How to ask about the salary via email?

  • Thread starter Thread starter IC3
  • Start date Start date

IC3

IC3

IC3

Soldato
Joined
3 Dec 2011
Posts
10,222
I've a job interview next week, its a step up from what I use to do. But, I'll have to travel and because there was no mentioning of the salary I would prefer to ask beforehand to not waste my and their time.

I need help in wording it right. I don't want to lose the opportunity, but at the same time I don't want to work for peanuts.

Pretty please :)
 
Hi x,

Thank you for the opportunity and invitation to interview next week. May I ask what the expected salary for the role is? I would not want to be in a position where we are on different pages and to waste your time and energy.

Many thanks,

IC3
 
I would just ask EMail them and explain you wanted to confirm the expected salary for the role. Don't mention anything about wasting anyones time, if it is too low you can politely turn it down , if it is OK then go for the interview to find out more.

Now they have invited you to interview it should be no problem as they will have to let you know terms and conditions in the interview anyway.

Best to research salaries of similar roles in the same area of the country as you to give you a guide.
 
You could even word it such that you give them your current salary ish, and ask if it's the same/more, and that you don't need exact figures
 
MrRockliffe said:
You could even word it such that you give them your current salary ish, and ask if it's the same/more, and that you don't need exact figures
Click to expand...
Past the few months I've been freelancing as I was recovering from an accident, but now I'm ready to go back into full time. Its hard to estimate, as one month it was good money and the other wasn't so good. I haven't done it for a year either, so it would be a guessing game.

I haven't had a job interview in 3 years, I'm a bit rusty... at the same time would prefer to have stable income again. Self employment isn't my cup of tea.
 
IC3 said:
Past the few months I've been freelancing as I was recovering from an accident, but now I'm ready to go back into full time. Its hard to estimate, as one month it was good money and the other wasn't so good. I haven't done it for a year either, so it would be a guessing game.

I haven't had a job interview in 3 years, I'm a bit rusty... at the same time would prefer to have stable income again. Self employment isn't my cup of tea.
Click to expand...

Okay no worries - it's always a tricky question to ask, as it is ultimately important to the employee, especially in your situation. I think the above advice is solid, but I wouldn't mention wasting their time - it may been seen as a "if it's not good enough for me I don't want the job" - egotistic in a way.

Edit: best of luck with the interview!
 
I'll just go to the interview and ask in person... I think that might put me in a better light and I'll be able to read their body language.

I'm not going to say thanks, as I don't want to jinx it. :p
 
MrRockliffe said:
You could even word it such that you give them your current salary ish, and ask if it's the same/more, and that you don't need exact figures
Click to expand...

conventional advice is usually that it is better to try and avoid doing that but rather get a figure from them first... though in practice that can be harder to achieve and most employers and recruiters will try to get your current salary out of you before they make an offer.

I think if you're in a position where you can avoid doing so then I wouldn't voluntarily just offer up an indication of current compensation unless you're fairly confident that you're in a position where you currently earn more than what they'd usually pay for the position - for example someone perhaps moving from a bank to a big tech firm might need to be put on some special higher compensation scheme as the standard base salary for the level they're potentially joining at might well be a step down.

If an employer is willing to let you know a range for the role without you giving up your current earnings first then that is quite nice... or indeed if you can get as far as them making an offer without you doing that then even better... it is a total no brainer to just ask for more (which is of course why they tend to want to not only get your current compensation but also nail down your expected compensation too very early on in the process)
 
IC3 said:
I've a job interview next week, its a step up from what I use to do. But, I'll have to travel and because there was no mentioning of the salary I would prefer to ask beforehand to not waste my and their time.

I need help in wording it right. I don't want to lose the opportunity, but at the same time I don't want to work for peanuts.

Pretty please :)
Click to expand...

You can tell your interviewer that you would feel better if there is a compensation for the travel costs included in your remuneration.
You say that this opportunity is a step up for you. Isn't this an anough motivation just to accept it, enjoy it, prove yourself and only after that ask for more money?! :confused:
 
IC3 said:
I'll just go to the interview and ask in person... I think that might put me in a better light and I'll be able to read their body language.

I'm not going to say thanks, as I don't want to jinx it. :p
Click to expand...
Good decision, what I would have recommended.
 
4K8KW10 said:
You can tell your interviewer that you would feel better if there is a compensation for the travel costs included in your remuneration.
Click to expand...

eh? Including travel costs in your renumeration is like a rounding error or something...

If companies have a policy of refunding you for travel costs to the interview you can usually just submit your train ticket/taxi receipt/whatever to the HR person and get a refund whether you're successful in landing the job or not. Though tbh.. if you're in work and interviewing in the UK then travel costs are generally rather negligible compared to the loss of a day of work.
 
dowie said:
eh? Including travel costs in your renumeration is like a rounding error or something...

If companies have a policy of refunding you for travel costs to the interview you can usually just submit your train ticket/taxi receipt/whatever to the HR person and get a refund whether you're successful in landing the job or not. Though tbh.. if you're in work and interviewing in the UK then travel costs are generally rather negligible compared to the loss of a day of work.
Click to expand...

What if one needs to travel 50 km in one direction and 50 km returning back?
It isn't rounding error but very substantial additional cost for fuel and other car expenses!
 
4K8KW10 said:
What if one needs to travel 50 km in one direction and 50 km returning back?
It isn't rounding error but very substantial additional cost for fuel and other car expenses!
Click to expand...

I think you need to check your sums... reclaiming a one off cost for traveling to an interview is going to be negligible in the grand scheme of things

"Sorry Mr interviewer, while I'd be inclined to accept your offer of £45,000 per year the train ticket cost me £22 or it cost me £22 in petrol, so can we make it £45,022 please?"

"No you spoon, just submit the train ticket to the HR person for a refund like a normal human being"
 
dowie said:
I think you need to check your sums... reclaiming a one off cost for traveling to an interview is going to be negligible in the grand scheme of things

"Sorry Mr interviewer, while I'd be inclined to accept your offer of £45,000 per year the train ticket cost me £22 or it cost me £22 in petrol, so can we make it £45,022 please?"

"No you spoon, just submit the train ticket to the HR person for a refund like a normal human being"
Click to expand...

dholdi said:
£10 on fuel is very substantial ?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is :D

Imagine one litre of diesel is £1.3. One needs to travel 100 km a day, 22 days a month - that is 2,200 km a month.
If one's car needs 5 litres of diesel per 100 km, this means that this one person will need to spend 110 litres * £1.3 which is exactly £143.

Include costs for motor oil, filters and some unwanted damages like something not working or damages from potholes, and the amount can quadruple, at the very least :D
 
4K8KW10 said:
Yes, it is :D

Imagine one litre of diesel is £1.3. One needs to travel 100 km a day, 22 days a month - that is 2,200 km a month.
If one's car needs 5 litres of diesel per 100 km, this means that this one person will need to spend 110 litres * £1.3 which is exactly £143.

Include costs for motor oil, filters and some unwanted damages like something not working or damages from potholes, and the amount can quadruple, at the very least :D
Click to expand...

He's talking about traveling to an interview/wasting time. The biggest factor there is simply the waste of a day/half a day but some companies do refund travel expenses.
 
4K8KW10 said:
Yes, it is :D

Imagine one litre of diesel is £1.3. One needs to travel 100 km a day, 22 days a month - that is 2,200 km a month.
If one's car needs 5 litres of diesel per 100 km, this means that this one person will need to spend 110 litres * £1.3 which is exactly £143.

Include costs for motor oil, filters and some unwanted damages like something not working or damages from potholes, and the amount can quadruple, at the very least :D
Click to expand...

See above.
 
I'll have a 2nd interview, they can't offer me a higher salary than I had before. But based on my experience and qualifications they said they'll see what they can do. I should know by the end of the week how things are, they were happy with the interview though.

Goods news is, that I've another interview lined up and the base salary is higher than what I use to earn. Yes, this time the salary was in the ad... from this time I'll just ask straight up. We'll see, if my theory behind the 'competitive salary' is true. :p
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom