A job interview is never an easy thing at all in that since you will be asked series of questions, many of which you may not have answers for. This is usually the situation if you are new to the job-hunting exercise. This is why you need to get adequately informed about the job interview process and also learn as much as possible about the organization before you go for the interview. There are some set questions that are regularly asked at job interviews and one of such is the salary question. You need to been very careful when providing answers to this question so that you will not find yourself in a very difficult situation. In the remaining part of this write-up, we will show you what to bear in mind when answering this question.
How to answer the question
There are different ways to answer this all-important question while filling the application form for the job. The answer you provide in this section of the application form can determine if you will be able to advance to the next stage of the job interview or not. If you do not provide the right answer to the salary question, your application form may end up in the “Refused” pile.
Your resume content is important
The content of your resume will go a long way to determine if you are deserving of the salary you are quoting while filling the form. You may equally be required to provide your current salary if you are in a job already and your desired salary for the new job. The answers you provide here can help to determine if you will be able to ask for a salary raise in the future or not. If the amount you quote is more than what the employer is ready to pay for that particular position, you may find yourself being excluded from the list of applicants at a pretty early stage of the job interview.
This question can be asked at different stages of the job interview; some employers ask you to fill it in the application form, while some other employers may not ask the question until during the second interview.
Phrases that can help
When filling the application form and providing answer to this all important question, you can use certain phrases that can help you to escape many of the traps that the employer might want to set with the question. Some of the phrases are highlighted below:
- Negotiable
- Entry Level
- To be discussed during the interview
- Open for discussion
This way, you are passing the bulk to the interviewer and allowing the company to decide the salary, which will ensure you can progress far in the job interview and possibly get the job.
