Discussing salary expectations is particularly difficult for most job seekers, as it can be tricky to guess what the employer wants to hear. A low offer can indicate a lack of skills and experience, while an overly ambitious one may be off-putting due to financial reasons.
In this article, we will show you some strategies for answering this question, teach you how to avoid common mistakes, and give a few examples to help you formulate your own response.
Key Takeaways
The salary expectations question serves to gauge your perception of your own skills and check whether your request is realistic for the company’s budget.
You can answer this question by redirecting the conversation, providing a salary range, and discussing other perks the company offers.
Common mistakes you should avoid when answering include failing to do your research, answering too early, giving an overly broad range, and settling or aiming too high.
Why Employers Ask “What Are Your Salary Expectations?” at Interviews
Employers ask “What are your salary expectations?” at interviews because they want to gauge whether your desired salary fits their budget and how confident you are in your skills. This is what makes this question particularly tricky; your answer must thread a thin line.
That’s because giving a high range that doesn’t align with the company’s budget may result in them hiring someone else instead. At the same time, though, low expectations may indicate a lack of confidence in your skills, which isn’t the best look when applying for a job.
How to Know What Your Salary Expectations Are
It’s not easy to know what your salary expectations are, especially if you’ve never thought about it or done any research. That’s why many candidates stumble on this common interview question and end up answering vaguely or not at all.
Here is what you can do to make sure this doesn’t happen to you:
Do market research. Check the typical salary ranges for your job position online; you can use websites like Glassdoor, where the information is collected from users. You can also directly ask others who work in your industry or even approach employees of the same company to learn what salaries are usually offered for your position.
Assess your own skills. Consider if you possess any competencies and qualifications that may justify a salary bump. If you do, don’t sell yourself short; ask for compensation that adequately reflects your skills.
Factor in your personal needs. Calculate your spending, including bills, rent, and lifestyle; the result should be the lowest offer you’re willing to accept.
3 Strategies for Answering the Salary Expectations Interview Question
Strategies for answering the salary expectations interview question include redirecting the conversation, providing a salary range, and discussing other perks.
Here’s how you can effectively discuss salary in a UK interview:
#1. Redirect the Conversation
If you’re unsure how to give a response about your salary expectations, a good strategy is to redirect the conversation until you can collect your thoughts. This doesn’t mean dodging the question entirely; rather, it’s buying some time and gathering more information.
Here’s what you can say to redirect the conversation and not appear hesitant to answer:
Redirecting the Conversation Example
“Before I answer, I would like to learn more about the role’s responsibilities. That will help me be more realistic about my salary expectations and provide a more accurate range.”
As you can see, this answer puts the ball in the interviewers’ court, while simultaneously promising that a response will follow. It also allows you to ask further questions about the role and gain a better understanding of the job’s full scope.
#2. Provide a Salary Range
Once the time comes to answer the question, mention a range instead of a specific salary; that’s a safer approach because both you and your employer get some wiggle room. However, make sure the lower end of the range is closer to your desired salary to avoid settling for an offer that’s too low.
Here’s what you can say about salary in interviews:
Salary Range Example
“Based on my skill level, experience, and job market research, I expect to be paid between £60,000 and £65,000 annually.”
Mentioning the research you’ve done and the qualities you bring is a great way to show that your range isn’t a random decision. It also puts some pressure on the employer to adhere to the industry standards.
#3. Discuss Other Perks
Don’t forget to ask about other benefits the company offers, such as health insurance, vacation days, bonuses, or stock options. These are just as important as your salary, and your interest in them demonstrates that you’re a good negotiator who can see the bigger picture.
So, you may start the conversation like this:
Discussing Other Benefits Example
“Aside from the salary, I’d like to discuss your company’s full compensation package, including vacation days, stock options, bonuses, or anything else you offer your employees.”
5 Sample Answers to “What Are Your Salary Expectations?” Interview Question
Now, let’s take a look at some sample answers to the salary expectations question:
#1. General Answer
“I’m flexible, but my baseline would be between £64,000 and £67,000. However, I am open to negotiations and interested in the full compensation package your company offers.”
#2. Fresher/Student/Entry Level
“Considering that this would be my first role in project management, I expect to earn between £30,000 and £37,000 annually. This is the average salary for someone with my skills and limited experience, according to my research.”
#3. Career Changer
“As a career changer, I am primarily focused on building my skills and gaining experience, but I believe an annual salary of £32,000–£36,000 would be acceptable. Considering that I possess a range of transferable skills, I think I can expect a salary slightly above the average for entry-level employees, but I’m open to negotiation.”
#4. Leadership Role
“Given the scope of this role and the responsibilities that come with leading a team, I believe a salary in the £75,000–£80,000 range is appropriate. After all, I have significant leadership and mentoring experience, which is sure to contribute to your company’s growth and operations.”
#5. Part-Time Worker
“I’m flexible and open to negotiation, but I expect to earn between £10 and £13 per hour. According to my research, that’s the average salary range for part-timers in this area.”
4 Typical Mistakes to Avoid When Answering This Question
Typical mistakes you should avoid when answering this question include failing to do your research, answering too early, giving an overly broad range, and settling or aiming too high.
Let’s take a closer look at each one:
#1. Failing to Do Your Research
Without any salary research, your answer will, essentially, be a shot in the dark. You’ll have no reliable framework to guide you, so your expectations are likely to come across as unrealistic or overly modest.
Alternatively, you may choose to completely avoid answering by saying that you don’t know, but this is a bad idea. Employers are unlikely to hire someone who appears unprepared or indecisive and may decide to move forward with another candidate.
#2. Answering Too Early
Although answering right away may indicate confidence and readiness, it can, surprisingly, backfire. It’s better to ask questions about your role first; that way, you show that your salary range isn’t a whim, but rather a carefully thought-through decision that takes into account all factors.
Moreover, you might actually decide to adjust your range after you hear more details about the role. For instance, if it involves more responsibilities than you initially thought, you can ask for higher compensation than you originally intended.
#3. Giving an Overly Broad Range
An overly broad range is hardly any better than no range at all; it still shows that you haven’t done your research, or at least not enough to narrow your expectations. For example, saying you want a salary between £50,000 and £100,000 annually means nothing, as the range is too broad to be useful.
#4. Settling or Aiming Too High
Some candidates think that asking for less might improve their chances of getting hired, but that’s not always the case. Recruiters need assurance that you genuinely believe in your skills, which low salary expectations certainly don’t convey.
On the other hand, aiming too high is equally problematic, as employers can’t hire someone whose salary significantly exceeds the allocated budget.
Should You Negotiate the Salary After the Interview?
You should negotiate the salary after the interview, as it’s generally not recommended to do so during, unless recruiters bring it up first. In fact, discussions about salary are usually avoided in the selection process and only become relevant once the candidate has been chosen.
That said, here are some tips to help you with salary range negotiations in UK companies:
Support your request with sound arguments. For instance, you may believe you deserve a higher salary due to your experience, skills, or qualifications. All these are valid reasons, so bring them up in the negotiation and support them with specific examples to illustrate what you bring to the table.
Don’t get emotional. Even if your employer doesn’t accept your ideal salary right off the bat, you can’t let yourself lose your cool. Emotional outbursts aren’t a good look and may lead them to believe that you’re not the right fit after all.
Reconsider the offer. If you can’t get your employer to agree to your desired salary, consider whether you’re still interested in the job offer. You have every right to walk away, even if you’ve invested significant time to reach the final stage of the selection process.
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Final Thoughts
Though questions about salary expectations can be tricky, they aren’t impossible to answer if you have a good strategy. This article has offered you a few, so you should be better prepared next time a recruiter asks you this.
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Salary Expectations Interview Question FAQ
#1. How do you answer the “What is your current salary?” question?
You should try not to answer the “What is your current salary?” question; instead, redirect the conversation to your new role and salary expectations. After all, this information is private, and there’s no reason to share it with your potential new employer.
#2. When is the right time to talk about salary in an interview?
The right time to talk about salary in an interview is during the final stages or when recruiters bring it up. Otherwise, it’s best to avoid this topic and focus on your skills, experience, and qualifications.
#3. What if the offer is lower than my expectations?
If the offer is lower than your expectations, you have two options: negotiate or walk away. Generally, it’s not wise to settle for a lower offer, as the employer might interpret that as a sign that you lack confidence and conviction.
