Started By
Message

"What are your salary expectations?"

Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:56 pm
Posted by goldennugget
Hating Masks
Member since Jul 2013
24514 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:56 pm
I've probably been asked this two dozen times in the last 3 weeks doing initial phone screens for job interviews, and still don't believe I can answer it right.

I wish recruiters would just be open about what the salary range is for the position up front. I feel like them asking you instead of them telling you what the range is, is a way to box you in or low ball you. I've been a hiring manager in the past and would be 100% transparent with the people I was interviewing in regards to that.

Most of the time I play chicken with the recruiter until one of us caves.

What is the ideal way to answer this?
Posted by Cosmo
glassman's guest house
Member since Oct 2003
120389 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:57 pm to
What is your field?

ETA tree fiddy
This post was edited on 4/29/21 at 12:57 pm
Posted by DiamondDog
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2019
10605 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:57 pm to
“More than you’re offering probably”

I’ve always just told them what I make now and tell them it’d have to be motivating. Usually they’ll come out and tell you what the range is if you’re over.

If they can do business they’ll say something like “that’s in the range”.
This post was edited on 4/29/21 at 12:59 pm
Posted by A Smoke Break
Lafayette
Member since Nov 2018
2064 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:58 pm to
quote:

What is the ideal way to answer this?



"What is your offered salary"

if they hit me with something unreasonable, i hit them back with my skillset and work history.

If we can't agree, I walk.
Posted by goldennugget
Hating Masks
Member since Jul 2013
24514 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:59 pm to
Data Science, Big Data, Market Research

I was the #1 top of the ladder in the Data Science/Analytics department for a major broadcast corporation in 2019 and 2020 before being let go due to budget cuts.

Usually data scientists with my experience(7 years of data science experience, 4 years of management experience) can command salaries of $130,000+ even in low cost of living markets.
Posted by jclem11
Neoliberal Shill
Member since Nov 2011
7834 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:59 pm to
Bout tree fiddy.

- The OT probably
Posted by Lima Whiskey
Member since Apr 2013
19400 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:59 pm to
I move a lot for work. And I always explain that I don’t know the cost of living, and I ask them to make their best offer.
Posted by squid_hunt
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2021
11272 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:59 pm to
quote:

What is the ideal way to answer this?

You should know this before you get on the phone.

You have to be able to answer:
1. What's average pay in that area for your job?
2. How good/experienced are you at your job?
3. How badly do you need this job?
4. How much money do you need?
5. What is the offered pay scale?

Obviously you don't want to low-ball, but you want to keep them interested, so it's a tightrope.
Posted by goldennugget
Hating Masks
Member since Jul 2013
24514 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 12:59 pm to
quote:

I’ve always just told them what I make now and tell them it’d have to be motivating.


The problem is I made what I made in San Diego, a high cost of living market, and each time I use that number the recruiter goes haywire about how San Diego salaries do not scale to the geography I am applying to.
Posted by Muthsera
Member since Jun 2017
7319 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:00 pm to
I'm SOL since I'm trying to change careers.

I'm desperate to leave and looking for entry-level (most likely), so I feel like I have to lowball everything (wife is an OT baller, so this is okay).

But then I'm stuck thinking that if I go too low, hiring managers will think I'm not aware of the scope of the job, doubly so because changing careers "We normally pay 45k for this but he's asking for 35k, he must think this is a different job".

Add in that I live in a low COL area and the new prevalence of remote work...I have barely any idea what market rate looks like anymore.
Posted by AndyCBR
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Nov 2012
7556 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:00 pm to
“I don’t have any expectations, the employer determines the salary for the position, not the applicant. What does the position pay?”

I’ve been pretty successful in deflecting the question with that.

And yes, the recruiter wants to make their job easier by using your answer to exclude you from consideration and eliminate a resume from their pile.

HR people can be very lazy.
Posted by St Augustine
The Pauper of the Surf
Member since Mar 2006
64355 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

I’ve always just told them what I make now and tell them it’d have to be motivating
Posted by goldennugget
Hating Masks
Member since Jul 2013
24514 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

1. What's average pay in that area for your job?


Many jobs are remote now so they will tell you upfront it depends on where you live. I've been told this multiple times.

quote:

2. How good/experienced are you at your job?


7 years of data science, 4 years of managing teams

quote:

3. How badly do you need this job?


I've been out of work for all of 2021, I have plenty of savings but I hate not being able to grow my retirement accounts
Posted by DiamondDog
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2019
10605 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

use that number the recruiter goes haywire about how San Diego salaries do not scale to the geography I am applying to.


Sounds like you need to do some research and by research I mean...go find a cost of living calculator and then add 10% to the number they give you.

That’s you’re target.

I’ve done this for DC, NYC, STL and LA. I’ve lived a bunch of places.
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
39060 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:02 pm to
It’s a strange topic because, as an applicant, I don’t know what the day to day job entails. My skills vary in value...if I’m 100% doing my most valuable skill it would be $X, if that skill is only 5% of my tasking, and you just want me to write compliance reports 95% of the time I’m less valuable to you. It’s impossible to guess.
Posted by TheWiz
Third World, LA
Member since Aug 2007
11685 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:03 pm to
quote:

I’ve always just told them what I make now and tell them it’d have to be motivating.

Rule of thumb is 15% above current salary right? This is probably the best route.
Posted by Tyga Woods
South Central Jupiter Island, FL
Member since Sep 2016
30355 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:04 pm to
quote:

What are your salary expectations



Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
101658 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:04 pm to
quote:

and each time I use that number the recruiter goes haywire about how San Diego salaries do not scale to the geography I am applying to.


So, it sounds like your are starting the relevant discussion. What else would you hope to accomplish with a different answer?
Posted by DiamondDog
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2019
10605 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:05 pm to
quote:

Rule of thumb is 15% above current salary right? This is probably the best route.


You’re not getting that nowadays unless you’re jumping levels. You’re getting 10%.

I did get 35% last year to stay but I was jumping levels.
Posted by rantfan
new iberia la
Member since Nov 2012
14110 posts
Posted on 4/29/21 at 1:06 pm to
They want you to low ball yourself counter it with a high number.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 5Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram