What is the trick to answer these two questions on a job application?

[Amol S.]

These two questions on the job application that are usually asked after the interview, and from what I have learned from career services is that it is bad to give your salary preferences before you are given an offer. But the question is being asked on the job application.

Further more, what is a good date to place as a start date, if the open position was posted 17 days ago, and I am applying today?

 

[kt]

Negotiable
2 weeks notice

 

[Brainonska511]

Negotiable
2 weeks notice

Or, if you have to put stuff down because the form is being stupid:

-Look up the salary range for similar positions on a site like Glassdoor, and then pick a number
-Earliest you can start. If you don't have a job now, feel free to put down an earlier time. 2 weeks away is fair though.

 

[Amol S.]

Applied, had to place a number so did a lookup and placed 50000

 

[ultimatebob]

Applied, had to place a number so did a lookup and placed 50000

Just $50,000? What are you applying for, a night shift manager at a Wendy's?

 

[Jeeebus]

Assuming rhe HR person is on ATOT, he/she is looking for "over 9,000!!!" on the first question.

 

[Captante]

Assuming rhe HR person is on ATOT, he/she is looking for "over 9,000!!!" on the first question.

More like 900 bazillion.

 

[Shmee]

9000 BTC. Seriously though, I find it usually better to leave these open and discuss during an interview if possible.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Salary not being published in the listing implies bias.

 

[Tweak155]

I would put at least the minimum I would accept. Why skirt around it? I'm not sure I get the question... are you trying to get the interview or the job?

 

[lxskllr]

OP doesn't have much experience, and is looking to not get trapped/rejected. Go too high, HR hits [Next]. Go too low, you're underselling yourself, and/or advertising you're clueless.

 

[purbeast0]

I don't understand why you wouldn't put the absolute minimum you would take. Why beat around the bush and play games?

I am no in the market for a new job but get hit up by recruiters like 3-4 times a week. I always copy/paste the same reply telling them I am not in the market but always open to hearing about new opportunities so let me know the salary/benefits that come with this position and I'll let them know if I'd realistically consider it.

Pretty much like more than half the time I don't hear anything back and the ones that do get back to me the salary is too low or they don't put a specific number on it. And no time has really been wasted since it's this reply that takes me like 15 seconds to type.

 

[purbeast0]

OP doesn't have much experience, and is looking to not get trapped/rejected. Go too high, HR hits [Next]. Go too low, you're underselling yourself, and/or advertising you're clueless.

And good, then he won't be working for some shit hole company if that is how they operate.

 

[ultimatebob]

OP doesn't have much experience, and is looking to not get trapped/rejected. Go too high, HR hits [Next]. Go too low, you're underselling yourself, and/or advertising you're clueless.

I don't know what kind of job the OP is asking for, but $50,000 seems low in 2021. I mean, $30,000 is the new minimum wage salary in most urban areas in the US now.

 

[Amol S.]

I don't know what kind of job the OP is asking for, but $50,000 seems low in 2021. I mean, $30,000 is the new minimum wage salary in most urban areas in the US now.

IT Help Desk Specialist.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

9000 BTC. Seriously though, I find it usually better to leave these open and discuss during an interview if possible.

This is the right answer.
If asked say “How can I know what the salary should be without knowing specifics about scheduling or duties”
I never liked the “expected” salary question. This should be a face to face or at minimal a voice conversation.
Start date should be expected, pick any date that is appropriate for you and that date could be as early as “today”

 

[ultimatebob]

IT Help Desk Specialist.

Ah, OK. You're just starting out. If you do get the job, make sure to network with the system administrators and try to get a job with their team. You'll likely get a BIG pay bump if you do!

 

[Zorba]

This is the right answer.
If asked say “How can I know what the salary should be without knowing specifics about scheduling or duties”
I never liked the “expected” salary question. This should be a face to face or at minimal a voice conversation.
Start date should be expected, pick any date that is appropriate for you and that date could be as early as “today”

Yeah, I hate the salary questions. Why don't you list the salary range in the posting and I decide if that meets my expectations. But they know people will low-ball themselves early in the process, so the company gets away with paying less than they would otherwise.

In interviews I always say "I view salary as one part of the compensation package, and will consider the salary and benefits offered versus the job responsibilities." If they push it, I generally ask what their salary range for the position is.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Yeah, I hate the salary questions. Why don't you list the salary range in the posting and I decide if that meets my expectations. But they know people will low-ball themselves early in the process, so the company gets away with paying less than they would otherwise.

In interviews I always say "I view salary as one part time of the compensation package, and will consider the salary and benefits offered versus the job responsibilities." If they push it, I generally ask what their salary range for the position is.

Smart way of handling that.

 

[Zorba]

Smart way of handling that.

My mom has been in HR management my whole life, I've been coached.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

My mom has been in HR management my whole life, I've been coached.

smartest advice I heard from an HR person I worked on a project with was regarding a trans woman I know. She was applying for a new job and she has some patents in her previous name. I asked how should she handle it.
The HR person said she should just list them as patents or processes she came up with and list the old name. No explanation is required.
Simple solutions are typically the best solution. We all over complicate things regarding jobs.

 

[purbeast0]

I simply won't talk to any company if they aren't upfront about he salary in our initial contact. I'm at the point in my career where I don't need to change jobs at all and make great money and have great benefits. I'm not looking for jobs so it's always recruiters hitting me up.

If I were to leave, they would have to completely butter me up and give me something I simply could not refuse. Like one of those offers that would be stupid not to take.

 

[HomerJS]

These two questions on the job application that are usually asked after the interview, and from what I have learned from career services is that it is bad to give your salary preferences before you are given an offer. But the question is being asked on the job application.

Further more, what is a good date to place as a start date, if the open position was posted 17 days ago, and I am applying today?

View attachment 50208

Looking for a salary commensurate to the position. Negotiable also works.

Start date usually 2 weeks from previous job