Should you bring up your salary expectations at the end of your first interview for a job? Mister Bilingue is here to explain why, when and how to approach the question of your salary with your future employer!
So, you've got a job interview coming up? You like the job, but you're not sure what to expect from the company in terms of salary. This can leave you wondering if it's a wise idea to bring up the subject with your recruiter during the first interview.
What's the best way of broaching this delicate question with a future employer without coming off as too direct or, worse, giving the impression that you're only interested in the job for the money?
In this article, the Mister Bilingue team takes a few minutes to explain why, when and how to approach the question of your salary expectations during a job interview!
Addressing the question of your potential salary during an interview is an important step to take when it comes to negotiating your contract with your future employer. Having this discussion allows both the candidate and the recruiter to obtain essential information about each other's expectations, especially if the salary hasn't already been specified in the job advert.
On the candidate's side, knowing the recruiter's salary range for the job in question will give you an early indication as to whether the position could suit you financially. Of course, the financial aspect shouldn't be your only motivation for wanting to join a company, but it's still an important element!
If the recruiter's proposed salary doesn't work for you, or if you feel that it doesn't match up with the average salary for the position you're applying for, you can negotiate. You can do this either by discussing the proposed salary, or by requesting additional bonuses (the possibility to work from home or transport costs, for example) and other professional benefits relevant to your field.
As for recruiters, they appreciate it when candidates have an accurate sense of their market value. Giving too high a number gives recruiters the impression that the candidate overvalues their profile in relation to the market, or worse, that they have no idea of the average salary for the position in question.
On the other hand, giving a figure that is too low gives the impression that the candidate underestimates themself and may not have the qualifications required for the position offered.
Either way, playing this guessing game can be a risky business: be careful not to concede an advantage to the other candidates or, worse, get yourself knocked out of the race altogether!
Being familiar with the salary scale for your line of work is an important point to consider before having an interview, in order to better prepare yourself to speak with confidence when the question of your salary comes up. On the one hand, you'll be better positioned to negotiate your salary with the recruiter if necessary, and on the other, you'll give the impression of being familiar with the market by suggesting a figure that is neither too high nor too low.
If you don't know the average salary for the position that you're applying for, one way forward is to contact professionals in the same position, or to do some research online on the salary range across your field.
Generally speaking, it's the recruiter who will broach the question of your salary during the interview. By asking this question (often towards the end of the interview), they are looking to determine whether the budget envisaged for the position is in line with your expectations.
Recruiters know that the financial compensation of a job offer can have a strong impact on the motivation and development of a future employee, which is why it can be a good idea to address the question of the candidate's salary expectations from the very first interview.
If the interview is nearing its end and the question still hasn't been raised by the recruiter, you have the option of asking the question at the end of your meeting. Usually, the recruiter will ask you if you have questions, and this is the moment where you can ask them if they would like to discuss your salary expectations.
However you go about it, avoid asking the question at the very beginning of the interview. This could be interpreted as indelicate, or even unprofessional. Whether the recruitment process requires one or several interviews, rest assured, the question of your salary will come up at one time or another!
When raising the issue of your salary expectations with the recruiter, there are several rules (both implicit and explicit) to follow in order to ensure a productive and professional discussion. It's important that you and the recruiter are on the same page so as to avoid a misunderstanding or a problem later down the line.
Good news: you're in luck, because Mister Bilingue has already listed four key things to bear in mind and four things to avoid when discussing your salary in an interview!
Your gross salary is the sum of money that your employer will allocate to you each month before deducting certain social contributions and taxes. When speaking of your net salary, this refers to the sum of money that you are paid following these deductions. In order to convert your salary from the gross sum to the net sum, you must subtract these deductions from your gross salary (the rate of these various deductions varies depending on whether you are in the public or private sector).
For example: "In the context of my qualifications and profile, I think €30,000 gross per year would be an appropriate starting salary for this position. Would you agree?" This allows you to start negotiating the finer details of your contact in a clear but fluid way.
It's important to negotiate on all aspects of your remuneration!
On the one hand, this will help to avoid disappointment, and on the other, it prevents you from undervaluing your profile. You'll also need to be able to justify the higher end of your scale in order to maintain credibility in the eyes of the recruiter.
A non-response from you may look very bad to the recruiter, and rightly so! This avoidance strategy can damage the trust you've begun to build with your future employer from the beginning of the interview. Be frank and open, there's no reason for the question of money to be taboo if it's discussed in the right way.
Again, this is a strategic error because the recruiter is expecting a concrete and weighted response from you, so that type of response could be perceived as a lack of confidence. Don't play cat and mouse with your future employer!
Don't dive into your personal needs, saying "I really need this salary..." or "I'd like to receive more than in my previous job". This type of response could be perceived as lacking in professionalism and maturity.
Make sure you analyze the business' needs against your profile to gauge how likely it is that the negotiation will swing in your favor or not.
You now know everything there is to know about the best way to broach the question of your salary in a job interview!
Remember that this is a secondary issue in any first interview, so be sure to prepare yourself for the other questions that may be asked first! If you do get the job, you can always negotiate a raise when the time comes.
Is your interview coming up soon? Find out how best to dress to look professional in front of your future employer!
We hope you found this advice useful and wish you all the best in your job search.
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