a decent range, and be done with it. It's not like I'm counting on getting this job or anything, I already have a decent job. If they want to give me what I ask and I like the job, score one for me.
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If you put down a range, they're going to offer you the minimum of that range or less.
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Maybe, but my minimum will be quite a nice bump over what I'm making now. I really have nothing to lose. Plus I just got a call about another job, a permanent position within my current company. So I have options.
 
Originally posted by: trmiv
Also, what about the current salary part? Answer or no?
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Personally, I wouldn't answer it. They may throw it out because you didn't, but I'd rather have them NOT know my current salary...it's none of their business.
 
Originally posted by: trmiv
OK, a few conflicting answers here. Screw it, I'm just going to put down a decent range, and be done with it. It's not like I'm counting on getting this job or anything, I already have a decent job. If they want to give me what I ask and I like the job, score one for me.
Click to expand...

ALWAYS put down a range you would be happy with, but make the very low end of your range what you really want to make, because if you say "60,000 - 80,000 per year" they are NEVER going to offer you 80, probably only offer 57,000 or 60,000 at tops.

The Upside to putting down your range is that you won't waste a ton of time interviewing and talking to people for a job that doesn't pay anywhere what you would expect. So if you are expecting to make say 75,000 per year and the job can only offer 60,000 there really is not much of a point wasting anyones time (yours or theres).
 
I would really put what a person in that position / location deserves. I am underpaid now for what I do but I love the security... but with a new opportunity, I'm not settling again.

And I wouldn't write my current salary on the application.
 
Originally posted by: MixMasterTang

ALWAYS put down a range you would be happy with, but make the very low end of your range what you really want to make, because if you say "60,000 - 80,000 per year" they are NEVER going to offer you 80, probably only offer 57,000 or 60,000 at tops.

The Upside to putting down your range is that you won't waste a ton of time interviewing and talking to people for a job that doesn't pay anywhere what you would expect. So if you are expecting to make say 75,000 per year and the job can only offer 60,000 there really is not much of a point wasting anyones time (yours or theres).
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EXACTLY. if theyre not willign to pay what you want, why would you want to work for them? if you're already willing to work for them at a price they can afford, why would they want to pay you more than you asked for???

its a lose situation.. negociation is for you to save them cost
 
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