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alexandrafeig
- February 27, 2025
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This is a great question and probably one of the most common ones I am asked. I’ve interviewed thousands of candidates, and this is what trips people up the most. Even I (who does this for a job!) get a bit antsy when I’m in an interview process and get asked this question by a potential employer.
First of all – it’s normal. So take a deep breath. The person asking is probably also nervous.
Second of all, have confidence in yourself. Of course, it’s easier said than done, so:
Third of all – Prepare by doing research before you head into the salary discussion. Check out Glassdoor or Blind to get an idea of what sort of range your role might pay.
Additionally, the way employers approach salary has changed a lot over the last few years. Many states or countries have passed laws so that employers can’t ask you about your current package, they can only ask your expectations. Some places require that you be given a salary range if you request it. Check out this list and familiarize yourself with it, or if you are outside of the US, make sure to Google your country specific laws. Even if the role you are interviewing for isn’t in a jurisdiction with these protections, many global companies like to have consistency in their hiring process, and when US states started enacting laws, they asked all their different offices to follow the same policy and not ask current salary but instead focus on desired.
Once you’ve a good understanding about the likely range, and the laws that apply in your jurisdiction, you need to have an honest discussion with yourself around where you feel your skills fall in that range generally. Are you extremely experienced and a top performer? Then you might be justified asking for the top of the range. Are you fairly new and have recently taken on new work? Maybe you’re more at the beginning of the band.
But it’s not just about your own skills – it’s how those skills factor into the role and the company to which you are applying.
With all the above information, you should be in a good place to have an idea of the range you would be willing to accept for a particular role, and shouldn’t be afraid to say it. It’s always a good idea to add that you’d need to factor the overall benefits as well into any offer, and depending on how strong they are, that could factor into your ask.
One trick someone one taught me in any negotiation that works incredibly well is say confidently the number. And then stop.
It’s hard. But seriously. Trust me.
And wait to see their reaction. Because ultimately, the fourth thing you need to remember is that it is a negotiation. You need to be ready to make adjustments if from their reaction you can tell there’s a gap, OR, be willing to walk away.
Either way, remember, it’s in your control.
