Job salary requirements

danieliza1127

Question for you guys, HR peeps and anyone else.  If you find a job posting you are 100% qualified for and want to do, but there is no salary range listed and you're pretty sure it pays too little but you don't know for sure, what do you do?  Should I put my salary requirement in the cover letter so they know right off the bat?  I know that's probably the wrong thing to do but I don't want to waste their time or mine going through interviews if they can't pay me what I know I need to have.  What do I do?

buttaflai

The job I entertained a little while ago DID have a salaray range posted. I sent them my resume AND told them I required more.

Knowing I was out of the asking range, they saw my resume and decided that they wanted to interview me.

When I was offered the position, they tried to low ball me to the bottom of that posted range (pissed me off), but I made my argument and they did end up offering me the pay I asked for.

I think this is totally dependant on the situation since I don't think what I went through was typical. I was just the perfect fit for them. If I was less than perfect, I doubt they would have entertained an interview with the high cost in advance.

SwedishChick2011

Well, if you put the salary requirements in the cover letter, you might scare them off.  If you wait until the interview phase, you may be able to negotiate if they really want you.  But honestly, I have no idea.

Moneypenny424

I don't know what the real answer to this is, but I don't think the cover letter is the right place for this.  I never even ask about it in interviews, but I think if you tactfully bring it up there, it would be better.

when I filled out a form at my last interview, they asked desired salary.  I didn't know what to do.  They know what my old salary was (thanks to all lawyers knowing what all big firm lawyers make).  I didn't want to put a number too high and scare them, or put a number too low that they might end up going with because they figure they can get me for that low number.

NicoleSahara

I would wait. Impress them in an interview, let them be the ones to bring up pay, and then let them know if that works for you or not.

Kati0105

I definitely wouldn't write anything about salary if they don't request it.  Even when they do request it, I usually just put something along the lines of "while I do not have a set salary expectation, I would expect to be compensated according to my experience and anticipated contribution to the organization."

britne28

I would wait until you are in the stage of negotiation.  Then let them know how much you are worth.

goheels05

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_job-salary-requirements?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:111fc530-6fc6-4a94-91fa-99f6b5f94188Post:d262f976-fc0e-49b0-9ac6-ee39bc5685ef">Re: Job salary requirements</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, if you put the salary requirements in the cover letter, you might scare them off.  If you wait until the interview phase, you may be able to negotiate if they really want you.
Posted by cocoreo3[/QUOTE]

Ditto this.  I never bring up salary until I'm asked.  In fact, I applied for a job and the listing said "send your resume and salary requirement to . . . " and I intentially left off my salary info and still got an interview.  I'm glad I did.  Salaries for my position are 15-30% lower than salaries in Charlotte for the same position, but most of the companies I interviewed with make up for it in benefits, and I would have had no idea had I demanded my old salary.

danieliza1127

Hmmm, well the dilemma is that it's a State job, so there IS a salary range that they probably can't deviate from.  I wonder if there's a way I can find out.  Usually with state jobs, you can't just negotiate a higher salary outside of the range that's already set on it.

goheels05

Yeah, you're right about state jobs being non-negotiable.  You should be able to find out.  Is there an HR contact listed?

Also keep in mind, state jobs are one of those cases where your benefits can far outway any paycut you may have to take.

danieliza1127

Yeah heels, I already work for the state so I get that.  It's just I'm on some different pay matrix than most other state employees, so if this job isn't on my matrix, I can almost guarantee it's $20k less than I make now, which I just can't swing.  I'd like to know before I even bother to apply.  I guess I could have put all that in the OP.

I e-mailed the HR contact person to ask.  We'll see.  Thanks everyone!