What about your salary expectations?

Maybe one of the most subjective issues from a recruitment process is the salary negotiations. From the candidates' side, there is the question ”what should I ask to not be underpaid?”. From the company's side, there is the question ”are these expectations some realistic one or he would accept also an offer under this number”.

When you look on the internet, you find a lot of articles who advise you how you should negotiate to receive a bigger offer. But there is any article with advises how to be better to deserve more money?

I think that on salary, we have to ask the right level. Because if we will receive something that is over our level, we grow the expectations from us and we will have to perform on that level. If we receive under your level, we will feel undermotivated.

Let's see how do we assess and express our salary expectations:

• Be informed about the industry you applied for. Even if you look on glassdoor or on a salary survey, be aware of what it is considered a normal salary for that role. Compare your profile (your skills and the complexity of the role) with what information you found and you can decide your salary expectations.
• You can avoid to give an answer to a recruiter on this question or to ask him about the salary ranges, but this question is about you. You really don't know your expectations? Personally, I take this kind of avoidance as a moment for which the candidate was not prepared. But we know that in an interview you will be asked of what are your salary expectations.
• Think about what are your financial needs. A company is not obligated to cover all your needs, but it helps you to correlate the effort you put into your job with how many benefits you ask for.
• Your actual salary can be a starting point, but it is not necessary that on your next job you will receive a higher salary. First, you have to compare the job's requirements – if the 2 roles can be compared, also the salaries can be. I think that an increase of 50% on your salary is not a realistic one.
• Be open to other kinds of benefits – meal tickets, holidays tickets, training, and bonuses.
• Ask for more information about your growth plan (on competencies, but also on salary)
• Avoid comparing your expectations with other offers you received. If as a candidate you don't feel ok to be compared with others, also the companies don't feel ok to be compared with others.

This topic with salary expectations is an old one. Behind it, the candidate and the company have the same needs: to be treated correctly. If we understand the other's needs and we express properly ours, we will find for sure a solution.

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