NWR- Interviewing/Salary Requirements

lmills730 · July 2010

has anyone been asked to provide "salary requirements" when interviewing? how did you determine what to say? did you google your industry standards/city standards?

does anyone know if it is customary to provide a range, or a specific number?

TIA!

AllAboutTheBenjamin · July 2010

In that field I've always just put "negotiable."

If you put something that's far higher than they're willing to pay you, you might get overlooked. And if you put something under what they're paying, you run the risk of being taken advantage of.

mbarnhart · July 2010

Give a range that you'd be happy with,

"$35,000 - $40,000 but is negotiable based on benefits package"

or something like that.

akhensley81 · July 2010

If it's in writing (like on a job application) - negotiable is fine.

If they ask you in an interview, this is what I coach all of my candidates to say: "In my last/current job, I made $XYZ. I would like to make as much as your position will pay, and I hope that you will be fair with me." And leave it at that.

EDIT: The problem with a specific hard number is that it might 1) Rule you out if your number is too high for their budget, or 2) Lowball yourself if your number is way lower than what they can afford.

lmills730 · July 2010

thanks for the advice, its not a field on the resume. they have asked me back for a 2nd interview and sent an email specifically saying "we are meeting with the owners on Sunday, please let me know what your salary requirements are so that we can be prepared when we meet with them"

its hard to just say negotiable to that...you know?

I like the range idea, with negotiable based on benefits package though. Its just scary because you dont want to say too low, or too high.

noelle24 · July 2010

Google is your friend here. Look up what the range is for this job title at different companies in your area. I'd give them a range that starts in the middle of what you found and going to the high end, but I'd also say it's negotiable.

lmills730 · July 2010

thank you, i appreciate it. i really hate this question!

akhensley81 · July 2010

The problem with a range is similar to the problem with an exact number.... if you tell them you'll accept $35k to $40k, they'll offer $35k and not a cent higher.

And especially if they're asking for $$ ahead of an interview specifically telling you that they're meeting with the owners... I would assume that they're preparing themselves to make you an offer.

With your specific situation, the line I quoted above should work perfectly. What's nice about that is that you're honest with your current/recent earnings... and then you play a little game with them. "I would like to make as much as the position will pay, and I hope that you'll be fair with me."

Honestly, I'm a recruiter and this line has worked in hundreds of cases that I've handled over the years.

lmills730 · July 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-interviewingsalary-requirements?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:b7113dec-5ea7-412e-9527-4d8d3ad7c342Post:98775861-84c4-456d-864b-bdb243c2b03c">Re: NWR- Interviewing/Salary Requirements</a>:
[QUOTE]The problem with a range is similar to the problem with an exact number.... if you tell them you'll accept $35k to $40k, they'll offer $35k and not a cent higher. And especially if they're asking for $$ ahead of an interview specifically telling you that they're meeting with the owners... I would assume that they're preparing themselves to make you an offer. With your specific situation, the line I quoted above should work perfectly. What's nice about that is that you're honest with your current/recent earnings... and then you play a little game with them. "I would like to make as much as the position will pay, and I hope that you'll be fair with me." Honestly, I'm a recruiter and this line has worked in hundreds of cases that I've handled over the years.
Posted by akhensley81[/QUOTE]

thank you so much, i really like the sounds of this. i really appreciate it!

akhensley81 · July 2010

Good luck!! And def let us know how it goes!!

lmills730 · July 2010

i am crossing my fingers! meeting with the owners sounds promising. i am trying not to get my hopes up tho!

i currently commuting 2 hours each way and this job would be a 30 min drive for me

mbarnhart · July 2010

Just so you know, I gave a range and they gave me a salary on the higher end. I think it's best to start the range at a figure you'd definitely be happy with though, just in case they go with the lower end. Good luck!

smokeybailey · July 2010

You should have a bottom number going in. I interviewed for a position a few weeks ago and told them that the very least amount I would consider was X (which was my current salary plus about $7K). Well, they came back and offered me and additional $7K over X plus a $5K bonus for 12 months of employment. What is your min for which you will take the job? That is what you need to know. Would you actually take a job for less than your min? Probably not.

Figure out what your minimum is, what the job should pay (try payscale.com) and then go from there.

lmills730 · July 2010

thank you, great advice. i am sure similar questions will come up once i am there in person.

NWR- Interviewing/Salary Requirements

Re: NWR- Interviewing/Salary Requirements

Choose Another Board

Search Boards