When discussing salary in an interview, it is important to arrive prepared. The way you handle this delicate situation can make or break your chances of getting the job. Remember that most employers will ask for a range for how much you are expecting as an employee, but your response should be to list out a range for how much you would be willing to accept per hour.

Discussing Salary In An Interview

Introduction

Companies ask about salary for a reason—to see if you’re worth it. So be prepared to have the conversation.

DON’T bring up pay on the first phone call.

Negotiating salary on the first phone call is a bad idea. You’ll probably end up talking about something else and never address the issue again. If you bring it up too early, you may also come across as pushy or desperate, which isn’t a great impression for anyone to have of you.

However, don’t wait too long before bringing it up either! Some people will wait until their last interview before discussing money at all, but that can be risky because if your potential employer thinks that money is an important factor in their decision-making process (which it often is), having no idea what salary range they have in mind could cost you dearly later on down the line when they offer less than what they were considering offering earlier on in negotiations.

What if they ask anyway?

If you’re asked about your salary expectations, don’t be offended. The employer is not necessarily trying to make you feel bad by asking the question—they just want to know if they can meet your needs. Remember that employers have a budget and will likely have a range in mind for what they can offer, so it’s not personal if they ask how much money you would like to make.

Most importantly: Do not answer this question until the very end of negotiations! You should plan on taking some time (at least 24 hours) after talking with an employer before making any decisions about whether or not you want their job and what salary range fits best with their offer. This way, when they finally ask this question at the end of negotiations and tell you where they stand on compensation, everything will already be set in stone because there will be no room for negotiation left open between either party involved at that time point.”

Do your homework.

The first thing you can do is research salary data for the job you are applying for. You can use many different tools and sources to find this information, including Indeed and Glassdoor.

You should also look at the salary range for the job you’re applying for in your city, as well as in your country. This will give you an idea of what someone with similar experience could make if they were hired by another company or organization in that area.

How much to ask for.

How much you should ask for is a topic of debate. It’s true that some people believe you should always ask for the highest number possible, but this might make your interviewer uncomfortable and turn them off from hiring you. If you’re interviewing for a job in a specialized field, it’s best to research what other people with similar jobs are earning and then ask for something close to that range.

For example: If your last job was at an advertising agency as an art director and your new position would be doing the same thing but at a different agency, there’s no reason not to ask for $15/hour more than everyone else working there now makes (at least when starting out). That way if they say yes immediately without negotiating with you at all, it’ll still feel like a victory!

Know your minimum salary and benefits requirements.

To have the best chance of getting your salary negotiation request accepted, you will need to know what the company is offering and how much you should be asking for. To find out this information, do your research on their website, LinkedIn and Glassdoor before the interview.

• Know the Salary Range for the Position: You can use sites like Glassdoor or Payscale to get an idea of what people are earning at similar companies in your area.
• Know What Benefits Are Offered by Your Potential Employer: This will help you decide whether or not they offer enough in benefits to justify accepting a lower salary than you might otherwise receive elsewhere (see below). Consider that some benefits may be worth more than others depending on how much value they add to your overall quality of life. For example, if it’s important for you stay close to home during stressful times like having a baby then paying less rent might outweigh additional salary that would allow someone else to live farther away from home without feeling as stressed about being away from family members when needed most!

Be prepared to discuss the salary in a salary discussion.

• Know what the market rate is.
• Know what your skills and experience are worth.
• Know what the company’s budget is.
• Know what the company’s benefits are.
• Know what the company’s culture is like, and whether or not that works for you (e.g., do you enjoy working in a big corporate environment? Or would you rather work at a smaller startup with more flexibility?).

Ultimately, an interview should be a conversation between two people who want to learn more about each other and see if there’s a good fit between them professionally—and if they can’t seem to find common ground on any of these points, then it may just not be worth continuing discussions further down the road!

Conclusion

Remember, negotiating a salary is a conversation. It’s not a competition to see who can be the most assertive or play the smartest game. Successful negotiation ultimately comes down to being prepared and treating your interviewer with respect. If you’re respectful and have done your homework, it’s hard for them not to do the same!