Offer A Salary Range Plus Some Options For Negotiation
To give yourself more room for negotiation, add some options which would be beneficial to you:
Im looking for a position which pays between $45,000 and $52,000 for a 35-hour work week, but that number can be adjusted based on my ability to work at home, vacation time, bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and other benefits you may provide.
With this answer, you are offering a specific salary range, but also indicating some flexibility based on the benefits provided. Include options that are important to you and will, effectively, be an increase in your pay by reducing some of your out-of-pocket expenses or giving your salary a boost.
Desired Salary On Job Application
How to Answer Desired Salary on Online Application
So, if you keep the above two points in mind when you mention your salary expectation in a good cover letter, then there is a high chance that you will get the job or at least to the next round pretty easily. If you give a flexibility range, then negotiation can be done easily.
Consider Elements That May Affect Your Salary
When it comes to salary expectations, there are a number of factors to consider that can influence your proposed figure:
Education
If you apply for a job that necessitates an advanced degree, such as a master’s or Ph.D., the salary is usually higher than that of a position that requires a diploma or bachelor’s degree. If you apply for a position for which you’re overqualified, provide a reasonable pay expectation. For instance, if you have a master’s degree and apply for a position that requires only a diploma, you may be tempted to ask for a higher salary since you have a master’s. But if you do, the recruiting manager may favour an applicant with a diploma and lower salary expectations.
Skills and experience
Determine the number of years of relevant experience you have. You can include volunteer activities that contributed to your skill sets in your chosen sector in addition to your professional employment experience. Generally, the more experienced and skilful you are, the better your compensation may be.
Location
The cost of living differs between countries. As a result, the compensation for one position may be higher in one country and lower in another. Consider the average salary for the position in the specific country you’re relocating to if you plan to relocate or are willing to relocate for a job.
Present compensation
Living expenses
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Dont Be Direct About Your Salary Requirement
We donât recommend this approach, but it does sometimes prove successful: donât directly answer the question. Instead of including desired salary information in your cover letter, try to downplay its importance.
For example:
âSalary is important, but itâs not the only factor I weigh in my job search efforts. If you conclude that I would be a good fit for the company, I would be more than eager to discuss my desired salary.â
As you can see, itâs a reasonable responseâbut it doesnât exactly follow directions. Still, if youâre unsure about the companyâs salary policies or are afraid that your expectations might prevent you from getting the job, then this can be a viable option.
The Goal: Save Salary Discussion Until You Know They Want To Offer You Their Job
Remember the main goal of everything weve covered above whether youre deciding what to put for desired salary on an application, or preparing to face the topic in your interview.
Before you know the company wants to hire you, you have no leverage to negotiate with or make demands with.
So when employers ask about desired salary on applications and interviews, the best thing to do is to delay the discussion until they want to offer you the position.
Re-focus the conversation on your skills and their job responsibilities, to determine whether its a good potential match. .
Ask them questions about the job. Share examples of your past work. Tell them one or two things about the job that excite you.
But keep the conversation focused on their job and your skills/abilities .
Then, when they decide to offer you the position, you can discuss salary and bonuses with them knowing they are interested in hiring you and are likely to meet some of your demands if theyre reasonable.
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They Use Basic Job Descriptions In Their Work Experiences
Using basic job descriptions of any previous work experiences you have will not make you stand out from other candidates. Instead, highlight and showcase your skills by choosing the right wording and syntax. For example, avoid writing, Responsible for media monitoring instead, make it stronger with, Coordinated daily reports on media by monitoring print, online and social media channels.
Desired Salary Example Answer #:
Im currently earning a base salary of $45,000. I dont have a specific number in mind that Im targeting for this next position, though, and Im willing to consider an offer that you feel is fair.
Its also possible to answer questions about desired salary without revealing your last salary, either.
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What Should You Avoid When Talking About Salary Expectations
Dongive a set amount.
You should never give a set amount without any room for negotiation. Not only does this make you look uncooperative, but it also leaves no room for you to negotiate the salary in your favor.
Dont aim too high.
Avoid asking for a salary that is entirely out of the relevant range. You can easily price yourself out of a job by doing this and appear like you did little to no research. Also, avoid being rude or negative if youre offered a salary that seems too low. Instead, stay positive and professional and do your best to negotiate.
Having a data-backed, well-prepared answer is the best way to ensure youre not undercutting yourself or aiming too high. Remember that your answer reveals if your expectations align with the companys budget and how much you value your skills and expertise. So, make sure to prepare ahead of time and give an informed, honest answer and reflect your value as an employee.
Add Your Salary Requirements To Your Cover Letter
The last paragraph of your cover letter is where you should state your salary requirements. Youve spent the rest of your cover letter describing why youre the perfect fit for the role, so now its time to bring up money.
Dont let your salary requirements take up more than one or two lines. You can discuss your salary further during or after the interview.
Here are some examples of job seekers politely including their salary requirements in their cover letter:
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Should I Disclose My Salary History
Employers asking about your salary history are interested in knowing what you have been paid in your previous roles. They will use this information to determine a suitable wage for you.
Requests for the disclosure of previous jobs earnings is quite uncommon.
However, some employers still request this information:
In this scenario, you may not have much choice but to reveal your past salaries and be willing to fight your case during the interview stage if you feel that you are being offered less money than you are worth or deserve.
Review Professional Certifications And Licenses
If you have higher professional certifications and licenses, you could demand higher salaries than candidates with the minimum qualifications for a role. Since youve invested in your professional development, the employer can compensate you more for your extra credentials and the additional capabilities you would add to their company.
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And If You Provide A Desired Salary Thats Too Low It Can Cripple Your Ability To Negotiate Later
When youre filling out your desired salary on a job application, you know nothing about the job yet.
So maybe you put $40,000 on the job application, but you realize during the interviews that you feel $50,000 is much more fair because this job involves a lot more than the other jobs youre interviewing for.
If you said $40,000 on the job application form, youre going to have a difficult time getting $50,000 at the end of the process.
So its a lose-lose. You gain absolutely NOTHING by telling them your desired salary on a job application form, and you could potentially lose a lot .
Theres Also One More Way To Answer Desired Salary Questions In The Interview
You can also redirect the question back at the interviewer by asking what theyve budgeted for the role.
This is a bit more direct but can work
I like combining this tactic with some of what we covered above. Youll see this in the example coming up below. Youre deflecting the question by saying you dont have a specific desired salary in mind yet, AND youre asking what theyve budgeted.
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Say Salary Requirements Are Negotiable
You can also state that your salary requirements are negotiable based on the position and the overall compensation package, including benefits. That gives you flexibility during the screening process and will leave room to negotiate a reasonable salary if you get an offer that’s less than you expected.
How To Write Expected Salary In A Resume
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CV Format
I want to apply for a job but have no idea how to write expected salary in a resume and this is a requirement for all applicants. Where should I quote my salary expectation? asks Grace.
There are a lot of jobs that ask job applicants to mention their expected salary in their CV when applying for the job.
Not including this information will lead to disqualification because the employer will see that you are not good at following instructions and no one will hire you if you cannot follow simple instructions.
This Is How To Write Expected Salary In A Resume
There are two methods to place it: the first method is to state that your salary requirements are negotiable based on the position and the benefits. The second way is to include a range based on the salary research you have done.
This is usually placed right before listing your referees. The reasons for not placing it before is that it allows the employer to first view your skills, knowledge, and experience instead of judging you by your salary, confirms Ms. Rebecca Nyawira, a Professional CV Writer at Corporate Staffing Services a leading HR consultancy firm.
Example of how to put it: My current salary is Kshs. 20, 000 per month.I would expect a salary in the range of Kshs. 25,000 to Kshs. 35,000 monthly.
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Example Interview Answer #:
I dont have a specific number in mind yet. At this point in my job search, Im focused on finding the position thats the best fit for my career. Once Ive done that, Im willing to consider an offer you feel is fair.
This is just one more way of phrasing the same idea above. You can choose the sample answer that sounds best to you. Theyre all good options for how to answer desired salary questions in a job interview.
Why Do Employers Ask About Salary Expectations
Employers have various reasons for asking about your salary expectations. First, they want to see whether your expectations fall within the budget. This may seem harsh, but it saves both sides precious time. If you state a number or a range thats out of their budget, they will be able to move on to the next candidate. Similarly, you can continue your search for a job with your desired salary.
Recruiters might also ask this question to gauge whether you have done your research and know your value.
Either way, your answer gives away a lot more than your desired salary. It also helps the recruiter see if youre a good fit, as salaries usually align with experience and skill.
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Provide A Salary Range
The employer will very likely want a specific number, so another strategy is to give them a number or a range. Assuming your target salary is $47,000, you could say:
Im looking for a position which pays between $45,000 and $52,000 for a 35-hour work week.
Understand that if you offer a range, they will usually choose the low end of the range in their initial offer, so maybe bump up the range a bit. For example, in this situation, the range could be $42,000 to $52,000. Unless you are very experienced , do not expect to be offered the top of the range.
Is The Expected Salary Question Only For Managers
- No. This desired salary expectations question is applicable to all levels. Including CEOs, CFOs, senior managers and engineers. Also executives, auditors, analysts, teachers, tellers and buyers. In addition to child care educators, planners, sales reps, accountants and entry level positions.
- Also it is applicable to all fields and applicable to women and men.
Let me work with you to negotiate terms of contract and counter offer. So call me on
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How To Answer What Are Your Salary Expectations
You have a few strategies to choose from when preparing your response to this interview question. A good answer doesnt threaten your chances of getting the job but still gives the employer a clear idea of your expectations. Here are some tips on how to effectively present your salary expectations during an interview:
The Position To Which You Are Applying For
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How To Include Compensation In Writing
One way to discuss compensation in a cover letter is to reference a posted salary range, telling the company you are aware of their offered compensation and that you are satisfied with that range, recommends TopResume. You might tell them that you would need to be at the higher end of the range if you dont want to interview for a job that pays the lower end.
If you feel you must include a salary on your resume, you might include your salary history, which some companies request. Businesses that ask for and even demand your salary history often do this because they have someone there who believes this information explains your worth or value in your position .
Unscrupulous companies such as those that state, Submission without salary history and/or requirements will not be considered” ask for salary information so they can see if they can offer you less than they have budgeted for the position . Massachusetts has even made it illegal for employers to ask for this information.
In most cases, its a good idea not to include salary information, including history, on a resume. If you are responding to a job posting by email or using an electronic submission system that lets you leave a note, you can include your salary request or range in your email or note. Using a salary range instead of one figure allows you to negotiate better if you are offered a job.
References
They Dont Proofread Their Resumes
You dont want employers to read a resume peppered with spelling and grammatical mistakes and we cant emphasise on this point enough. The last three to four years of education means nothing when your resume is full of spelling blunders. Proofread your resume and cover letter before sending it out. If youre not confident enough, you can always ask a friend to help.
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Should You Include Expected Salary In Your Resume
- Dont include your expected salary in your resume, CV or in your online job application.
- And dont include your current salary in your resume or CV.
- Also, dont include your salary expectations in your cover letter or thank you email.
- Focus on your best achievements and results delivered in your resume. This would help get selected and also to justify a higher a salary.
How Do You Write Salary Expectations On A Resume
You can include your salary expectations in your cover letter or resume using phrases like, “My expected salary is negotiable depending on the job responsibilities and overall compensation packageâ,“My salary expectation is in the $55,000 to $65,000+ rangeâ or âI am hoping to make $55,000 to $65,000 annually, but I am open to further discussing the compensation amounts.â You can establish a distinction between your base income and additional perks such as bonuses, paid vacation and health insurance. Remember not to add benefits or bonuses into this range, as it may drastically inflate the figures.
You can also include your salary history as a base figure, but be mindful not to inflate this number, as some companies may check and follow up with your past employers. You can mention your background in your cover letter, along with a brief statement of your current salary. For instance, you may say, “I have been making an annual salary of about $50,000.â Otherwise, you can include an itemised breakdown of your past salaries on your resume.
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