When Is It Appropriate to Discuss Salary?
When you are involved in a job hunt, you need to know the salary for the position. However, you do not want to discuss salary too early in the process because you could end up coming across as focused only on money and what the company can do for you– rather than on the contribution you could make to the business organization.
You should wait until a job offer has been extended to discuss what the position will pay. There are many benefits to waiting until you’ve been offered a job before bringing up issues related to salary. Some of the key reasons you should wait include the following:
- You don’t want to hurt your job prospects. If you bring up salary early in the hiring process, this can make you seem very entitled. The company wants to know what you can do for them and how you can solve their problems. They aren’t hiring you because they want to pay you – they are hiring you based on what you can do for them. You need to show you understand your role is to perform for the business, not just to make demands.
- You’ll know more about what the job entails. When you go through the interview process, you can learn more about the job responsibilities you will be taking on. This will give you the information you need to research salaries for the position and find out what it is reasonable to expect to be paid.
- You may be in a better negotiating position at the end of the hiring process. Once you have gone through the hiring process and have been extended an offer, the company is more invested in you. They will be more impressed with what you bring to the table and more willing to work with you in salary negotiations to arrive at an agreement that works for you.
These are just a few reasons why you shouldn’t jump the gun on asking about how much a company will pay you if you get hired.
If you want to make sure you aren’t wasting your time and are applying for jobs that pay a salary you find acceptable, you should strongly consider working with SmartTalent. Our staffing service helps job seekers to land interviews for positions that pay their desired salaries in Kirkland, Fife, Renton, Lacey, Lynwood, Everett and surrounding areas. Give us a call today to find out more about how we can help you land good paying jobs that you’ll love.
