How do I answer : "What are your salary requirements ?"

[polm]

I was just sent an email from a potential employer asking what my salary requirements are.

What is the proper way to state my requirement ?

Just send back "65K" ? Should I explain my reasoning ?

 

[Mutilator]

Smart-ass answer? One Meeeeeelion Dollars.
Your actual answer will vary. You don't want to go too high to scare them away but you also don't want to go too low and screw yourself. I'm sure others here will have more experience with this than me but I'd simply reply with something along the lines of "I feel that with my knowledge and experience in <insert field of work> that I should be paid in the $$-$$ range."

 

[fastz28]

Negotiable.

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: fastz28
Negotiable.

thats what i put.

 

[polm]

How does this sound :

"Last year I earned approximately 60K with salary and bonuses combined. I feel that my proffesional expierence and certification level would warrant a salary in the 60K - 70K per year range. "

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: polm
How does this sound :

"Last year I earned approximately 60K with salary and bonuses combined. I feel that my proffesional expierence and certification level would warrant a salary in the 60K - 70K per year range. "

Sounds like a winnAr!

 

[dman]

Sounds good. They may have nice bene's and a lower salary would be comparable to what you made before. Or not.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: polm
How does this sound :

"Last year I earned approximately 60K with salary and bonuses combined. I feel that my proffesional expierence and certification level would warrant a salary in the 60K - 70K per year range. "

Sounds like a winnAr!

HOOT!!!

 

[Izzo]

I would not reply with just "negotiable." If he wanted to negotiate, he would do it in person or on the phone, not in an email. I like the response posted a few posts above.

 

[dullard]

I'd always give a range. Putting just one number will likely screw you as others have said - you either won't be considered since it is too high or you just offered a salary far less than they were willing to pay. I think your resume and interviews are enough to justify the range you select, you probably don't need much additional explaination.

 

[anxi80]

yeah, that sounds good. thats cool they give you that much space. usually when i apply for jobs, the salary line is about this long: ____

dang mcdonalds and saving money on ink, cant write out my logic for why i deserve $6.50. :|

 

[sygyzy]

If you put a range they will always pick the lowest number. Pick a number and if it's too high they will counteroffer. They will never offer more when they can offer less.

 

[Alternex]

Originally posted by: Izzo
I would not reply with just "negotiable." If he wanted to negotiate, he would do it in person or on the phone, not in an email. I like the response posted a few posts above.

Yeah.. usually they're just looking to see if you're in the same ballpark. Salary negotiation usually occurs after you interview

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
If you put a range they will always pick the lowest number. Pick a number and if it's too high they will counteroffer. They will never offer more when they can offer less.

/my policy/ If it's too high, it goes into the "no" pile.

 

[polm]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: sygyzy
If you put a range they will always pick the lowest number. Pick a number and if it's too high they will counteroffer. They will never offer more when they can offer less.

/my policy/ If it's too high, it goes into the "no" pile.

what is TOO high ? How am I supposed to know what their TOO high mark is ?

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: polm

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: sygyzy
If you put a range they will always pick the lowest number. Pick a number and if it's too high they will counteroffer. They will never offer more when they can offer less.

/my policy/ If it's too high, it goes into the "no" pile.

what is TOO high ? How am I supposed to know what their TOO high mark is ?

You don't know. That's why you don't commit yourself by putting down a number. Believe me, if they want you, after interviews, they will make a fair offer to get you.

 

[Yax]

Giving a range is just plain stupid. HR will only take the lowest number in your range and give that to you. Its because they already know you're willing to work for that low of a number. Happens every time.

If you give a range 60k-70k at most, expect to get an offer for 60k or maybe 61K at most. Never give a range. Just tell them what you want. You don't have to be exact. I always say something like:

Well, I would like to see around 65K, but what are the benefits to go with it?

Saying negotiable sounds nice, but it doesn't give the inquirer any idea what your range is so you're at square 1 again.

 

[Doggiedog]

How do I answer : "What are you salary requirements ?"

You can say "Your English is the suX0rs"

 

[dr150]

Say: "If you have to ask, then you can't afford me"

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: fastz28
Negotiable.

Absolutely! You cannot win if you make the first offer.

• If you put down 60k, but they were actually willing to pay you 80k... Well, you just lost 20k.
• If you put down 60k, but they were only willing to pay 45k... Well, you won't get considered for the job.

NEVER make the first offer in ANY negotiations.

 

[sciencetoy]

This is why you do a lot of homework before you get to that situation.

First, know what the industry norm is for the position - you can always start there.

Second, know what the press is saying about the company - you get a lot of clues.

Third, hopefully you have found a contact within the company and you can find out a lot about them. Is their pay generally low/medium/high?

Fourth, you can lowball and then when you go into negotiations tell them that (a) that number was a misprint or (b) the truth, that you lowballed on purpose and now you want to know what they are really offering.

Fifth, lowball, start at a low salary, find out what everyone else is making, and then demand a raise - if you have balls, that is.

Sixth, you can call the person who asked you for the offer and sweet-talk them into telling you what numbers they are looking for.

Seventh, you can mention whatever you're currently making and ask for a bit more.

I'm a boss and I use this question to find out what kind of person I'm dealing with. The answer I EXPECT is whatever the industry norm is. If someone gives an unrealistically high figure, I dump them because it is obvious that they don't know what they're getting into. When someone says "I'll work for free" I dump them for the same reason. I don't mind someone asking me NICELY what the heck I'm looking for - as long as they have serious credentials and experience, etc. And I'm impressed when someone knows something about our company and is able to start with that.

Good luck.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: cheapbidder01
Giving a range is just plain stupid. HR will only take the lowest number in your range and give that to you. Its because they already know you're willing to work for that low of a number. Happens every time.

If you give a range 60k-70k at most, expect to get an offer for 60k or maybe 61K at most. Never give a range. Just tell them what you want. You don't have to be exact.

The key with the range is that the potential employeer knows you are applying elsewhere. If you say you are looking for 60K to 70K but want 65K, of course the employer will try to start with a low 60K or 61K offer. But then you decline saying you have a better offer elsewhere and they need to up it. They'd likely up it to 65K and you negotiate from there - possibly up to 70K if they want you that badly. It is always best not to offer the first number but it looks like polm is stuck - so a range is the only way to go.

 

[KK]

Free for the first month. Would that work?

KK

 

[DurocShark]

"I'm sure your company will make me a competitive offer commensurate with my experience..."

 

[jdogg]

NO NO NO NO NO ... it is extremely POOR business practice for a potential employer to ask that question and you should DEFINATELY make it clear. Something to the effect of:

"if you have taken a single interviewing class you would know it is in extreme poor taste to ask such a question ... if you have an offer for me you should extend it ... not try and see just how cheaply you can aquire me"

Such a question REEKS of a business who is eagerly awaiting to screw you and i would beware