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Salary Negotiations

Money talks - but don't talk about it

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:45

The subject of salaries is a no-go area during an initial job interview.

Hard as it may be, candidates should avoid any money discussions with a potential employer until they’re certain they want the position. Even then, they should wait for the interviewer to broach the subject first.

Salary is obviously a vital issue for any job hunter, but Niteske Marshall, MD of Network Recruitment has some compelling reasons why candidates should defer money discussions for as long as possible. “A candidate’s expectations may be way beyond what the employer is offering – and by declaring their requirements prematurely, they could put their chances of progressing any further at risk. Interviewers are also far more interested in what a potential candidate can offer the company, not take from it,” she said.

“The initial interview is generally only an exploratory meeting, providing an opportunity for both sides to evaluate one other. The issue of money is best left to the next stage of the interview process and it’s important to remember that the person who first opens negotiations is generally in the weaker position. A candidate will also be in a stronger negotiating position once they have an understanding of the client, the nature of the job, the client’s expectations of them and whether they actually want the job.”

If the interviewer is intent on finding out what a candidate’s salary expectations are, Marshall offers some escape routes. “Either politely say you’d prefer to postpone the topic until you have a better understanding of the job, ask them to negotiate with your recruitment consultant or give them a salary range rather than an exact figure.

“The salary range should be well-researched, taking into consideration your current salary structure and industry standards for that particular position. Always be realistic and open-minded - many stellar careers have been launched from low bases,” she said.