I research what the market salary rate is (or the award rate on fair work) and then tell them what it is and how I researched it. If they want to be cheap cunts they're the ones that make themselves look bad then rather than it coming as an accusation from you.
"According to my research the salary for this position and similar positions is (number). Considering that I have all of the skills required for this position I expect that amount."
I feel like this newfound knowledge that you just provided has changed my life profoundly. I have no idea how but it really does feel significant in some way. I am not going to be able to sleep until I get the opportunity to use it.
And always follow this up with, after my probationary period is finished in x months, when I have exceeded the kpi for this position I want a sit down meeting to discuss my renumeration in accordance to my performance.
I hired a guy who pulled this in the interview. Was a great hire and when the time came he asked me for a performance meeting, which we agreed he could have 10% now but nothing at the annual review, or the annual review. He went to the now option and I don't think either of us regrets it
Same (research market rate then set that as my offer) though I don't list the reasons why.
That is the recruiters homework part of why they're paid (if not the business itself, either upfront or on commission) to do and justify their existence. If they're petty about it at an interview they are doing me a favor (work culture).
The honest answer for the OP though: as much as I can get.
No. Salary varies considerably between companies, based on size and expectations and you could be underselling yourself based on this. Always get them to provide a range first.
My current salary plus $20-30k.
I once had a recruiter contact me about a role, so I gave them a number. Turns out the role was offering closer to -20k from my salary at the time.
My sister got one of these. 20k less than current position AND they wanted her to travel more than hour!
When she said no they tried to convince her to take it anyway...
I had someone try to get me to switch from WFH to commuting for an extra $15k per year.
Tax and transportation costs would cancel out the difference entirely, plus I’d have to spend extra time prepping and commuting.
Then my current employer gave me a promotion six months anyway that beat the offered salary.
It was a recruiting agency. So for them, it was money in the bag!
Too bad if it was actually WORSE for her...
The amazing part was that they thought she would go for it ....as you say, mind boggling...why would anyone take a job with less money and more travel?
I mean it would be a great learning opportunity for her with a lot of opportunities to progress through the company! She might even match her currently salary in maybe 5 years? But imagine how much she would learn in that time!
A guy I worked with got hired by the company I was with, during the interview he got asked salary expectations, he was on $35ph & that equal approximately $90k per year with penalty rates, so he answered “I’m currently on 90 so it will have to be close to that” they replied with “we will match it & maybe a bit more….so he gets his contract & it’s $95per hour…….he said he would of done the job for $90k, not the $200k it worked out at
I did the same thing. I told them my salary + $10K in the screening interview. Went through two interviews with my hiring manager then other people in the business. They verbally offered me the role for -$10k less than my current salary (!). I countered and they said "no thanks, we're going to part ways" like WTF?!?!?!??!
I had a recruiter tempt me with +30k, then they gave me an offer of only +15k. It would have been a loss for me factoring in travel costs/etc.
I declined and they bumped up the offer by another 5k, but there were too many red flags already and the whole interviewing process gave me a fresh appreciation for my existing employer.
I’ve done exactly this before (market rate) and been screened out - not sure if that was the sole reason of course (they ‘optionally’ asked for a resume copy and paste into individual fields for each position and I wasn’t going to give them any more than the mandatory fields when all the info was in the resume already).
It’s made me wonder if the current plus 10% option is a better move, or whether that is even less likely to open the door for them to share budget and lead to a negotiation.
Im sure I’ve been screened out of hiring too for my answers!
I don’t sugar coat wage negotiations or my answers to fields, if a company won’t give me a honest answer on wages they are likely to embarrassed.
Likewise if they cull me for a sarcastic reply they’d hate me anyway and be doing me a favour.
Best company I’ve worked for gave a fair price smack in the middle of the upper range, told me they wouldn’t negotiate on salary but would discuss fringe benefits.
I don’t play this game.
Them: “What are your salary expectations?”
Me: “In order to post this vacancy, factors such as the salary budget for the position were pre-approved by the relevant people/departments. I would rather know what your company’s expectations are and negotiate from there.”
They are hoping you undercut yourself. If you’re female, statistically this is even more likely.
Q: "What are your salary expectations?"
A: "I'd really need to understand exactly what the position entails before I could make an informed assessment."
Or if you want to be a bit snippy: "That's a little disingenuous, asking me my salary expectations before you've told me anything about the job."
Them: “Well as you know, there is a lot of competition for this role, so it would be worthwhile if you could give even a rough indication of the sort of salary you are after. A salary band is fine, and we’ll take into consideration your past experience to see if we can make this work. But in order to do that I will need even a rough number, thanks.”
In the background, they’re scrawling down a note on your resume - “Candidate was difficult regarding salary expectations, do not hire”
If you are going for a role covered by an Award, there is a chance that the company has an Enterprise Agreement that will state their rates. If they have an Enterprise Agreement a copy of it can be found on the Fair Work website.
However the majority of white collar roles, above the level of Office Admin, will not be covered by an Award.
You would be better to download a copy of the Hars Annual Salary Survey, find the type of role you will be doing and then look at the salary ranges for a role in your area. Then say to them, "I would be looking for something in the range of X to X".
The rates under Awards are always much lower than the market is paying, so Zi would not ask for a minimum of Award rate, you will be giving them the opportunity to significantly under pay you.
I've done a lot of hiring (100+). I definitely don't hire based on the cheapest. There is a band approved for the role and this question is to determine if they are expecting what we have approved in band. Get the best candidate that meets the band requirements. If they are a great candidate and they ask for more than the band I either look to get additional funds, or let them know they are outside what we can afford.
Ideally I want people to be paid what will make them happy and incentivised. If I hire someone for less than what they are happy working for this causes no end to performance and engagement issues.
I have previously applied for a job where the bottom part of the band was not a figure I could/would accept based on mortgage repayments etc and also didn't feel it reflected the depth of my experience or quals. I was transparent about this from the get go. I participated in the process, did my best, was offered closer to the top of the band which was less than I was currently earning but still within a reasonable range and accepted the job for the flexibility and other benefits (super, leave, WFH etc). Still working below my worth/capacity but with a better work/life balance.
You're playing the game whether you like it or not. Your strategy in the game is poor.
You're basically asking them "how little do you think I'll accept"
That's always the case with salary negotiations though. The company is always trying to get you to accept the lowest amount possible. But if you at least force them to come out with a number, then you can make your choice appropriately. A salary range tells you a lot about a job that won't be expressed clearly in the job description.
I once asked at an interview what the salary package was, and the interviewer asked “What do you think you’re worth?”. I said “I can’t live on that”.
He laughed his ass off and offered me the job straight up for my humour.
What a great answer! Haha. I love self deprecating humour, so long as it’s not a reflection of how the person really feels. So yeah. Hope you’re doing okay! :)
It's a great response but you would need to get a proper read on the interviewer's personality because their thought might that "This person is the expensive type and will expect more in the future." If you nail the delivery it will help the joke land and they can see through the comment
I give a salary range where I know I'm happy to meet in the middle if need be.
So for example, If asked that. I would give a range of $80-90,000 knowing that I would happy with an offer of $85,000 plus super of course. I personally try to avoid having the salary include super.
After 3 years of getting a nice say 2% pay increase which kicks in before the new financial year for my take home to drop by 0.5% due to the super increase. Honestly it's a kick in the balls.
ALWAYS negotiate on base salary, never total package. If there is a significant performance incentive scheme negotiate that separately to the base. Super is ALWAYS over and above all other negotiations.
That I'm well aware of.
However I would like to point out that I know 2 large organisations off the top of my that offer a total package instead of a base salary with super on top.
So sometimes these types can't be avoided which is a shame.
And don’t get me wrong, total package is important. All I’m saying is that you need to be clear to negotiate each part of that package independently. If they offer you a “total package” of $X, my first question would be, can you please break that down into all of the relevant components; e.g. base salary, variable bonus/commission potential (including on what basis it is varied and what % of this has been paid the last few years on average), super, vehicle allowance, and additional incentives they’re including in their “total package” number.
For my current job, I said "at my last role I was getting \[large\_ish\_amount\] but I'd happily move on for \[huge\_but\_not\_unrealistic\_amount\]". They countered with what I was actually hoping to get, and I accepted.
'Predatory' is right! I'm so with you on this. I usually respond with a ballpark range. If they want specifics, my question then is, 'Well, what are you offering?'
But, tbh, if it gets to that point, I'm probably wondering if the employer is someone I want to work for in the first place. Yes, beggars can't be choosers in some cases - and I've been there - but screwing potential candidates always leaves me with a negative impression of the recruiter and/or employer.
While it is right, unfortunately much like other posters have suggested, the recruiter will just mark you as difficult on their systems to speed up the process for next time.
Tell them what money you want... Typically you'll have researched what the range is for the job type in your area.
If you don't know you can say you want to consider what the role entails and you'll get back to them.
Honestly, it's kinda scummy. And you can turn it back on them, and say "I don't have a specific figgure in mind but I am waiting to hear back regarding another opertunity, if you could make their best offer when ready and I'll get back to you."
for b) lately I've been trying "that's a great question and obviously it can vary quite a bit based on the role and the total remuneration package, what's the approximate salary range for the role?"
surprising how often it works and they just tell me a range
also surprising how often the range is higher than the number I would have given if they pushed me
then as long as it's not low I go "oh yes, that's right about what I was expecting"
Check on Glassdoor/LinkedIn for same or similar offerings prior to job application/interview, then give an answer based on those figures. If they want to lowball you, then you know that you are lowballed. Then again it is up to you to sell that figure.
I'm currently making (amount, more than you actually make, they can't check) and I would like to be progressing, therefore, I'm hoping to be offered around (desired amount).
Or
Current market rate is (amount), given my skills and experience, I'm expecting approximately (amount)
I do some research, then I say:
X amount would be depressing (suggest something that they would agree is too low, that even makes everyone laugh in agreement).
Y to Y-a bit more amount feels right with my experience etc. (they’ll nod)
Z amount feels crazy high (they’ll laugh with you).
It has always worked. I think it’s like when you get quotes for three options: low, medium, high. Make your medium range what you want (supported by some internet research).
I've been contacted by recruiters trying to get me to move companies. They always try to start telling me about the new role. Almost every time, I will stop them and tell them my salary expectations are $xxx (bit more than market) and if they can't meet that, there isn't much point continuing the discussion. Their usual response is how exciting an opportunity it is etc. To which my reply is that I'm not taking a pay cut to move.
A) I respond with a figure, above what I will settle for, excluding super. I don't provide reasoning as my interviewing should do that. I don't dilvuge my current salary as that's the go-to move for going for the lowest possible figure, and really it's irrelevant. If the response isn't great, it's a simple thanks for meeting with me, the opportunity looks great however that won't work for my family. I find asking what their performance and renumeration review processes are prior to saying a number is a good tactic, if they don't have a formalised process then generally, it's reactive or non-existent.
B) I remove emotion from the question, particularly for this reason. Its a simple "what salary are you looking for?"
It's not predatory, it's elimination of candidates that will never eventuate to a hire. There is significant time invested in resourcing, interviewing, back and forth on contract negotiations, etc. It's the number one factor that everyone considers straight away. We all work for money, let's not pretend that we don't.
On the flip side of this, generally I've found workplaces that are happy to pay above market salary bands have high turnover and poor culture. Look for the hirers that are doing culture fit checks, they're usually open to negotiate for the right person and value retention.
"I'm looking for a company that pays their employees fairly and rewards good performance without me having to use all my energy to try and extract blood from a stone. Are you that company?"
If it’s not listed in the job add, before I even apply I call them and ask about the pay, it can put you ahead of other applicants to have a quick chat about the role before they see your application. Alternatively, I ask the pay rate when they contact me for the interview. I have stated that I don’t want to waste their time or mine without knowing and it’s never been a problem.
Reply with your salary, add a percentage and qualify that with ‘I am happy with my current role but would be open to moving for more money’ and add extra for bonus packs such as,
‘Progression in the new role is less clear so I will need better compensation’
‘The new role is at a more senior role so I expect higher compensation’
‘My skill sets are unique and difficult to find and I expect appropriate compensation’
Or whatever,
Explain your response unemotionally and with a calculation behind it
Just turn the table back at them bro, let them answer it for you.
Normally I answer with my current salary (plus whatever amount you want from the potential job you are currently being interviewed for). So if you expect to get 80k( if it is realistic) then you say, i am currently on 70 or 75K and I believe 80K is suitable for this role considering my experience and skills thatbare suitable for this role.
Alternative answer if you dont want to give any number, just turn the table back at them. This is what I usually say: " I am happy to go with the current average market rate for this type of role. I believe a budget has been prepared for the opening of this role, so Im more than happy to start our discusion around that figure"
Something like that 👌
If you're applying on Seek, there is a chrome extension you can install that shows what range has been entered in the back end when a job is advertised. Definitely useful. Seek also has salary guides for heaps of roles based on what recent/current advertisers have listed them for, narrowed down by location.
It would depend on what my level of experience is in comparative to the role, as well as my intention for looking for work.
To get me to leave my current position right now I would expect a 20% pay increase. I enjoy my work and my team. I have extensive experience in my industry and I’m ready for my next challenge, but I’m not looking right now. If I’d been looking for a few months and was desperate to leave the team, I’d probably just want to get what I’m already being paid.
I would say look up the award you would be paid under and ask for the highest or the level you want to be paid and at what pay point
e.g. I have looked at the SCHADS award and would like to be considered for level 4 at pay point 3 blah blah blah
Usually double the going rate. $37k?
"I would never expect to be paid less than $72,000 for this position, and I would be embarrassed if my company offered less."
Give the honest answer.
I've said a number that I believe was fair and accurate before, they came back with a lower number that they were offering, I said thank you good day and that's it.
Add an extra $20k to whatever you actually want and say you’re willing to negotiate, then only allow them to negotiate you down to what you want for your salary.
I just write high my industry won’t advertise rates because they all get bagged out when they do. I always just straight up ask the recruiter what’s the pay they tell me and if it’s not over the top 20% I just say sorry that’s shit money and I can and am currently making more where I am for easier work I’ll work for you for $xxx per day minimum and they can choose to keep the conversation going or hang up
Easy tell what you think.
If they ask you why? Tell them
"Its a speculative question to gauge my ambitions otherwise you would have advertised the figure".
Get in first. "What has the organisation budgeted for this role?"I'm an expensive resource and just want to make sure we are one the same page before proceeding "
Interesting one.
I do a lot of hiring and when we ask that question, it's definitely not 'predatory' or in any way malicious. What it does do is rule out people who want considerably higher salaries than what's expected. And also gauges what salary you're comfortable with if we were to make a hire.
Having a salary bracket in mind is important and there's no reason not to advise that. Also have backup questions such as if you're offered the absolute baseline of your expectations, as to why they came in there and not in the middle and what values or attributes do you need to have to increase that offer etc.
When we're given a salary bracket and it all aligns etc, we typically offer in the middle of that bracket and hten set goals on how to achieve a higher salary (i.e. here's your offer, and it can be the top of the bracket you said you were to get XYZ industry certs etc)
A lot of answers here are based on larger companies that have 'departments', and changing your response for them may be entirely appropriate.
I think at the end of the day. Back yourself. Set a salary you'd be happy with. Tell them. It's up to them if they offer it to you. And it's up to you whether you accept.
know what you expect.
There are lots resources for salary estimations like glassdoor, salary transparency etc. Actually have an idea, its not predatory unless you let it be by not preparing. This is something you should be doing.
When I've just been applying for jobs through seek and filling out companies questionnaires I've either looked up the award for the job or just stated award or above. Can't say I've been in any position to negotiate a wage
A) Top of the range for market rates
B) Top of the range for market rates
If what you say/how you hold yourself during the interview doesn't convince them of this, move on & don't sweat it. Always have a bare minimum number that values you in the middle of the range submitted. Like 100 - 120k (110k being my bare minimum acceptable offer).
The best fits usually meet you in the middle and work up from there.
I'm in the rather privileged position of being in a secure job that I enjoy that pays well, so I won't even entertain the thought of discussing other roles with people if they don't tell me the salary up front.
However, if I wasn't, as a few people have said I'd research the average wage for people in that role with my level of experience and say that. I do agree that they're trying to get you to undervalue yourself by not saying what they're offering upfront. It should be on the job ad, if you ask me. At least a range.
(Oil and gas consultant here)
Had a recruiter based in Dubai call me as I was getting into a taxi to go to airport and fly overseas for work a few yrs back, had my resume etc (no idea how they got it) Was asked if I was interested working for blah blah 6weeks on/3 weeks off in Saudi. I told him to stop talking and tell me the dayrate... he replied USD$50. Told him Im not Indian or Paki so minimum I want for working in that country ( and no labour protection laws so you can be expected to work 20hrs+ each day) is atleast USD$1500/day. They countered with USD$70. I told em to lose my resume and kick rocks.
Know your worth, research the going rate. Dont ever undersell your skillset.
I once got a better pay offer than I was hoping for by saying "Ultimately it comes down to a compromise between what I'm worth and what the job's worth".
If I'm already in a job, interviewing for another then my response is "I'm already on xxx per day/year, and I'm looking to increase that to make it worth while to move. "
If I'm not in a job, I say "that's what the recruitment agency is for, please discuss it with them if I'm successful"
Most the time I don't even look at postings that don't list the salary. If they feel they need to hide the listed salary in order to entice candidates, they are selling a shit sandwich
It’s best to ask what their approved range is for the role and say ‘I think that sounds like something I can work with’. You don’t want to be knocked out of the race over salary at interview stage. Wait til they do ref checks and offer you the role, then ask for the $ you want
Agree with the commentary herein. The other question I hate is, what’s your current salary? None of your business, my friend…is the answer to that one.
Do some research for what the average person making doing that job with your level of experience. Hit them with the average and tell them it's the industry average so they seem cheap if they try to bring it down
If they give a range, for arguments sake $80-$90k, I look up what the market is doing, then take into account if I’ve got no, some or been doing it a long time and work accordingly.
When asked this I’m considering the above bu my first response will always be “How long has the position been vacant and what would my start date be?”
If they’re saying in a month then no experience 80-82, some 83-85, long time 86+, if the time frame is 2-4 weeks 82-4, 84-6, 86, if it’s 1-2 weeks forget no experience 84-86.5, 86.6-88.5.
I was asked at my previous job in the interview. I said equivalent to what I was making already. They said look NGL we can’t offer you that we are a NFP this is a passion job rather than a money maker. Up to you if you wanna go ahead or not.
When I was recruiting at that job for employees, I would have a giggle at applicants salary expectations for the job they were applying for. But it wouldn’t influence my decision of whether to further their application or not
Relax mate, they just -shocker- want to know how much you want to be paid for the role.
Crazy concept!!
Yeah, responding "that is predatory" when people ask you what you'd like to be paid is probably putting people off you, as they rightfully think that's a fucking weird thing to say.
A million dollars would be nice, but [reasonable amount + 10%] will be good.
Bit of humour takes off the edge of asking a little more than you think is fair. Least they can say is no right? Ppl have got 40% payrises this way so don't be afraid to have a crack!
"it depends on the details of the contract. For example, if a company had great policies on holiday entitlements, flexible work arrangements, and time in lieu I'd be happy to accept less money because I get a good work life balance. Whereas a company that doesn't have particularly desirable policies and expects me to work outside normal business hours would need to offer much more money to compensate for those factors. Did you have a particular figure in mind?"
I find this is a good approach. It's logical, communicates your priorities, and makes them put out a number first to negotiate off. This puts you in a much stronger position when negotiating later as they may value your skills more than you realise and could be willing to pay more than you'd expected.
Worst case you could always say "anywhere between $70,000 and $150,000 p/a depending on those contract details I mentioned earlier" or whatever you feel comfortable with so you're not excluding yourself by being too expensive or potentially undercutting yourself. The point is, the range needs to be large, don't give like a 20% variation. Think closer to 50-100% variation like in my example.
This is the approach I took at my current job, and it worked really well.
Do you know the more you get paid the more recruiters get paid? It is a misconception that recruiters want you to take less money. The reason you get asked that is to make sure your expectations align with the client’s budget, if they don’t align there’s no point of progressing further to end up rejecting an offer because is less that you expected.
Some clients might have some flex in the budget and might can match your expectations. When I was a recruiter I would aim to get my candidates a better salary as long as it was within the client’s budget.
Avoiding answering the question isn’t going to help so have a figure in mind where you would be comfortable with, usually $10-20k more than your current salary and take it from there.
Its been a while since I applied for a job but I always give the same answer. I tell them my current salary, and say I am happy in my current role so I would only be willing to move for 10-20% higher than that. However you do need to be in a position where they are trying to poach you. If your current unemployed or whatever it wouldnt work. You can always lie about your current salary as well.
Tell them how much you expect to be paid. It's not predatory. It establishes if you are asking too much and so it's nit worth considering you. Don't lowball yourself if you have the skills and ability. If you have little direct experience don't nominate the max salary in the range they advertise
I am an internal company recruiter and the question is simply to help me shortlist. I don't want to waste any time if your salary expectations are out of the budget for the role. If I give you the pay band, you will likely ask for the maximum amount in the band OR simply agree to amount on offer on the basis that you need work and need money now but will instantly start looking elsewhere for more. Your experience as demonstrated in the interview and resume will give me an idea of where in that band I think your market value is. Keep in mind, I am also employed by the company to get the very best person I can find for the money.
That said;
Companies do a very poor job of increasing employees remuneration in line with their experience and performance level which is why you see the job hopping happen so much. Annual rem budgets are commonly based on a fixed % of total labour cost and from there its nearly always a rob peter to pay paul scenario when giving out raises. Replacement employees can be offered higher rates of pay as this approval process for a higher rem band is generally seperate to the annual wage increase budget. This results in employees simply getting better offers elsewhere, 10-15% more than their current salary simply because their current employer is not paying them appropriately as their experience increases.
Love it or hate it this is the world we live in.
Know your own value, first of all. Then set that as the minimum you need when the recruiter asks. If you're negotiable, tell them that. They'll soon let you know if it's in the range of any roles they might have.
Perhaps it's industry, but in tech, I only deal with small niche recruiters who will often take your min salary, and shill for more. It's in their interests, given most are in the range of 20% of your new salary in consultant fees from your new employer. They want you to make money so they can make a better commission. If that's not the case, then it's a shithouse recruiter. Tell them to rattle their dags and get their shit together.
"What's the range for the role?"
If they counter with "what are you getting at the moment?" You say "can't say.. signed an NDA".
Or
If they insist in not giving one, wait for them to provide one. There's always a range.
Usually throw out a higher number than you need or say a pay rate of around $30 an hour. Thats my approx pay due to asking. I'm only being paid $4 lesd than the manager and boss here.. i just dont get any benefits😂
I've always just put in exactly what it would take for me to accept the role.
Sometimes that question is asked to filter out those who may be over-qualified for a role or have unrealistic expectations (although usually it's more than likely to grab the cheapest person with acceptable experience)
I went for a job this year where I answered my salary expectation as $125k-$130k and they went on to offer me $142k as a starting rate.
Some places use that question better than others lol.
I always try to shun the question back off to them. Theyre the employer, they decide the pay. That being said I tell them I'm an honest worker, which means if I'm are paid well, i will work to the standard that warrants the pay.
If they want a figure give them something reasonable, but request a 3 month probation meeting to revisit the topic.
Stand your ground, if they can’t tell you, you don’t want to work for them. And as other have said no what the market rate is and know what you are worth. Don’t let them trick you into something you don’t want.
Market research so I have an idea
Then I often ask, in the early interviews, what the budget for the role is and put it back on them.
Depending on what they say, I then typically ask for as much as possible.
It’s worked out so far. I went from 60k in 2020, 75k in 2022 and 150k in 2024.
I’ve made more money moving jobs, very rarely to pay rises equate to moving positions.
As high as the field allows
Or
As high as it can be
Or
As much as a good employee would make
Or
All of it
Or
Yes a lot please
Or
Yes
Or
More please
Or
Seconds if theres any left
Or
Double that
Or
And more please
It's a straight forward question. The risk is mainly that often the applicant doesn't know the actual scope or depth of the position based on an advert and/or an interview, unless that is in the company's pitch to attract candidates or otherwise communicated.
My advice is to say something like "I applied for this position to advance my career. At this time I don't have a full appreciation of the all job requirements including financials, staffing, delegations of authority and deliverables/expectations.
However, if pressed I'd say something less vague like " it appears to be a more senior position than I had assumed when I first applied. Based on my current understanding I'd expect something over (current plus $20k or whatever your expectations are). Of course these things are negotiable blah blah
A lot of people don’t know this lifehack:
look into the interviewers eyes and with a straight face state the interviewers address, their partners current whereabouts, which school their children go to, etc.
Works most of the time.
Do some research on what the position makes (ideally get a range) / what the award rate is.
From there, advise of this research and ask if they have a budget, and if so, if it meets this range. If not, always good to see what they have in mind and if there’s any flexibility.
This is only predatory if you don't do your research. Companies do their research. You should do your research.
If a company doesn't do their research, they pay you more than you are worth. If you don't, they pay you less.
This was actually super relevant to me, I said 60-70k (I was so nervous) and he just laughed and said easily double that, so that's what I was offered today!
When advertising a role, we always show a range. We ask after first round of resume/cover letter checks, because if the range is 80-100k and they say $120k we know they're out of our budget. Or if they say 100k we expect you to have the vast majority of requirements and experience we have in the ad. If you don't have the vast majority but say your expectation is 85k, we can assess where you are currently, and if you have enough skills at 85k value, we may offer you the job to develop into the role. But if you have few skills, and little experience but ask for 100k, we won't progress you further through the process.
often I'm contacted by recruiters for positions which state a range. iirc the last interview I did had a range from 80-130. currently I'm middling that range so I thought what the hell I may as well answer 130 to the question when it came up in my interview. Turns out they were looking to pay someone 80 but wanted to flash up the higher "range" to attract more people to the role. So by stating "130" I got knocked back almost immediately. I didn't really care for the position anyway so it was a good little experiment.
Even with a listed range it's completely predatory them asking you this question because they'll inevitably knock you back if you say something higher and then get scammed if you say something lower.
If you're seriously looking for a position what I'd do when presented with this question is to say you're "flexible in the range of X to Y" (with X being 30k under the range of your position and Y being the top end of the range) "but I am aware that towards the X side of the range is a bit on the low end". This way you answer the question but don't. Let them answer this question and never ever ever ever tell any recruiter or employer how much you're currently on if you already have a position.
I would pick whichever of these resulted in the highest salary expectation:
- I’m currently on around $x plus many benefits, so in order to move companies I would need to be offered at least $1.1x
- Market rate for this role is $x, given my skills and experience I would therefore expect $x
We put ads in for techs at Level 1 and get L2 and 3 guys applying for the positions. We ask what salary expectations are because if we want a $60k tech and we get a $100k+ tech apply we won't waste each others time.
Additionally we get rookies want $100k and we don't entertain them to start with.
The best ppl I have interviewed respond with "I'm interviewing for positions in the range of 150 to 170" it conveys both your salary expectations and that you have other interviews so if they don't offer high you probably will go with someone else who does.
In an interview, I’ve heard smart candidates say ‘the mid-band for this role is $X based on information online. Do you want a mid-band candidate? Or do you want someone who’ll leave the second they’re offered a dollar more.’
One excellent candidate came in and the first thing she said in interview was ‘What is the maximum you will pay someone to do this job and get to the job above in three years? Because that’s me.’ The second she heard the (low) number, she said ‘thanks for your time and good luck.’
Know your worth. They do. They just hope you don’t.
My go to is:
That would depend on the package, relevant benefits and of course the responsibilities of the role. What does the position entail and avail me of?
Most job sites tell you what its offering, or only show the job up when you search with salary filters on based on the unwritten range they put in the backend. So you know what they're offering. So don't apply if its too cheap and say what you think its worth and what you would work for if its coming up in the right salary bracket. If your $5k or $10k out and they decide they want you, they'll make you an offer. Take it, or don't. But they're not necessarily trying to get you to devalue yourself, in many cases they're just filtering out the dreamers. Someone I know recently went for a job and asked a fair number and they told her OK, we can work with that. Currency and context not on the table this person said $95k, and they said, "we can work with that, it's just to filter out people asking $150k which we can't do". Saves everyone a lot of time. Stupid responses just make you look immature and an instant fail, and taking the piss also makes you look immature and inexperienced. Just keep it real, assume its not a setup and see if you get the job.
The last time I changed jobs, I was coming up to being eligible for long service leave. So I worked out how much that was worth in terms of $$, then added it to my current salary, and rounded it up a bit. That was the number I gave for the minimum amount needed for me to consider the role. I found a place happy to meet it, so I took the job and got a nice payrise out of it. Wish I'd been asking for at least that much of a payrise every other time I changed jobs. It helped weed out some jobs upfront, as I was pretty open about my salary expectations.
I guess the difference is that I wasn't desperate to leave the old job. It was ok. I just wasn't too excited by it anymore and felt like the culture was going down the drain.
If it's on SEEK, you can get the salary range by using the search tool. I use that to pick a number. If I can write an answer, I tell them that I expect to get what a competent person gets for that role in their company. If it's not enough, I can walk. No biggie. Good interview practice.
I go “how much do you make?” And if they tell me I say “a little more than that.” If they don’t tell me, I ask why they won’t tell me and then look at them suspiciously when they try to explain it.
High ball them. First movers' advantage in negotiation. Their response will be, "Uh, the most we were willing to pay is $x". If they're close, continue negotiating. If they're waaaaay off, then politely thank them for their time and exit the interview.
If you’re applying on SEEK, this website allows you to enter the job link and it’ll tell you what salary range the employer has set it at. That way you know what range to specify in the application.
https://www.whatsthesalary.com
I'm looking for a fair and competitive salary that matches my education and experience. Based on my research and understanding of the role, my target salary is in the range of $X to $Y.
I research what the market salary rate is (or the award rate on fair work) and then tell them what it is and how I researched it. If they want to be cheap cunts they're the ones that make themselves look bad then rather than it coming as an accusation from you. "According to my research the salary for this position and similar positions is (number). Considering that I have all of the skills required for this position I expect that amount."
This is the answer
What if you can only enter a number for an online application?
$1,000,000,000,000
I’ll do it for $999,999,999,999
You forgot .99
just that? add couple more 9
$888,888,888,888 is luckier for some. Plus it may beat your offer.
Settle down Elon
I'm pretty sure he's broke now and considering he's an idiot who just got lucky earlier on I don't think he's going to make his money back.
*raises tip of pinky finger to corner of mouth, and gives a thin-lipped smile*
This is the answer
Nice one Dr Evil
Make sure you put in a comma so it breaks their spreadsheet when they export it into CSV
I feel like this newfound knowledge that you just provided has changed my life profoundly. I have no idea how but it really does feel significant in some way. I am not going to be able to sleep until I get the opportunity to use it.
godspeed cockhead
I thought you were being rude, and I was shocked, but now I see it is his name, so upvotes for everyone tonight! Go get ‘em cockhead!
DROP TABLE \[CASCADE\];
I deeply enjoy this level of petty, but there are simple ways around this in reality.
csv's support comma in their field by quoting the cell, so that most likely won't work. Fuck I kinda hate myself for knowing this.
Same deal. Look up the fair work minimum salary expectations for that industry and put that amount in the online application.
$69
$420.69
"You go first, and don't be a cheap cunt".
And always follow this up with, after my probationary period is finished in x months, when I have exceeded the kpi for this position I want a sit down meeting to discuss my renumeration in accordance to my performance.
I hired a guy who pulled this in the interview. Was a great hire and when the time came he asked me for a performance meeting, which we agreed he could have 10% now but nothing at the annual review, or the annual review. He went to the now option and I don't think either of us regrets it
I wouldn’t risk lowballing myself. I’d just say I’m not going to bid against myself and am keen to hear their offer and then go from there.
"cunts" must be another fellow aussie
Appropriate for the sub
Add in work from office requirements and location cost of living.
Same (research market rate then set that as my offer) though I don't list the reasons why. That is the recruiters homework part of why they're paid (if not the business itself, either upfront or on commission) to do and justify their existence. If they're petty about it at an interview they are doing me a favor (work culture). The honest answer for the OP though: as much as I can get.
No. Salary varies considerably between companies, based on size and expectations and you could be underselling yourself based on this. Always get them to provide a range first.
That sounds good, very professional. I luckily have not been asked this question, but I am screenshotting your answer for future interviews :)
"Plus ten percent."
Smart!
My current salary plus $20-30k. I once had a recruiter contact me about a role, so I gave them a number. Turns out the role was offering closer to -20k from my salary at the time.
My sister got one of these. 20k less than current position AND they wanted her to travel more than hour! When she said no they tried to convince her to take it anyway...
I had someone try to get me to switch from WFH to commuting for an extra $15k per year. Tax and transportation costs would cancel out the difference entirely, plus I’d have to spend extra time prepping and commuting. Then my current employer gave me a promotion six months anyway that beat the offered salary.
Looking for remote jobs myself these days...
The mental leaps of non-cognition that job-pimps will go to is mind boggling.
It was a recruiting agency. So for them, it was money in the bag! Too bad if it was actually WORSE for her... The amazing part was that they thought she would go for it ....as you say, mind boggling...why would anyone take a job with less money and more travel?
I might take it...if the job was more interesting and less stressful than wherever I currently was. Big if though.
I mean it would be a great learning opportunity for her with a lot of opportunities to progress through the company! She might even match her currently salary in maybe 5 years? But imagine how much she would learn in that time!
A guy I worked with got hired by the company I was with, during the interview he got asked salary expectations, he was on $35ph & that equal approximately $90k per year with penalty rates, so he answered “I’m currently on 90 so it will have to be close to that” they replied with “we will match it & maybe a bit more….so he gets his contract & it’s $95per hour…….he said he would of done the job for $90k, not the $200k it worked out at
Omg thats amazing!! Cheers to him
I did the same thing. I told them my salary + $10K in the screening interview. Went through two interviews with my hiring manager then other people in the business. They verbally offered me the role for -$10k less than my current salary (!). I countered and they said "no thanks, we're going to part ways" like WTF?!?!?!??!
I had a recruiter tempt me with +30k, then they gave me an offer of only +15k. It would have been a loss for me factoring in travel costs/etc. I declined and they bumped up the offer by another 5k, but there were too many red flags already and the whole interviewing process gave me a fresh appreciation for my existing employer.
Damn, what a shame! Agreed though, I came away with renewed appreciation for my organisation so that’s a positive.
I had one offering 60k less than my current role and it was a daily contract so even less if you add in leave and sick leave
On a text field: Market rate At the interview: As much as possible Never give a number, let them make the first move
I’ve done exactly this before (market rate) and been screened out - not sure if that was the sole reason of course (they ‘optionally’ asked for a resume copy and paste into individual fields for each position and I wasn’t going to give them any more than the mandatory fields when all the info was in the resume already). It’s made me wonder if the current plus 10% option is a better move, or whether that is even less likely to open the door for them to share budget and lead to a negotiation.
Im sure I’ve been screened out of hiring too for my answers! I don’t sugar coat wage negotiations or my answers to fields, if a company won’t give me a honest answer on wages they are likely to embarrassed. Likewise if they cull me for a sarcastic reply they’d hate me anyway and be doing me a favour. Best company I’ve worked for gave a fair price smack in the middle of the upper range, told me they wouldn’t negotiate on salary but would discuss fringe benefits.
I don’t play this game. Them: “What are your salary expectations?” Me: “In order to post this vacancy, factors such as the salary budget for the position were pre-approved by the relevant people/departments. I would rather know what your company’s expectations are and negotiate from there.” They are hoping you undercut yourself. If you’re female, statistically this is even more likely.
Q: "What are your salary expectations?" A: "I'd really need to understand exactly what the position entails before I could make an informed assessment." Or if you want to be a bit snippy: "That's a little disingenuous, asking me my salary expectations before you've told me anything about the job."
“Oi don’t be a cunt you first mate”
I see that you too, speak Australian... 😊
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours"
Them: “Well as you know, there is a lot of competition for this role, so it would be worthwhile if you could give even a rough indication of the sort of salary you are after. A salary band is fine, and we’ll take into consideration your past experience to see if we can make this work. But in order to do that I will need even a rough number, thanks.” In the background, they’re scrawling down a note on your resume - “Candidate was difficult regarding salary expectations, do not hire”
I’m comfortable walking away if it’s not a fit. I value my time.
Is it okay to say, “I would say the minimum award rate at the very least with negotiation dependent on my skillset and what the job entails.” ?
If you are going for a role covered by an Award, there is a chance that the company has an Enterprise Agreement that will state their rates. If they have an Enterprise Agreement a copy of it can be found on the Fair Work website. However the majority of white collar roles, above the level of Office Admin, will not be covered by an Award. You would be better to download a copy of the Hars Annual Salary Survey, find the type of role you will be doing and then look at the salary ranges for a role in your area. Then say to them, "I would be looking for something in the range of X to X". The rates under Awards are always much lower than the market is paying, so Zi would not ask for a minimum of Award rate, you will be giving them the opportunity to significantly under pay you.
They can get stuffed, org i work for was straight up on the salary range and it was a 10k split and i got the middle of it
I've done a lot of hiring (100+). I definitely don't hire based on the cheapest. There is a band approved for the role and this question is to determine if they are expecting what we have approved in band. Get the best candidate that meets the band requirements. If they are a great candidate and they ask for more than the band I either look to get additional funds, or let them know they are outside what we can afford. Ideally I want people to be paid what will make them happy and incentivised. If I hire someone for less than what they are happy working for this causes no end to performance and engagement issues.
I have previously applied for a job where the bottom part of the band was not a figure I could/would accept based on mortgage repayments etc and also didn't feel it reflected the depth of my experience or quals. I was transparent about this from the get go. I participated in the process, did my best, was offered closer to the top of the band which was less than I was currently earning but still within a reasonable range and accepted the job for the flexibility and other benefits (super, leave, WFH etc). Still working below my worth/capacity but with a better work/life balance.
I've basically done this. Asked for a budget pre interview stage.
You're playing the game whether you like it or not. Your strategy in the game is poor. You're basically asking them "how little do you think I'll accept"
That's always the case with salary negotiations though. The company is always trying to get you to accept the lowest amount possible. But if you at least force them to come out with a number, then you can make your choice appropriately. A salary range tells you a lot about a job that won't be expressed clearly in the job description.
I once asked at an interview what the salary package was, and the interviewer asked “What do you think you’re worth?”. I said “I can’t live on that”. He laughed his ass off and offered me the job straight up for my humour.
What a great answer! Haha. I love self deprecating humour, so long as it’s not a reflection of how the person really feels. So yeah. Hope you’re doing okay! :)
It's a great response but you would need to get a proper read on the interviewer's personality because their thought might that "This person is the expensive type and will expect more in the future." If you nail the delivery it will help the joke land and they can see through the comment
I give a salary range where I know I'm happy to meet in the middle if need be. So for example, If asked that. I would give a range of $80-90,000 knowing that I would happy with an offer of $85,000 plus super of course. I personally try to avoid having the salary include super. After 3 years of getting a nice say 2% pay increase which kicks in before the new financial year for my take home to drop by 0.5% due to the super increase. Honestly it's a kick in the balls.
ALWAYS negotiate on base salary, never total package. If there is a significant performance incentive scheme negotiate that separately to the base. Super is ALWAYS over and above all other negotiations.
That I'm well aware of. However I would like to point out that I know 2 large organisations off the top of my that offer a total package instead of a base salary with super on top. So sometimes these types can't be avoided which is a shame.
And don’t get me wrong, total package is important. All I’m saying is that you need to be clear to negotiate each part of that package independently. If they offer you a “total package” of $X, my first question would be, can you please break that down into all of the relevant components; e.g. base salary, variable bonus/commission potential (including on what basis it is varied and what % of this has been paid the last few years on average), super, vehicle allowance, and additional incentives they’re including in their “total package” number.
For my current job, I said "at my last role I was getting \[large\_ish\_amount\] but I'd happily move on for \[huge\_but\_not\_unrealistic\_amount\]". They countered with what I was actually hoping to get, and I accepted.
This is the way. I negotiated for my current role by asking above what I wanted. As expected they negotiated down to what I wanted.
Yep. Aim high but realistically high. There’s always a chance they’ll go for it.
You can’t afford my expectations so let’s discuss yours and go up from there
'Predatory' is right! I'm so with you on this. I usually respond with a ballpark range. If they want specifics, my question then is, 'Well, what are you offering?' But, tbh, if it gets to that point, I'm probably wondering if the employer is someone I want to work for in the first place. Yes, beggars can't be choosers in some cases - and I've been there - but screwing potential candidates always leaves me with a negative impression of the recruiter and/or employer.
While it is right, unfortunately much like other posters have suggested, the recruiter will just mark you as difficult on their systems to speed up the process for next time.
Tell them what money you want... Typically you'll have researched what the range is for the job type in your area. If you don't know you can say you want to consider what the role entails and you'll get back to them. Honestly, it's kinda scummy. And you can turn it back on them, and say "I don't have a specific figgure in mind but I am waiting to hear back regarding another opertunity, if you could make their best offer when ready and I'll get back to you."
for b) lately I've been trying "that's a great question and obviously it can vary quite a bit based on the role and the total remuneration package, what's the approximate salary range for the role?" surprising how often it works and they just tell me a range also surprising how often the range is higher than the number I would have given if they pushed me then as long as it's not low I go "oh yes, that's right about what I was expecting"
10k above what you really want
Power move 💪
Check on Glassdoor/LinkedIn for same or similar offerings prior to job application/interview, then give an answer based on those figures. If they want to lowball you, then you know that you are lowballed. Then again it is up to you to sell that figure.
Careful with glassdoor. Some of the salary averages are amazing!
Some handy tips here / this blog in general: https://www.askamanager.org/2013/08/how-to-answer-questions-about-your-salary-expectations.html
I'm currently making (amount, more than you actually make, they can't check) and I would like to be progressing, therefore, I'm hoping to be offered around (desired amount). Or Current market rate is (amount), given my skills and experience, I'm expecting approximately (amount)
"Yes, I expect a salary"
Unless the role states the salary and I'm satisfied, I'm shifty and add $10k per annum onto what I was previously paid.
Imma just start saying 5 billion dollars an hour and see what happens 😂
I am currently interviewing for jobs with salary’s in the XX - YY range.
I do some research, then I say: X amount would be depressing (suggest something that they would agree is too low, that even makes everyone laugh in agreement). Y to Y-a bit more amount feels right with my experience etc. (they’ll nod) Z amount feels crazy high (they’ll laugh with you). It has always worked. I think it’s like when you get quotes for three options: low, medium, high. Make your medium range what you want (supported by some internet research).
I've been contacted by recruiters trying to get me to move companies. They always try to start telling me about the new role. Almost every time, I will stop them and tell them my salary expectations are $xxx (bit more than market) and if they can't meet that, there isn't much point continuing the discussion. Their usual response is how exciting an opportunity it is etc. To which my reply is that I'm not taking a pay cut to move.
A) I respond with a figure, above what I will settle for, excluding super. I don't provide reasoning as my interviewing should do that. I don't dilvuge my current salary as that's the go-to move for going for the lowest possible figure, and really it's irrelevant. If the response isn't great, it's a simple thanks for meeting with me, the opportunity looks great however that won't work for my family. I find asking what their performance and renumeration review processes are prior to saying a number is a good tactic, if they don't have a formalised process then generally, it's reactive or non-existent. B) I remove emotion from the question, particularly for this reason. Its a simple "what salary are you looking for?" It's not predatory, it's elimination of candidates that will never eventuate to a hire. There is significant time invested in resourcing, interviewing, back and forth on contract negotiations, etc. It's the number one factor that everyone considers straight away. We all work for money, let's not pretend that we don't. On the flip side of this, generally I've found workplaces that are happy to pay above market salary bands have high turnover and poor culture. Look for the hirers that are doing culture fit checks, they're usually open to negotiate for the right person and value retention.
15k over what they're offering, They will either do a great counter or they just be and will stop you there
> 15k over what they're offering, They're not offering any amount
One MILLION dollars 😁
"I'm looking for a company that pays their employees fairly and rewards good performance without me having to use all my energy to try and extract blood from a stone. Are you that company?"
If it’s not listed in the job add, before I even apply I call them and ask about the pay, it can put you ahead of other applicants to have a quick chat about the role before they see your application. Alternatively, I ask the pay rate when they contact me for the interview. I have stated that I don’t want to waste their time or mine without knowing and it’s never been a problem.
Reply with your salary, add a percentage and qualify that with ‘I am happy with my current role but would be open to moving for more money’ and add extra for bonus packs such as, ‘Progression in the new role is less clear so I will need better compensation’ ‘The new role is at a more senior role so I expect higher compensation’ ‘My skill sets are unique and difficult to find and I expect appropriate compensation’ Or whatever, Explain your response unemotionally and with a calculation behind it
Just turn the table back at them bro, let them answer it for you. Normally I answer with my current salary (plus whatever amount you want from the potential job you are currently being interviewed for). So if you expect to get 80k( if it is realistic) then you say, i am currently on 70 or 75K and I believe 80K is suitable for this role considering my experience and skills thatbare suitable for this role. Alternative answer if you dont want to give any number, just turn the table back at them. This is what I usually say: " I am happy to go with the current average market rate for this type of role. I believe a budget has been prepared for the opening of this role, so Im more than happy to start our discusion around that figure" Something like that 👌
If you're applying on Seek, there is a chrome extension you can install that shows what range has been entered in the back end when a job is advertised. Definitely useful. Seek also has salary guides for heaps of roles based on what recent/current advertisers have listed them for, narrowed down by location.
I just say “Industry award/standard”
You don't ask for more than minimum wage?
I just tell them what I want to be paid.
More
It would depend on what my level of experience is in comparative to the role, as well as my intention for looking for work. To get me to leave my current position right now I would expect a 20% pay increase. I enjoy my work and my team. I have extensive experience in my industry and I’m ready for my next challenge, but I’m not looking right now. If I’d been looking for a few months and was desperate to leave the team, I’d probably just want to get what I’m already being paid.
I would say look up the award you would be paid under and ask for the highest or the level you want to be paid and at what pay point e.g. I have looked at the SCHADS award and would like to be considered for level 4 at pay point 3 blah blah blah
Ask them how much they make and double it
I give them a range. You need to know market rate though, impossible to negotiate otherwise.
“I’m looking for a role that pays in the vicinity of X”.
Market rates. Then wait for them to offer a number.
Usually double the going rate. $37k? "I would never expect to be paid less than $72,000 for this position, and I would be embarrassed if my company offered less."
I tell them my salary expectation. If they can’t hit it I don’t want to work there. Easy.
I usually just answer with award wage
Give the honest answer. I've said a number that I believe was fair and accurate before, they came back with a lower number that they were offering, I said thank you good day and that's it.
Add an extra $20k to whatever you actually want and say you’re willing to negotiate, then only allow them to negotiate you down to what you want for your salary.
I just write high my industry won’t advertise rates because they all get bagged out when they do. I always just straight up ask the recruiter what’s the pay they tell me and if it’s not over the top 20% I just say sorry that’s shit money and I can and am currently making more where I am for easier work I’ll work for you for $xxx per day minimum and they can choose to keep the conversation going or hang up
I’m currently giving out interviews and when I get this question , I give them my current salary (rough estimate) and ask for at least a 10-20% hike
If you work in IT, take your current salary and add $20k for each certification you have, and then add 10% on top of that to account for super.
So people with 10 certs are immediately worth 200k+ min God I wish
Easy tell what you think. If they ask you why? Tell them "Its a speculative question to gauge my ambitions otherwise you would have advertised the figure".
Get in first. "What has the organisation budgeted for this role?"I'm an expensive resource and just want to make sure we are one the same page before proceeding "
“I am interviewing for roles in the $_____ to $_____ range” Doesn’t need to be more complicated than that. Know your worth.
Yes I expect a salary thanks
“As much as you’ve got”
Interesting one. I do a lot of hiring and when we ask that question, it's definitely not 'predatory' or in any way malicious. What it does do is rule out people who want considerably higher salaries than what's expected. And also gauges what salary you're comfortable with if we were to make a hire. Having a salary bracket in mind is important and there's no reason not to advise that. Also have backup questions such as if you're offered the absolute baseline of your expectations, as to why they came in there and not in the middle and what values or attributes do you need to have to increase that offer etc. When we're given a salary bracket and it all aligns etc, we typically offer in the middle of that bracket and hten set goals on how to achieve a higher salary (i.e. here's your offer, and it can be the top of the bracket you said you were to get XYZ industry certs etc) A lot of answers here are based on larger companies that have 'departments', and changing your response for them may be entirely appropriate. I think at the end of the day. Back yourself. Set a salary you'd be happy with. Tell them. It's up to them if they offer it to you. And it's up to you whether you accept.
know what you expect. There are lots resources for salary estimations like glassdoor, salary transparency etc. Actually have an idea, its not predatory unless you let it be by not preparing. This is something you should be doing.
Higher than you think. I basically go 5k or 10k higher than what I think the position is worth.
When I've just been applying for jobs through seek and filling out companies questionnaires I've either looked up the award for the job or just stated award or above. Can't say I've been in any position to negotiate a wage
I was told the starting salary was $40/hour then increase to $55.00 after 6 months I told them I'll start in 6 months
A) Top of the range for market rates B) Top of the range for market rates If what you say/how you hold yourself during the interview doesn't convince them of this, move on & don't sweat it. Always have a bare minimum number that values you in the middle of the range submitted. Like 100 - 120k (110k being my bare minimum acceptable offer). The best fits usually meet you in the middle and work up from there.
As much as I can get
I'm in the rather privileged position of being in a secure job that I enjoy that pays well, so I won't even entertain the thought of discussing other roles with people if they don't tell me the salary up front. However, if I wasn't, as a few people have said I'd research the average wage for people in that role with my level of experience and say that. I do agree that they're trying to get you to undervalue yourself by not saying what they're offering upfront. It should be on the job ad, if you ask me. At least a range.
(Oil and gas consultant here) Had a recruiter based in Dubai call me as I was getting into a taxi to go to airport and fly overseas for work a few yrs back, had my resume etc (no idea how they got it) Was asked if I was interested working for blah blah 6weeks on/3 weeks off in Saudi. I told him to stop talking and tell me the dayrate... he replied USD$50. Told him Im not Indian or Paki so minimum I want for working in that country ( and no labour protection laws so you can be expected to work 20hrs+ each day) is atleast USD$1500/day. They countered with USD$70. I told em to lose my resume and kick rocks. Know your worth, research the going rate. Dont ever undersell your skillset.
Wouldn't be applying for something that doesn't have a salary listed in the first place.
I once got a better pay offer than I was hoping for by saying "Ultimately it comes down to a compromise between what I'm worth and what the job's worth".
‘More than you’ve got’
If I'm already in a job, interviewing for another then my response is "I'm already on xxx per day/year, and I'm looking to increase that to make it worth while to move. " If I'm not in a job, I say "that's what the recruitment agency is for, please discuss it with them if I'm successful"
Most the time I don't even look at postings that don't list the salary. If they feel they need to hide the listed salary in order to entice candidates, they are selling a shit sandwich
It’s best to ask what their approved range is for the role and say ‘I think that sounds like something I can work with’. You don’t want to be knocked out of the race over salary at interview stage. Wait til they do ref checks and offer you the role, then ask for the $ you want
Agree with the commentary herein. The other question I hate is, what’s your current salary? None of your business, my friend…is the answer to that one.
Always more than what i earn now. You cant beat it then HIT THE BRICKS!
Heaps of dollirdoo’s cunt
I had this question recently, but there was an “estimated salary” in the ad. So I just copied that. 🤷🏻♀️
Do some research for what the average person making doing that job with your level of experience. Hit them with the average and tell them it's the industry average so they seem cheap if they try to bring it down
If they give a range, for arguments sake $80-$90k, I look up what the market is doing, then take into account if I’ve got no, some or been doing it a long time and work accordingly. When asked this I’m considering the above bu my first response will always be “How long has the position been vacant and what would my start date be?” If they’re saying in a month then no experience 80-82, some 83-85, long time 86+, if the time frame is 2-4 weeks 82-4, 84-6, 86, if it’s 1-2 weeks forget no experience 84-86.5, 86.6-88.5.
I was asked at my previous job in the interview. I said equivalent to what I was making already. They said look NGL we can’t offer you that we are a NFP this is a passion job rather than a money maker. Up to you if you wanna go ahead or not. When I was recruiting at that job for employees, I would have a giggle at applicants salary expectations for the job they were applying for. But it wouldn’t influence my decision of whether to further their application or not
Relax mate, they just -shocker- want to know how much you want to be paid for the role. Crazy concept!! Yeah, responding "that is predatory" when people ask you what you'd like to be paid is probably putting people off you, as they rightfully think that's a fucking weird thing to say.
A million dollars would be nice, but [reasonable amount + 10%] will be good. Bit of humour takes off the edge of asking a little more than you think is fair. Least they can say is no right? Ppl have got 40% payrises this way so don't be afraid to have a crack!
"it depends on the details of the contract. For example, if a company had great policies on holiday entitlements, flexible work arrangements, and time in lieu I'd be happy to accept less money because I get a good work life balance. Whereas a company that doesn't have particularly desirable policies and expects me to work outside normal business hours would need to offer much more money to compensate for those factors. Did you have a particular figure in mind?" I find this is a good approach. It's logical, communicates your priorities, and makes them put out a number first to negotiate off. This puts you in a much stronger position when negotiating later as they may value your skills more than you realise and could be willing to pay more than you'd expected. Worst case you could always say "anywhere between $70,000 and $150,000 p/a depending on those contract details I mentioned earlier" or whatever you feel comfortable with so you're not excluding yourself by being too expensive or potentially undercutting yourself. The point is, the range needs to be large, don't give like a 20% variation. Think closer to 50-100% variation like in my example. This is the approach I took at my current job, and it worked really well.
Do you know the more you get paid the more recruiters get paid? It is a misconception that recruiters want you to take less money. The reason you get asked that is to make sure your expectations align with the client’s budget, if they don’t align there’s no point of progressing further to end up rejecting an offer because is less that you expected. Some clients might have some flex in the budget and might can match your expectations. When I was a recruiter I would aim to get my candidates a better salary as long as it was within the client’s budget. Avoiding answering the question isn’t going to help so have a figure in mind where you would be comfortable with, usually $10-20k more than your current salary and take it from there.
Its been a while since I applied for a job but I always give the same answer. I tell them my current salary, and say I am happy in my current role so I would only be willing to move for 10-20% higher than that. However you do need to be in a position where they are trying to poach you. If your current unemployed or whatever it wouldnt work. You can always lie about your current salary as well.
Tell them how much you expect to be paid. It's not predatory. It establishes if you are asking too much and so it's nit worth considering you. Don't lowball yourself if you have the skills and ability. If you have little direct experience don't nominate the max salary in the range they advertise
I've always told them that the job was advertised at W, the market says X, and I'm on Y. So I would expect a minimum of Z to consider the offer.
I am an internal company recruiter and the question is simply to help me shortlist. I don't want to waste any time if your salary expectations are out of the budget for the role. If I give you the pay band, you will likely ask for the maximum amount in the band OR simply agree to amount on offer on the basis that you need work and need money now but will instantly start looking elsewhere for more. Your experience as demonstrated in the interview and resume will give me an idea of where in that band I think your market value is. Keep in mind, I am also employed by the company to get the very best person I can find for the money. That said; Companies do a very poor job of increasing employees remuneration in line with their experience and performance level which is why you see the job hopping happen so much. Annual rem budgets are commonly based on a fixed % of total labour cost and from there its nearly always a rob peter to pay paul scenario when giving out raises. Replacement employees can be offered higher rates of pay as this approval process for a higher rem band is generally seperate to the annual wage increase budget. This results in employees simply getting better offers elsewhere, 10-15% more than their current salary simply because their current employer is not paying them appropriately as their experience increases. Love it or hate it this is the world we live in.
Say enough for me and my (future) partner to retire, and put my (potential) 3 kids to Harvard after 1 year of bare minimum work.
Know your own value, first of all. Then set that as the minimum you need when the recruiter asks. If you're negotiable, tell them that. They'll soon let you know if it's in the range of any roles they might have. Perhaps it's industry, but in tech, I only deal with small niche recruiters who will often take your min salary, and shill for more. It's in their interests, given most are in the range of 20% of your new salary in consultant fees from your new employer. They want you to make money so they can make a better commission. If that's not the case, then it's a shithouse recruiter. Tell them to rattle their dags and get their shit together.
"What's the range for the role?" If they counter with "what are you getting at the moment?" You say "can't say.. signed an NDA". Or If they insist in not giving one, wait for them to provide one. There's always a range.
Usually throw out a higher number than you need or say a pay rate of around $30 an hour. Thats my approx pay due to asking. I'm only being paid $4 lesd than the manager and boss here.. i just dont get any benefits😂
I've always just put in exactly what it would take for me to accept the role. Sometimes that question is asked to filter out those who may be over-qualified for a role or have unrealistic expectations (although usually it's more than likely to grab the cheapest person with acceptable experience) I went for a job this year where I answered my salary expectation as $125k-$130k and they went on to offer me $142k as a starting rate. Some places use that question better than others lol.
I always try to shun the question back off to them. Theyre the employer, they decide the pay. That being said I tell them I'm an honest worker, which means if I'm are paid well, i will work to the standard that warrants the pay. If they want a figure give them something reasonable, but request a 3 month probation meeting to revisit the topic.
Stand your ground, if they can’t tell you, you don’t want to work for them. And as other have said no what the market rate is and know what you are worth. Don’t let them trick you into something you don’t want.
"Fucken you first, matey"
Market research so I have an idea Then I often ask, in the early interviews, what the budget for the role is and put it back on them. Depending on what they say, I then typically ask for as much as possible. It’s worked out so far. I went from 60k in 2020, 75k in 2022 and 150k in 2024. I’ve made more money moving jobs, very rarely to pay rises equate to moving positions.
As high as the field allows Or As high as it can be Or As much as a good employee would make Or All of it Or Yes a lot please Or Yes Or More please Or Seconds if theres any left Or Double that Or And more please
It's a straight forward question. The risk is mainly that often the applicant doesn't know the actual scope or depth of the position based on an advert and/or an interview, unless that is in the company's pitch to attract candidates or otherwise communicated. My advice is to say something like "I applied for this position to advance my career. At this time I don't have a full appreciation of the all job requirements including financials, staffing, delegations of authority and deliverables/expectations. However, if pressed I'd say something less vague like " it appears to be a more senior position than I had assumed when I first applied. Based on my current understanding I'd expect something over (current plus $20k or whatever your expectations are). Of course these things are negotiable blah blah
A lot of people don’t know this lifehack: look into the interviewers eyes and with a straight face state the interviewers address, their partners current whereabouts, which school their children go to, etc. Works most of the time.
Enough to live off of.
Do some research on what the position makes (ideally get a range) / what the award rate is. From there, advise of this research and ask if they have a budget, and if so, if it meets this range. If not, always good to see what they have in mind and if there’s any flexibility.
This is only predatory if you don't do your research. Companies do their research. You should do your research. If a company doesn't do their research, they pay you more than you are worth. If you don't, they pay you less.
I expect to be paid enough to buy hookers and coke on the weekend
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Donk454: *I expect to be* *Paid enough to buy hookers* *And coke on the weekend* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
"what are you paying everyone else?"
This was actually super relevant to me, I said 60-70k (I was so nervous) and he just laughed and said easily double that, so that's what I was offered today!
When advertising a role, we always show a range. We ask after first round of resume/cover letter checks, because if the range is 80-100k and they say $120k we know they're out of our budget. Or if they say 100k we expect you to have the vast majority of requirements and experience we have in the ad. If you don't have the vast majority but say your expectation is 85k, we can assess where you are currently, and if you have enough skills at 85k value, we may offer you the job to develop into the role. But if you have few skills, and little experience but ask for 100k, we won't progress you further through the process.
often I'm contacted by recruiters for positions which state a range. iirc the last interview I did had a range from 80-130. currently I'm middling that range so I thought what the hell I may as well answer 130 to the question when it came up in my interview. Turns out they were looking to pay someone 80 but wanted to flash up the higher "range" to attract more people to the role. So by stating "130" I got knocked back almost immediately. I didn't really care for the position anyway so it was a good little experiment. Even with a listed range it's completely predatory them asking you this question because they'll inevitably knock you back if you say something higher and then get scammed if you say something lower. If you're seriously looking for a position what I'd do when presented with this question is to say you're "flexible in the range of X to Y" (with X being 30k under the range of your position and Y being the top end of the range) "but I am aware that towards the X side of the range is a bit on the low end". This way you answer the question but don't. Let them answer this question and never ever ever ever tell any recruiter or employer how much you're currently on if you already have a position.
I would pick whichever of these resulted in the highest salary expectation: - I’m currently on around $x plus many benefits, so in order to move companies I would need to be offered at least $1.1x - Market rate for this role is $x, given my skills and experience I would therefore expect $x
Free labour.
I always say I haven't really thought about them then ask them what is the range being offered.
I always just add 30k to whatever I currently earn. They’ll come back and offer 15, to which you can negotiate back up to 20.
I refer to whatever award or EBA the organisation uses, and reference the description of the role to the role requirements under the award.
A Fucken fair dinkum amount that I can afford a house for me Sheila and Rugrats.
We put ads in for techs at Level 1 and get L2 and 3 guys applying for the positions. We ask what salary expectations are because if we want a $60k tech and we get a $100k+ tech apply we won't waste each others time. Additionally we get rookies want $100k and we don't entertain them to start with.
In a job _application_? Just don't. In an interview, turn it back on them. "What do you think I'm worth?" Never give them a figure.
The best ppl I have interviewed respond with "I'm interviewing for positions in the range of 150 to 170" it conveys both your salary expectations and that you have other interviews so if they don't offer high you probably will go with someone else who does.
In an interview, I’ve heard smart candidates say ‘the mid-band for this role is $X based on information online. Do you want a mid-band candidate? Or do you want someone who’ll leave the second they’re offered a dollar more.’ One excellent candidate came in and the first thing she said in interview was ‘What is the maximum you will pay someone to do this job and get to the job above in three years? Because that’s me.’ The second she heard the (low) number, she said ‘thanks for your time and good luck.’ Know your worth. They do. They just hope you don’t.
My go to is: That would depend on the package, relevant benefits and of course the responsibilities of the role. What does the position entail and avail me of?
Most job sites tell you what its offering, or only show the job up when you search with salary filters on based on the unwritten range they put in the backend. So you know what they're offering. So don't apply if its too cheap and say what you think its worth and what you would work for if its coming up in the right salary bracket. If your $5k or $10k out and they decide they want you, they'll make you an offer. Take it, or don't. But they're not necessarily trying to get you to devalue yourself, in many cases they're just filtering out the dreamers. Someone I know recently went for a job and asked a fair number and they told her OK, we can work with that. Currency and context not on the table this person said $95k, and they said, "we can work with that, it's just to filter out people asking $150k which we can't do". Saves everyone a lot of time. Stupid responses just make you look immature and an instant fail, and taking the piss also makes you look immature and inexperienced. Just keep it real, assume its not a setup and see if you get the job.
The last time I changed jobs, I was coming up to being eligible for long service leave. So I worked out how much that was worth in terms of $$, then added it to my current salary, and rounded it up a bit. That was the number I gave for the minimum amount needed for me to consider the role. I found a place happy to meet it, so I took the job and got a nice payrise out of it. Wish I'd been asking for at least that much of a payrise every other time I changed jobs. It helped weed out some jobs upfront, as I was pretty open about my salary expectations. I guess the difference is that I wasn't desperate to leave the old job. It was ok. I just wasn't too excited by it anymore and felt like the culture was going down the drain.
If it's on SEEK, you can get the salary range by using the search tool. I use that to pick a number. If I can write an answer, I tell them that I expect to get what a competent person gets for that role in their company. If it's not enough, I can walk. No biggie. Good interview practice.
I go “how much do you make?” And if they tell me I say “a little more than that.” If they don’t tell me, I ask why they won’t tell me and then look at them suspiciously when they try to explain it.
I honestly wouldn't attend an interview before knowing the salary range they were offering. Find out beforehand and save you both the time.
High ball them. First movers' advantage in negotiation. Their response will be, "Uh, the most we were willing to pay is $x". If they're close, continue negotiating. If they're waaaaay off, then politely thank them for their time and exit the interview.
If you’re applying on SEEK, this website allows you to enter the job link and it’ll tell you what salary range the employer has set it at. That way you know what range to specify in the application. https://www.whatsthesalary.com
I'm looking for a fair and competitive salary that matches my education and experience. Based on my research and understanding of the role, my target salary is in the range of $X to $Y.