Interviews & Salary Expectations
Discussion
Couple of quick questions guys and girls...
If you get invited for an interview and it falls during your current working hours, what do/would you do?
If the job says 'inform us of your salary expectations' what would you say? If it said between £20k - £40k how would you answer that question if you were currently paid £20k?
Any help appreciated
If you get invited for an interview and it falls during your current working hours, what do/would you do?
If the job says 'inform us of your salary expectations' what would you say? If it said between £20k - £40k how would you answer that question if you were currently paid £20k?
Any help appreciated
Donatello said:
Couple of quick questions guys and girls...
If you get invited for an interview and it falls during your current working hours, what do/would you do?
I took the day as leave.If you get invited for an interview and it falls during your current working hours, what do/would you do?
Donatello said:
If the job says 'inform us of your salary expectations' what would you say? If it said between £20k - £40k how would you answer that question if you were currently paid £20k?
Any help appreciated
I was once asked what my current salary was. I told them that I didn't think that question was appropriate as any discussion over salary expectations independent of pre-existing pay levels. I was then asked what salary I was expecting, at a previous interview. I suggested that I would expect a salary figure to be commensurate with the skills I had, on the basis that I was the ideal candidate for the position, and that only they could inform and make an offer. I would then consider the offer.Any help appreciated
Mind you, my current employer is public sector and stated a random / odd number as the salary (no pay band) and that appointed candidates would be paid that figure, but would receive a guaranteed 'increment' each year from then on.
Dr Rick
rog007 said:
Take a days leave. Rule of thumb is only move for +20% increase in overall package (salary plus any associated benefits); this represents compensation associated with risk of moving from an established role. Good luck!
This sounds exactly right. I just moved to a new role for around 25% bump in overall package.I took a day off for my face to face interview, scheduled a phone interview over my lunch hour.
I'm a mid-level software engineer, to give a bit of context. Salary was negotiated by an agency, but if you've not got an agency fighting this arguement for you (it's in their interests to max your salary as their payout is usually a % of what the negotiate), then I'd try to use the approach above. Worst that can happen is they come back with a poor offer and you tell them it's not good enough.
Edited by Simbu on Thursday 7th June 17:31
Donatello said:
Couple of quick questions guys and girls...
If you get invited for an interview and it falls during your current working hours, what do/would you do?
If the job says 'inform us of your salary expectations' what would you say? If it said between £20k - £40k how would you answer that question if you were currently paid £20k?
Any help appreciated
Take a half day holiday.If you get invited for an interview and it falls during your current working hours, what do/would you do?
If the job says 'inform us of your salary expectations' what would you say? If it said between £20k - £40k how would you answer that question if you were currently paid £20k?
Any help appreciated
Expectations are £40K and not a penny less, and DO not discuss your current pay, divert it with "if you want me to come and use the same skills for you, then obviously I need some carrot, and I won't come for less than £40K.
Simbu said:
This sounds exactly right. I just moved to a new role for around 25% bump in overall package.
I took a day off for my face to face interview, scheduled a phone interview over my lunch hour.
I'm a mid-level software engineer, to give a bit of context. Salary was negotiated by an agency, but if you've not got an agency fighting this arguement for you (it's in their interests to max your salary as their payout is usually a % of what the negotiate), then I'd try to use the approach above. Worst that can happen is they come back with a poor offer and you tell them it's not good enough.
I disagree. Value yourself on what you are worth, and not as a percentage of what you were on. I took a day off for my face to face interview, scheduled a phone interview over my lunch hour.
I'm a mid-level software engineer, to give a bit of context. Salary was negotiated by an agency, but if you've not got an agency fighting this arguement for you (it's in their interests to max your salary as their payout is usually a % of what the negotiate), then I'd try to use the approach above. Worst that can happen is they come back with a poor offer and you tell them it's not good enough.
Edited by Simbu on Thursday 7th June 17:31
I made this mistake for TOO long, resulting in 6 job moves in 15 years.
New POD said:
I disagree. Value yourself on what you are worth, and not as a percentage of what you were on.
I made this mistake for TOO long, resulting in 6 job moves in 15 years.
To a point, yes. I think it very much depends on the career. I'm finding in my career a close correlation between experience and salary expectations. Of course other fields will be much more fluid. I made this mistake for TOO long, resulting in 6 job moves in 15 years.
I'd suggest add 25% to what you are on now, and then pass it back to them.
"My current rates are XXX, so I would be expecting something greater than that".
Book leave (I've had several interviews outside of office hours so I didn't need to take time off - which showed me that the company was flexable from the start).
"My current rates are XXX, so I would be expecting something greater than that".
Book leave (I've had several interviews outside of office hours so I didn't need to take time off - which showed me that the company was flexable from the start).
Before you take a day's leave, try to find out the process. If there's 4 interviews and that means you will have to take 4 day's leave, it could be a real pain in the neck if you don't end up taking the job and have used up 4 days annual leave. If it's unavoidable then try to take half a day's leave, or if possible in your current role make the time up later. If there are multiple interviews then try and get as much as possible done in one day, or arrange them after work, lunch times or early morning.
I don't think this comes across as not being keen, it just makes sense.
Increases are not uniform but typically range between 10-30% so it's unlikely that you would jump from 20 to 40K guaranteed income in one hop unless you're seriously underpaid at the moment, or the job requires some great inconvenience like working offshore. 20K guaranteed to 40K OTE on a 24K basic sounds more realistic. At lower levels bigger % increases are possible.
That is a big range but not unheard of. There can be different ways to fill a role depending on available candidates. For instance a junior sales guy on 20K might be fine for the immediate need, but a more experienced candidate from a direct competitor, who doesn't need much training and already has a client base might be worth 40K.
Always go for as much as possible, but be realistic.
I don't think this comes across as not being keen, it just makes sense.
Increases are not uniform but typically range between 10-30% so it's unlikely that you would jump from 20 to 40K guaranteed income in one hop unless you're seriously underpaid at the moment, or the job requires some great inconvenience like working offshore. 20K guaranteed to 40K OTE on a 24K basic sounds more realistic. At lower levels bigger % increases are possible.
That is a big range but not unheard of. There can be different ways to fill a role depending on available candidates. For instance a junior sales guy on 20K might be fine for the immediate need, but a more experienced candidate from a direct competitor, who doesn't need much training and already has a client base might be worth 40K.
Always go for as much as possible, but be realistic.
My friend told his new employer he was on 30% more than what he actually was actually on. They came back with a 55% increase, to which he accepted!
He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
R12HCO said:
My friend told his new employer he was on 30% more than what he actually was actually on. They came back with a 55% increase, to which he accepted!
He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
In Thailand, and I understand much of the rest of Asia, it's quite normal for a new employer to verify salary claims. Not sure if this is done (or even legal?) in the UK, but I'm never a fan of telling outright lies.He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
R12HCO said:
My friend told his new employer he was on 30% more than what he actually was actually on. They came back with a 55% increase, to which he accepted!
He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
This can seriously back fire though. Any good HR department will check during the referencing process what you are on, then you have essentially lied. Not a good start to any job, infact if I was the hiring manager, I would throw you out for doing that.He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
I am always honest about my current situation, and say 'I expect a significant increase on that for these reasons...., make me an offer'
If the offer is not what I want, I tell them as much and to come back with a revised offer that they are comfortable with and so am I. It's no different to any other negotiation in life.
What you're currently earning isn't their business, in my opinion.
The negotiation is around what they think the role is worth and what you expect to earn doing it.
If I'm asked what my current salary is, I simply say "I'm looking for £XX,000".
If they're not prepared to pay it, they won't employ you or will make a counter offer which you can accept or reject.
If they won't employ you because you won't tell them what you currently earn, then you're probably better off not working there.
I had a bad experience of going through a longish interview process and traveling around the country to a number of interviews only to be offered the job at 10K less than I was on, so nowadays I always make sure the company or agent know exactly what I want up front to save such timewasting for all concerned.
M.
The negotiation is around what they think the role is worth and what you expect to earn doing it.
If I'm asked what my current salary is, I simply say "I'm looking for £XX,000".
If they're not prepared to pay it, they won't employ you or will make a counter offer which you can accept or reject.
If they won't employ you because you won't tell them what you currently earn, then you're probably better off not working there.
I had a bad experience of going through a longish interview process and traveling around the country to a number of interviews only to be offered the job at 10K less than I was on, so nowadays I always make sure the company or agent know exactly what I want up front to save such timewasting for all concerned.
M.
ReaperCushions said:
R12HCO said:
My friend told his new employer he was on 30% more than what he actually was actually on. They came back with a 55% increase, to which he accepted!
He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
This can seriously back fire though. Any good HR department will check during the referencing process what you are on, then you have essentially lied. Not a good start to any job, infact if I was the hiring manager, I would throw you out for doing that.He knew he was being underpaid in what he did (came through the ranks at his old company and doing more course/qualifications and doing more senior roles for no more money), so he looked at what other people were being paid for similar roles in other companys - hence how he generated his figure.
I am always honest about my current situation, and say 'I expect a significant increase on that for these reasons...., make me an offer'
If the offer is not what I want, I tell them as much and to come back with a revised offer that they are comfortable with and so am I. It's no different to any other negotiation in life.
If asked a direct salary question, it's best to be evasive about what you're currently on. What you earn in your current job is, largely, irrelevant if you're moving somewhere else.
Donatello said:
If you get invited for an interview and it falls during your current working hours, what do/would you do?
Take the day off and go for interview?Donatello said:
If the job says 'inform us of your salary expectations' what would you say? If it said between £20k - £40k how would you answer that question if you were currently paid £20k?
When I was on £20k I asked the next place for £30k. No questions asked, they gave it to me. Perhaps I should've asked for more.I don't think I have ever been asked about current or expected salary in an interview. If asked I would say my expectation is the top of their band. I'm in the interview, I have the skills. I normally let the agent handle the negotiations.
I got the top of the advertised range on my last move (about +35% on basic)
I got the top of the advertised range on my last move (about +35% on basic)
Just be straight - if you do want a big increase then say why. If you're genuinely worth it then the market rules still apply and you will get it somewhere else if they don't offer it to you.
For example if you've worked your way up in your current company for the last 10 years, taken on extra responsibility and gained good experience then going from 30K to 45K for taking a jump up to the next level is not out of the way.
For example if you've worked your way up in your current company for the last 10 years, taken on extra responsibility and gained good experience then going from 30K to 45K for taking a jump up to the next level is not out of the way.
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