Job interview - salary question

Guest2

Guest2

Guest2

Soldato
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I have an interview tomorrow and dont want to undersell or oversell myself. I would like a bit more than I am currently on (17.5k) as now have a years more experience (two and half years in IT) plus my degree

I have done my interview prep (thanks again Huddy) , researched the company etc

What could I say other than

“I am very keen to work for you and will consider any reasonable amount”

I dont want to be offered the job but at a lower wage than i'm expecting...

Thats presuming I do come accross better than the other candidates and get offered the position
 
Understand what the market rates are and use this as the basis for any negotiation. This removes the personal element (i.e. you wanting more cash) and instead shows that you understand the going rates and that you feel you should be paid accordingly (or more if you can add more value to the company.)

e :

“I am very keen to work for you and will consider any reasonable amount as a starting salary, and if/when I have proved myself we should discuss my worth within the company further ”
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Unless the company is particularly ethical and caring about its employess, this is exactly what they want to hear. It essentially says, "Hey, I'll take less because I'm scared to push things" and allows them to put any talk of increments on the back burner. Even if it's written in to your contract it's an incredibly easy thing to not pay out on.

Get the salary you want now, not on some empty future promise.
 
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Guest2 - your best bet is to search for (ideally) identical job specs in your area to see if you can get an idea on the salary range. Then you can judge on that, and hopefully it will include a value that's a little above £17.5K.
 
Yep he's dead right!
Sound greedy, that's what they'll want to hear.
Personally I have never failed to get a job if I've got to the interview stage. Go figure.
 
SlugForAButt said:
Yep he's dead right!
Sound greedy, that's what they'll want to hear.
Personally I have never failed to get a job if I've got to the interview stage. Go figure.
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I'm not sure who you're talking about being "dead right" but no one is suggesting he sound greedy. Knowing the market rates is the single most important tool you have as an interviewee; the interviewer cannot refute it (in fact they should know this) and it shows that the interviewee has not just plucked a figure out of his ass. Doing the whole passive-aggressive thing of accepting a lwoer value and hoping for something greater in the future is not the way to maximise his salary. Sure, they might honour it once he's proved himself but if they require him to prove himself why are they offering him the job in the first place?

Out of interest, have you ever interviewed anyone and offered them employment?
 
Just get an idea in your mind through online research how much you should expect to get. I wouldnt bring it up personally unless you have to. Surely they offered you a certain amount before you applied!
 
dont bring up money in an interview - surefire way of failing it.
you discuss money if you get the job and before you accept/sign the contract - not whilst your still applying! you should have a rough idea from the job specs what the wages are - if your not happy with that and want more then youv gone for the wrong job.

you should be focusing on how to impress, asking questions that show your interested in the role!
 
[FnG]magnolia;16821669 said:
I'm not sure who you're talking about being "dead right" but no one is suggesting he sound greedy. Knowing the market rates is the single most important tool you have as an interviewee; the interviewer cannot refute it (in fact they should know this) and it shows that the interviewee has not just plucked a figure out of his ass. Doing the whole passive-aggressive thing of accepting a lwoer value and hoping for something greater in the future is not the way to maximise his salary. Sure, they might honour it once he's proved himself but if they require him to prove himself why are they offering him the job in the first place?

Out of interest, have you ever interviewed anyone and offered them employment?
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Yes I meant you.
You obviously, have not been in our lowly position of trying to get a job. Don't look greedy yet make it clear that when you deliver you expect more.
Surely that is the way it should be, I'll prove myself and take what I deserve then? Maybe your "union style" suits you, but I's be surprised if it got you a job.
I wouldn't employ you.
 
Wouldn't bring up money at all unless they ask the question ala "What would your salary expectations be if offered the position?"

The response dictated by current market rate for the position and the salary range mentioned on the vacancy listing.
 
I always say my current salary is above what it is anyway when they ask, so it looks like I'm being less greedy in negotiations haha mind you I then still hike some on, say I will hit my objectives for progression and then when they get my P60 when i start they realise i was on naff all lol
 
QuickLink said:
I always say my current salary is above what it is anyway when they ask, so it looks like I'm being less greedy in negotiations haha mind you I then still hike some on, say I will hit my objectives for progression and then when they get my P60 when i start they realise i was on naff all lol
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And promptly release you under the probationary period because you lied to them. Exactly what I would do if you pulled that in an interview.

You lie in an interview, on your CV etc then don't be surprised when it bites you in the ass.
 
I don't over inflate my salary, but I work in public sector at the moment and there is no way that I would be willing to take a job on this 18k ****. The market rate for my position is c.£25k, therefore my current position I state as just below that and that I would be happy with anything around that, as long as the company was one that I could progress strongly in.
I do not lie on my CV, thank you for your concern with my ass though.
 
SlugForAButt said:
Yes I meant you.
You obviously, have not been in our lowly position of trying to get a job. Don't look greedy yet make it clear that when you deliver you expect more.
Surely that is the way it should be, I'll prove myself and take what I deserve then? Maybe your "union style" suits you, but I's be surprised if it got you a job.
I wouldn't employ you.
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I'm not going to derail the thread any further but I will respond to this rubbish. Everyone starts somewhere, me included. If I knew then what I know now I would have approached salary negotiation differently.

Knowing what any market, private or public, pays as the salary average is nothing to do with Unions (WTF?) and everything to do with you making sure that you're going for a realistic salary based on market conditions and current pay rates. This is fact. This is not open to interpretation. This is what other people doing the same job get paid.

So, knowing this, why on earth would you go in with your meek attitude of "I'll show them I'm worth it!" They know that or they wouldn't have hired you!

Finally, maybe you wouldn't hire me. That's fair enough, I don't expect you're at a level where that would be a possibility. However, I would certainly hire you because it sounds like you're happy to accept whatever is offered so that's more salary budget I've got left to give to someone with a bit more drive about them.

Anyway, OP best of luck with it and let us know how you get on :)
 
My personal experience as having a number of different roles in IT is that most companies will offer you more money then you’re on in your current position. But and there is a big but, unless your applying for a lower level job or a different job to the one your currently doing that you don’t have experience in. Most companies will try to attract people with shown experience in the field your applying. Companies will want to attract skilled and professional people that will suit company needs.

From the job description you should really know if you have what they are asking for and normally in most IT jobs you sit some sort of technical test that will be a clear picture of if your suitable. Or more importantly what the job role is about and requires.

Over selling your self can always go badly if the person understands your skill set and what they are after within the company.

The simple advice is if they are asking what pay you want don’t insult them just explain what your current wage and package is and that you’re looking to progress from that.

Hopefully taking that on board you should be fine. Its simple advice that isnt taking the ****.

Good Luck
 
You don't ask, you don't get.

When I applied for the job I recently got, I put my salary expectation as 1k higher than I'm on currently.

During the interview they asked to confirm that, and I responded "Yes, circa that figure", which they accepted.

They came back with an offer 2k higher than my current.
 
first person to mention money in negotiations tends to lose :)


try to not put a figure on it and as above say about current market rate, and wanting to do the job more than being bothered about the money (even though you are)
 
Is the job advertised with a salary range? If so ask for the top of the range.

If no range is indicated decide what you think your worht in the role and ask for a 'package in excess of xxK' never name an actual figure unless they do.

Always always ask for more than they are offering you, companies expect to negotiate and I have never had a job offer withdrawn because I asked for more cash. If you don't push it don't expect them to offer you more than the minimum they think you will accept and never count on a payrise down the line unless it is guarenteed in writing, airy fairy promises of a review in 6 months will get you nothing! This is your best oppertunity to negotiate a salary as getting pay rises of a significant nature is always much harder when you are in a job.
 
Ashleyrobinson said:
first person to mention money in negotiations tends to lose :)


try to not put a figure on it and as above say about current market rate, and wanting to do the job more than being bothered about the money (even though you are)
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Agreed, and as already been mentioned, if asked respond with a fair figure based on market conditions for the type of work you are seeking.
Most companies have pay scales for their posts so I am a little surprised it was not mentioned in the job specification.
 
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