Quick Tips:
T
Th
he Salary Ques
stion
BASIC TIPS:
esearch salary ranges
s for the
• Know the market vallue for your skills. Re
position you
u want. Thiis gives you solid bac
ckground in
nformation for an
in
nterview. There
T
are many
m
webs
sites that offfer salary informatio
on such as
w
www.salary
y.com, www
w.salaryexp
pert.com, and
a
www.p
payscale.co
om to name a
fe
ew. These websites can
c
be a go
ood resourc
ce for average earnin
ng statistics
s in
your industry. You can
n also try the
t
Bureau of Labor Statistics
S
at www.bls..gov
or anavalan
nche of infformation. Professiona
al organiza
ations and business
fo
m
magazines
often
o
surve
ey salaries, and onlin
ne job boarrds can be a good pla
ace
to
o post a ge
eneral salary question
n.
our financia
al situation
n. Find out how much
h you need to make in
n
• Look at yo
order to cov
ver your bills. Remem
mber to include increa
ased living expenses if
ving to a more
m
expen
nsive city. Several we
ebsites like
e
you are mov
w
www.salary
y.com also offer cost-of-living co
omparison calculators
s.
e second or third
• Patience is valuable.. Wait to discuss salary until the
in
nterview. The
T
first intterview will give you a chance to
t explore the
t
position
and your po
ossible resp
ponsibilities
s. Then you will have
e a better idea of wha
at
k
kind
of salary to expec
ct.
s
that the employer is serriously interested
• A second interview signals
in
n you for th
he position
n. At this po
oint, the em
mployer wiill likely dis
scuss salarry
and benefits
s. If not, itt’s appropriate at this
s time to brroach the subject.
s
T
Tactfully
ask what the
e salary ran
nge is for the position
n and whatt benefits are
a
offered.
ou are aske
ed about yo
our salary requirements? You can always say
• What if yo
sa
alary is negotiable. This
T
will “bu
uy you time
e” to consider it furth
her, play ou
ut
all your options or allo
ow the emp
ployer to offer a salarry number first. You can
also use the
e knowledg
ge you have about av
verage sala
ary for thatt position and
mployer a ra
ange of sallary you be
elieve you should earrn. Make su
ure
give the em
he lowest figure
f
will still
s
cover your
y
financ
cial obligatiions.
th
he salary offfer is too low? Be pre
epared to show
s
the in
nterviewer
• What if th
w
why
you deserve a hig
gher salary
y. If you kn
now your market
m
valu
ue, you can
n
m
make
a stro
ong argume
ent.
egotiate a final
f
figure
e until a job
b offer is on the table
e.
• Wait to ne
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Th
he Salary Question
Q
Co
ont.d
• Look at th
he whole pa
ackage, no
ot just salary. Health benefits, profit
p
sharin
ng,
in
nsurance options, vac
cation, parking, overttime, bonuses, etc., should
s
all be
b
co
onsidered. Some com
mpanies ma
ay offer a lower
l
salarry, but they
y may mak
ke
up for it in perks
p
like flex-time
f
o telecomm
or
muting options.
ds about sa
alary. Stay
y profession
nal and con
nversationa
al.
• Never make demand
• New gradu
uates are often
o
eager to take whatever
w
sa
alary is offe
ered. Expe
ect
to
o start out in an entry
y-level job, but also expect
e
to be
b paid what your
education and skills merit.
m
You will
w have more
m
negotiiating powe
er if you ha
ave
e work experience such as an in
nternship or
o co-op.
had real-life
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