Job question

LetsHikeToday · November 2011

Hi everyone!

I'm applying for a job at a local community college in Georgia. On the application it has asked my salary expectation. I have NO idea how to answer that. Every job I've ever applied for had a salary posting. Do I give a number? What if it is an hourly position? What if I give something too small or too large? Do I say I'm flexible?

Rethany · November 2011

I always hate that question on applications. How big is the space? Can you write down what you made at your last job but also include that you're flexible as well?

AmandaSC1988 · November 2011

Look at average salaries for your experience and your field. You might even look at average salaries for that university.

Glassdoor.com is pretty helpful. I live on that site when I am job searching.

calindi · November 2011

My professional opinion as someone in the recruiting industry is to skip it if you can. It can't help you, as they'll offer you the job if you underbid but for less than you're worth, or they won't offer you the job if you overbid. Try to get them to give a number first and work from there.

Read the book "101 Great Answers to the Hardest Interview Questions" by Ron Fry (and his follow up book "101 Smart Questions to Ask on your Interview"). They literally changed my entire perspective on how to apply for and interview for jobs. Seriously!

Basically the book recommends hedging around any potential salary questions - a request for salary expectations can be answered with, "I will be just relocating to the area, so I am not sure of the local salary ranges, but I would be willing to accept anything that is reasonable." If they press on "what's reasonable to you?" you can follow with, "Whatever is typically paid for someone in this role with my experience and qualifications." If they push a dollar amount, it's pretty easy to say, "I really am unfamiliar with what is standard here, so I would not want to throw out a random number. I'm sure if you make an offer we can work from there."

However, if it's a mandatory question on an online form, that's trickier. I would put a very honest number - a little on the higher side of what you would expect, but not reaching too far.

KendallR10 · November 2011

If you can write open.

If you can't write what you made at the last job

crownsuperstar · November 2011

Cal is spot on with her response that you don't have to answer it.

I have worked in higer education for 11 years now and have hired many people for many different positions. The salary doesn't really come up until you are "the candiate" and the job offer has been made. That is really the only time that I have ever talked about salary.

What is the job? I love working in higher education. I have woren many hats over my 11 years from admission, international students, advising and event planning. It is a fun place to work!

AmandaSC1988 · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:c5afc188-9fe7-436a-afce-bf5357941c78">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]My professional opinion as someone in the recruiting industry is to skip it if you can. It can't help you, as they'll offer you the job if you underbid but for less than you're worth, or they won't offer you the job if you overbid. Try to get them to give a number first and work from there. Read the book "101 Great Answers to the Hardest Interview Questions" by Ron Fry (and his follow up book "101 Smart Questions to Ask on your Interview"). They literally changed my entire perspective on how to apply for and interview for jobs. Seriously! Basically the book recommends hedging around any potential salary questions - a request for salary expectations can be answered with, "I<strong> will be just relocating to the area, so I am not sure of the local salary ranges, but I would be willing to accept anything that is reasonable."</strong> If they press on "what's reasonable to you?" you can follow with, "Whatever is typically paid for someone in this role with my experience and qualifications." If they push a dollar amount, it's pretty easy to say, "I really am unfamiliar with what is standard here, so I would not want to throw out a random number. I'm sure if you make an offer we can work from there." However, if it's a mandatory question on an online form, that's trickier. I would put a very honest number - a little on the higher side of what you would expect, but not reaching too far.
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]

I respectfully disagree, if you give that answer it looks like you don't care enough to do research for an area you want to move to. Which in turn makes it look like you don't want to move there, so the company wonders why they would hire someone that clearly doesn't care.

LetsHikeToday · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:737c31ee-d190-4a28-ad16-0cb9103d7e32">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]Cal is spot on with her response that you don't have to answer it. I have worked in higer education for 11 years now and have hired many people for many different positions. The salary doesn't really come up until you are "the candiate" and the job offer has been made. That is really the only time that I have ever talked about salary. What is the job? I love working in higher education. I have woren many hats over my 11 years from admission, international students, advising and event planning. It is a fun place to work!
Posted by crownsuperstar[/QUOTE]

Help me get a job in higher ed!!!! Seriously though, it's where I want to go. The job is Director of Card Office. We shall see. I'd love to do student affairs or admissions.

calindi · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:b04bf59f-6910-4ab2-8c36-a6f7c2433c4c">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Job question : I respectfully disagree, if you give that answer it looks like you don't care enough to do research for an area you want to move to. Which in turn makes it look like you don't want to move there, so the company wonders why they would hire someone that clearly doesn't care.
Posted by AmandaSC1988[/QUOTE]

How many jobs have you interviewed for and gotten? Have you ever been in a hiring role? I work as a recruiter right now, so I conduct interviews daily and have seen people shoot themselves in the foot with a number either too high or too low. And I've relocated twice since getting out of college, and every single job I've interviewed for I've been offered (not to say I always get an interview or that I always accept the job, but when I do get an interview, I have a 100% record so far). And I have never, ever, EVER given a salary range. And each time, I've managed to make several thousand more than my last position. If you offer a salary, they have no incentive to give you more (will often offer less, which means you're making less than you did previously) and would turn you away if you threw out too big of a number.

Doing research on current local salaries doesn't mean it's THAT company's average, and the cost of living can be drastically different. You can do all the research you want, but I don't think that makes any difference in terms of whether you want to relocate there or not. And I have yet to see a company yet that turns a candidate away for not answering that question, both personally and professionally.

LetsHikeToday · November 2011

Calindi- I used your answer so thank you. I'd at least like to get an interview because I can kick an interviews ass.

Cal- What is your degree in?

crownsuperstar · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:488641c6-0337-40de-bee4-7c46cad81715">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Job question : Help me get a job in higher ed!!!! Seriously though, it's where I want to go. The job is Director of Card Office. We shall see. I'd love to do student affairs or admissions.
Posted by LetsHikeToday[/QUOTE]

I can try my best :)! What I would do to look for higher ed jobs is to look at the schools websites that are closest to you. I know that sounds silly but it really does work. For admissions job I found all of mine on <a href="http://www.higheredjobs.com/">http://www.higheredjobs.com/</a>. You can search by region. I was surprised how many schools are in the same area. Also check out the state's department of education. They will have a list of universities and cc in the area and most of the time links to the schools in your area.

Also, I know this is a given but if you can attach a letter of interest and resume even if it is just an online app. Play up your working with students and how that experience has worked for you. If you need a letter of interest just let me know and I can send you what I have used in the past. I am here to help.

Drink the higer ed kool-aide! It is good! :)

calindi · November 2011

Hike - my college degree is International Affairs (insert pun here about European men...) but I tend to spin it as International Business, which works as I have several I-Bus classes under my belt and speak fluent Spanish. But I worked for an executive recruiter in college for 2 years, and my current position is basically non-stop interviewing.

LetsHikeToday · November 2011

Crown- Can you send it to me? I would LOVE that. Do you have my e-mail? Also, do you have a degree in higher ed?

calindi · November 2011

If you want some networking tips, I can help. I've become a champion networker! Haha... also, connect with me on LinkedIn as I have a ton of Florida connections that might be able to help you. I've found my last two jobs on LinkedIn, though I'm not sure how good they are for education.

AmandaSC1988 · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:a5925116-bfdb-4804-a2ed-607ebf43217a">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Job question : How many jobs have you interviewed for and gotten? Have you ever been in a hiring role? I work as a recruiter right now, so I conduct interviews daily and have seen people shoot themselves in the foot with a number either too high or too low. And I've relocated twice since getting out of college, and every single job I've interviewed for I've been offered (not to say I always get an interview or that I always accept the job, but when I do get an interview, I have a 100% record so far). And I have never, ever, EVER given a salary range. And each time, I've managed to make several thousand more than my last position. If you offer a salary, they have no incentive to give you more (will often offer less, which means you're making less than you did previously) and would turn you away if you threw out too big of a number. Doing research on current local salaries doesn't mean it's THAT company's average, and the cost of living can be drastically different. You can do all the research you want, but I don't think that makes any difference in terms of whether you want to relocate there or not. And I have yet to see a company yet that turns a candidate away for not answering that question, both personally and professionally.
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]

I have several friends who are campus recruiters for their company's, my dad was also a recruiter for several years. At my current job, we are working to implement a new on-boarding system, so I have seen the back side of those systems and I understand the logic that plays a part in which applications get send to the recruiters and which applications don't even get looked at. And that is what we were talking about..the application not the interview.

I have never recieved that question in an interview, (mainly because internships you don't really negotiate salaries), but my dad always told me you should have an educated guess for salary. Something alongs the lines of " I have looked at the industry average for this field of work and with my experience level of ____ I believe a fair salary would be _____. High-balling is never a good idea and Low-balling is bad for you.

I suppose it differs for your field, in my field of work, logic is fairly important. Every single interview question the recruiters are testing you to see how you think through situations and justify your answer.

crownsuperstar · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:b5c5877d-236e-4f76-b0f0-159979c63d62">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]Crown- Can you send it to me? I would LOVE that. Do you have my e-mail? Also, do you have a degree in higher ed?
Posted by LetsHikeToday[/QUOTE]

I have a degree in Political Science and getting my masters in higher education (on line). I didn't need a masters for some the jobs I got however, the higher you go the masters will be needed. Again, in most cases not a masters in higher ed just a masters in something related.

LetsHikeToday · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:d4ccc6ab-645a-4fc0-962e-45452e7c0b6e">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Job question : I have a degree in Political Science and getting my masters in higher education (on line). I didn't need a masters for some the jobs I got however, the higher you go the masters will be needed. Again, in most cases not a masters in higher ed just a masters in something related.
Posted by crownsuperstar[/QUOTE]

What school are you getting it through? I've been looking for online programs but get side tracked every time I start!

crownsuperstar · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:247f15ac-4e34-4acd-9e03-1695fc2fae6cPost:563f32ad-7990-4242-a961-5605d0bea016">Re: Job question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Job question : What school are you getting it through? I've been looking for online programs but get side tracked every time I start!
Posted by LetsHikeToday[/QUOTE]

I am doing it through Capella University. I loved it at first but now I just want to be done with it. HA!!!! Like my undergraduate degree. HA!!

I did a lot of research on a school's accreditation since I have that background. I made sure the university had an accrediation since believe it or not there are still some out there that don't. At least two that I know of in my area alone.

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