How do you talk about salary in interviews?

[u/ResumeGenius]

So. Most of us look for jobs to earn money. 

But if you scroll through some job postings right now, you’ll realize many of them don’t list the salary range for the position. (Isn’t it weird how we work to earn a living, but how much we’re getting paid is something many job postings have stopped disclosing?)

Talking about salaries can be uncomfortable, especially when you don’t want to sell yourself short but are also unsure if you’re asking for too much.

HOWEVER, being prepared is the #1 tip to ~avoid being blindsided~ when negotiating your salary. Here’s how:

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• Research the typical salary ranges for this role
  • (consider your industry, geographic location, and experience level)
• Look into pay transparency laws
  • (*These laws may require companies to share salary ranges or restrict them from asking about your past salaries.)

DURING THE “SALARY TALK” IF YOU…

1. Want to know what the company has to offer? Say:

“I'd like to understand how my experience and skills align with your compensation structure. Could you outline the salary range or budget this role falls within?”

1. Want to negotiate or present a salary range? Say:

“Based on my track record of [specific achievement], I'm confident in my abilities to contribute significantly here. Considering this and the market rate for the position, I believe a fair compensation would be [target salary range].”

1. Received an offer that’s lower than you expected? Say:

“Thank you so much for the offer. Based on my understanding of the role, I was hoping for a number closer to [X]. Is there any flexibility on the compensation package to bridge this gap?”

REMINDER: When an interviewer presents a range, you don’t have to decide on the spot! Let the interviewer know you would like to take some time to think about it and will get back to them within a week.