
Tough Questions
What salary?
What salary do you have in mind?
Interviewers usually ask this question not to put candidates on the spot, but to ascertain whether the company can afford them. If possible, differ the answer to the end of the interview, after the interviewer is seriously considering you. If you state your salary requirements in the beginning of the interview, your range might be either too high or too low, and this might disqualify you from further consideration.
If the interviewer insists that you name a figure, you could ask what salary range the company has been considering. If there is no answer, or an unsatisfactory one, and it is impossible to stall further, name a figure that meets your requirements and industry standards. It is better to err a little on the high side since the final offer invariably is going to be a lower figure than requested. Emphasise, however, that it’s the nature of the job and not the actual salary that is of primary interest. If the interviewer asks what salary you are making, you have no choice but to be honest, for it can easily be verified.


