In this short article, I will write how to answer the most common Job Interview Question : What is your salary expectation?
This question, requires different answers according to the stage of the interview process. I mean, in a few round interview process, different rounds have different meanings to What is your salary expectation.
If the question came to you in the first two rounds or if this one is the first question that the recruiter asks. Be skeptical. In this case, they want to reduce the number of the candidates. You may think there are more than 4 candidates, they do not want to spend their time with the candidate that they cannot accommodate.
Do your search ahead and write down the salary levels for the similar jobs, industry, and companies. Try to have a wide salary range.
Do not say your expectation directly. Its like a game. They have a salary range, and you do not want to be out of that range, and you do not know that range. Now, what you should do is, you can say you want to learn more about the details of the job, and you do not want to miss this opportunity because of the salary level. You can give a wide range that is enough to cover their accommodation.
Lets say if your search showed an average of 60K as salary level. You can say a range between 40K and 90K, and this may change depending on the details, specifications of the job. Also, back your range with your experience, such as you saw people working for multiple industries and companies within this range, according to the responsibilities of the person and details of the job.
Backed by this answer, they cannot eliminate you earlier with this question. They would know more about you. If they struggle you to give an exact answer, apologize for not giving an exact number, and say them that you really need to get more details on the job, company environment, flex hours, insurance, other benefits and etc…
If they asked this question at the last round of the interview process, this means they want to work with you, and they want to check if they can accommodate your expectation.
In the last round, you can give a more narrower range. Your range this time depends on your personal choices. If you really like to work for that company, you can say, similar positions have salary of 60K, and you will be work for them 60K to 70K, or 55K to 65K. In some cases, you do not want to work for that company, that time you can increase your range to 80K to 90K. At this stage, it is totally your preference to say the salary level.
Hope this helps and gives you an idea on this question. Thanks for reading.