If you are looking for a new job, the question: “what are your salary expectations” will invariably come up. It’s typically asked at the start of the hiring process to ensure you and the employer aren’t wasting time if your salary expectations are way off the budget for the role.
Sometimes you will need to reveal your salary expectations when you apply online. But usually, you will be asked after a recruiter has reviewed your resume and assessed you as a possible fit for the opportunity. To help answer the money question, we provide a breakdown of the best way to respond.
Do your research, so you know the appropriate salary to ask for
When answering the salary question, it can be tricky to strike the right balance – you don’t want to undervalue yourself or price yourself out of contention. That’s why understanding the current market rates is vital.
- Clicks’ job salary search outlines the average salary at entry, mid and senior levels for over 200 IT roles.
- Job ads and job boards provide a rich source of data. Besides salary information, you can see the associated skills, experience, and qualifications expected.
- Search for job salaries via sites such as PayScale or Labour Market Insights.
- Ask professional peers online via apps such as Fishbowl.
- Company review sites such as Glassdoor are also helpful. In addition to compensation data, you can gain insights about the workplace and other benefits.
- Recruiters are working with new jobs every day and can provide you what the latest salary data in real-time.
“In my experience, in-demand IT skills such as Data, Security, or Development can attract higher rates. However, the pay for the same skills can differ across industries and regions. So, candidates need to factor this in when doing their research,” Jerry Ranatunga, Senior Account Manager, suggests.
If you haven’t had a chance to do your research, request more time:
- You can say, “I would like to learn more about the role and my fit to the requirements before I confirm if that’s OK.”
- You could also flip the question and ask, “Can you tell me more about this opportunity and the salary budgeted?
Outline a range and be flexible
Outlining a salary range – rather than a specific figure – is an excellent way to ensure you don’t undersell yourself or hurt your chances of securing the role. Being broad is particularly useful if you are still figuring out what the job is about and your fit against the requirements. You might say, “from what I currently understand about the position, my salary range is $120,000 to $150,000.”
Dee Pollett, Senior Account Manager shares, “it’s also a good idea to be flexible. Flexibility allows you and the employer to negotiate an offer where everyone will be happy. To start, think about the entire salary package and consider what else is important to you. For example, besides the dollars, do you value flexibility, additional paid leave entitlements, L&D opportunities, or a bonus plan? These factors could alter the salary you accept, so find out what’s on offer. Additionally, if you can’t secure your ideal compensation, you can discuss a sign-on bonus or salary review in six months – this might help bridge the gap.
Securing the best salary possible is crucial as it ensures you start a new job feeling valued and motivated to deliver. However, money is only one of the motivators. If you understand what’s important to you, pick the opportunities that provide you with the right rewards.”
Respond with confidence and focus on the facts
Be confident when you outline your salary expectations. If you’ve done your homework, this will help. Then, as you move through the final stages of interview, you can highlight your target salary. Support your case with facts to increase your chance of getting what you’ve asked for.
“You may like to share what you are currently on. You can include other work perks that have a monetary value (such as car or training allowance) the best thing to do is focus on the skills and experience you bring to the table in line with the requirements and challenges of the role,” says Mellissa McGregor, Principal Consultant
Clicks is an award-winning IT recruitment specialist. As Australia’s favourite IT recruiter, we help candidates in Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, and Sydney find great opportunities each day.
Subscribe to Our Job Seeker Advice Blog
