Salary Expectations
 

I have been laid off recently due to downsizing. I am currently applying for jobs and one question has caught me a little off-guard. When asked about salary expectations, how should I respond?

"$xx/year" - I want this much and nothing less... but perhaps nothing more?
"approx $xx/year" - You're looking to shell out about this amount for me, so let's negotiate?
"$xx-xx/year" - something within this range?
"approx $xx-xx/year" - Look to spend within this range, let's talk.

How does this all fare with everyone? Are there are any HR directors out there (especially in Canada, perhaps looking for IT work!) that would care to let me know how I should respond?

i do some hiring in the IT sector in the US. to the salary question, i typically either see the salary they had at their last position or a range along the lines of "mid 80's" or "low 90's".

i like it when people include an actual salary history, so neither of us wastes our time if we're not on the same page money-wise.

I like it when the employer lists what they are willing to pay, so only those applicants willing to work for that amount apply!

I've done a lot of hiring -- for the appropriate candidate we'd always be willing to pay higher if they were deserving. Everyone cuts their own deal when they walk in the door - we would never list a specific salary range (especially if a person was willing to work for less)

So some research, find out what the job pays in your market, find out what the salaries are at their competitors, and figure out what your price is.

IMHO the best answer is to say that you will work for what the market says the job is worth. There are good guidelines for salaries and wages for all kinds of jobs - salary.com is one website where you can look it up. There is some flexibility in the scale based on your experience and the local market demand.

Employers know what the job is worth, they have to do their budgeting. Most times they like to bring folks in a little below midpoint in the job's salary range. You have to have some pretty good reasons for wanting more than the average salary and if you ask for too little, then the employer will wonder why you are willing to be underpaid.

Problem with salary surveys is that salaries vary wildy from state to state, and even city to city within a state.

And a nice thing about having a salary listed is that you can deduce, along with the verbage in the add, what level of expertise they are looking for. Sometimes the add can be a bit misleading or leave items out, and having a salary listed can assist the reader in seeing if that jo is right for them.

In all of the hiring I have done, the salary has always been fairly negotiable. The applicants who unapologetically gave a specific number and a reason for it (current or prior salary, other offer, what someone else is paying for the same position) always have done better than those who were less direct and specific. I always figure if someone is vague or sheepish about their salary, it isn't all that important to them.

I would go with "$xx/year because . . ." In a real negotiation, giving a range is the same as just giving the lower number.