How to Answer, ‘What Are Your Salary Expectations?’

Every job applicant searches for a package that is worthy. a pay scale that might engender feelings of contentment and fulfilment. Everyone enjoys experiencing happiness. But is it simple to state salary expectations in front of a recruiting manager? Let’s face it, answering questions like, ‘What are your salary expectations’, is not at all easy, even though we may feel like talking about them in our heads. Instead, we experience anxiety or worry that giving a high estimate could negatively impact our chances of landing a job. 

Also Read: How to Answer Why Do You Want This Job?

In this blog’s series of posts on interview preparation, we’ll discuss one of the trickiest interview questions to tackle: the one concerning compensation expectations. To learn more about how to respond to the question “What are your salary expectations,” keep reading.

Also Read – How to Prepare for an Interview

How to Answer Salary Expectations?

Whenever you are asked this question regarding your salary expectations, your immediate response should be professional and straightforward about how much you are actually expecting. A lot of people struggle when it comes to answering the salary question, as the interviewer also comes up with another question, that is, why do you expect this much salary? Whenever we talk about salary or money in front of others, it’s often stressful and does not always result in our favour. Here are some steps which everyone must follow to answer this question, What are your salary expectations?

• Stay in tune with industry standards: Before appearing for a job interview, try to keep yourself updated about the average salary in similar industries and job profiles. You can do brief research regarding the top interview questions and how to answer them.
• Be aware of your skills: Make sure to consider your worth before imagining any figure in your mind. You need to reflect on your qualifications and the level of skills and experience you possess. To give weightage to your answers, try to assess your value proposition and how well you can align your skills with the company’s expectations or needs.
• Negotiate with a salary range: You need to make room for negotiation. Try making an offer where you are talking about a salary range and not talking about an exact figure. Offer a range which can be acceptable for both you and the interviewer. The range you will be asking for should be based on your research and evaluation of the role you are applying for.
• Consider the entire compensation package: The salary offered in interviews is just a component of the overall package offered to you. You should also talk or ask about other benefits included with the salary package, such as stock options, bonuses, wellness and casual leaves, health insurance, professional development options and other perks. This broader perspective will assist you to know the entire value of the job.
• Negotiate a counteroffer for a better fit: Once you’ve given an offer, the interviewer will most likely respond with a counteroffer, which can either be in your favour or less than what you want. In case the interviewer is offering you less than your expectations, try to express your gratitude for the job opportunity and make room for negotiation, which can be acceptable to the interviewer. But if you are being offered higher than expected, you can express your appreciation and potentially negotiate other aspects of the compensation package.

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Things to Remember in an Interview

Everyone preparing for their personal interview wants it to end on a positive note, where their expectations are welcomed by the interviewer. Interviews give you opportunities to learn and grow, no matter what the outcomes are. If you want your next interview to end in your favour, follow the below-mentioned important things to remember in an interview.

• Carry important documents, such as your updated resume/ CV, references, account details, etc. Organise them in a portfolio or a folder.
• Pay attention to everything being said by the interviewer and respond in the most appropriate way. Try to engage with the interviewer in active listening by maintaining eye contact, nodding and giving thoughtful answers.
• To make the conversation interesting, highlight your technical and relevant skills and how effectively you can use them in your professional life. Emphasize soft skills such as problem-solving, adaptability, effective communication, teamwork, etc. You can talk about any past experience, where you successfully demonstrated your skills.
• Maintain a positive attitude throughout the process. If you are appearing for a specific job role, you need to show genuine interest in that role and company. This can make a lasting impression on the interviewer, and the chances of you getting hired will increase.
• Try to use polite language, be courteous, and demonstrate appropriate manners.

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Indeed, preparing for an interview is a time-consuming and difficult endeavour. One may succeed in their preparation without any problems if they use the proper plans and techniques.

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