WEBVTT

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First, try to turn the 
question around and ask the 

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interviewer what the company 
is offering. Unless pressed, 

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do not offer a specific 
figure in response to this 

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question. If you feel you must 
be the first one to discuss 

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figures, suggest a salary 
range based on your research 

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on the company, the industry and 
the geographic location. 

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The best option is to find 
out what the interviewer is 

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offering and negotiate from 
there. If this is not an 

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option, then state a salary 
range based on your research 

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on the company, the industry 
and the geographic location. 

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Know what your rock bottom 
figure is, but don't tell 

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it to the interviewer. 

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Though you should carefully 
calculate what your salary 

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needs are, never let the 
interviewer know your 

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rock bottom figure!

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Stress what your value to the
company will be, offering a

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dollar amount only
if pressed.

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The interviewer is wondering
if you have stagnated in your

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previous positions, or if you
have consistently been

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offered raises and promotions.
Try to avoid giving dollar

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amounts, unless pressed.

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Sometimes the interviewer
will press for a specific

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answer to a question like
this one. Remember to

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calculate the value of your
entire compensation package,

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not just the amount of your
salary. Often, benefit items

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can add 30% or more to your
yearly income.

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Dangerous question! Whenever
possible, do not be the first

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one to give salary figures.
You could price yourself out

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of a job, or (even worse) you
could undervalue your worth.

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Try to discover the salary
range the interviewer has in

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mind before you
commit to any figures.

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If the job is something that
you really want, then perhaps

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you could consider a lower
starting salary. Stress that

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you know you will do an
excellent job, and find out

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when your first salary review
will be. Also, know what the

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lowest salary you could accept
would be, but DON'T tell this

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figure to the interviewer.

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The interviewer is probably
looking for you to justify

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your stated or implied salary
needs. Empathize with his or

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her concerns, and be able
to back up what you say.

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Many companies have salary
ranges for each position, and

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do not pay anyone any more
than the top end of the

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range. The reason they enforce
these ranges is to preserve

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office harmony. Imagine what
would happen if two people

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performing essentially the
same job discovered that one

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was paid a significantly
higher wage than the other!

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If you can live on the salary
that has been offered, agree.

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Then ask when your first
salary review will take place.

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Most companies can negotiate
salary, even if the

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interviewer says that the
salary is set in stone.

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But if you discover that the
interviewer truly will not

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negotiate the salary, try to
begin a discussion of

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benefits that might make the
offer more palatable to you.

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It is helpful if you know the
salary progression of others

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in your field or, even better,
in the company. You could

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state a percentage increase
or a salary range.

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Before answering, determine
if this is a formal offer, or

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if the interviewer is simply
trying to figure out what

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you're asking. Once you are
sure that this is a real

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offer, determine if this is
an amount you can live with.

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Most employers expect you to
try to negotiate a little. If

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the amount is far below what
you were expecting, ask

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tactfully what other items
would make up the

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compensation package.