How to Discuss Salary During an Interview

We are sometimes reluctant to discuss money, particularly during job interviews. If you’re faced with the question of remuneration, how do you make sure you get what you really want and what you feel you’re worth?

If you’ve been called back for a second interview you should congratulate yourself on your skills, experience and personality. It’s then that you should turn your mind to how much money you can expect or ask for.

The secret to getting the salary you want can be summed up in three words: preparation, presentation and attitude.

Preparation

It’s important to have an unambiguous idea of your minimum salary expectations within the constraints of the industry average. Only you can say what your bottom line is, after you’ve calculated your outgoings. Effective research is the key to establishing your salary expectations. There are many ‘salary comparison’ websites available which will help you gauge your current and future worth. They are useful in specific, skill-dependent sectors such as manufacturing or engineering. However, these can only give broad information and the details will depend upon your experience and skills. Your consultant at Axis Recruitment will also be able to provide you with their market salary knowledge.

Presentation

Make a list of the qualities that you bring to the role which are pre-requisites for the employer. Then make another list of those attributes which will enable you to function above and beyond what’s expected of you. Think about your experience and any specific training you have undertaken, as well as your contacts within the industry which may enable you to secure new clients or contracts. Consider how much you know about your potential employer and its direct competitors and how you can use this knowledge to increase turnover, generate new revenue streams or cut costs. You can then use these facts and figures in your negotiations to underline the fact that in sectors such as manufacturing, experience alone is not always the determining factor.

Attitude

Half of being successful is not what you say, but how you say it. Be confident in yourself and your abilities and value yourself highly enough to hold out for what you want, within the constraints of practicality. HR managers have a budget at their disposal for jobs within, for example, the manufacturing sector and will always have a top-end figure in mind. It’s up to you to use your best negotiating techniques to ensure that you achieve a balance between what you want and what’s on offer.

If you bear in mind these tips, you stand a good chance of getting paid what you know you’re worth.

For more advice call us on 0844 249 2090 to chat with a consultant who specialises in your market place.