When do you bring up salary in an interview

This question opens up an opportunity for you to consider and discuss the salary as well as other benefits that interest you. In this article, we explain how to talk about your salary expectations in a job interview. Here are several guidelines that can help you steer the conversation:. Each job has a general market value. You can learn the compensation range for your job on Indeed Salaries , where you can search by job title and location to narrow in on current compensation rates in your field.

What base salary are you looking for? Which benefits do you value the most? What other perks interest you? Here are few things for you to do to set up tactful, effective questions about salary or benefits:. Never, ever ask a question without having established background knowledge on the topic. Do independent research on the issues you care about.

This helps you frame your specific questions and shows the interviewer you have done some proactive homework on the organization. Moreover, research gives you ammunition to have an informed and honest conversation with the interviewer about these topics. At the very least, make sure you reread the job description and review the company website. Style and approach help you get the information you want.

Choose your words and phrasing carefully when asking about what an employer will do for you. Chuck Edward, Microsoft 's head of global talent acquisition, says to go for it. It's very fair to ask. The HR exec bucks the current trend in which applicants wait for the employer to bring up salary at the very end of the interview process. Edward explains that knowing the salary upfront is important because money is a key deciding factor when contemplating whether to accept a job offer.

Knowing how much a company is willing to offer saves both sides time and effort. Edward notes that from a legal standpoint, interviewers cannot discuss salary in some states. But for the most part, he says, bringing up salary in the beginning of the interview process is fair game. The HR exec adds that this is particularly notable at Microsoft, which touts its transparency during the hiring process. Explain why you're asking Sometimes companies will think you're asking about money because it's your sole motivator, but you can help offset this assumption with a quick explanation.

In conclusion Yes, discussing salary can be touchy, and you don't want a company to assume money is your main motivator, but there's no denying its importance in your job search.

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