Career Tips

no salary listed, should I ask before


I applied for a job with a non-profit that listed salary as "commensurate with experience."  Now, they' ve asked me to come in for an interview.  I am really busy at work, and I don' t want to sneak away for an interview if the salary isn' t really acceptable.  Is there any polite way to ask this, prior to coming in for the interview?

Yes, you should.  I have done this in the past with much success.  But you need to be prepared that they may turn the question around and ask you what you are looking for. 

When a potential employer calls to schedule an appointment, I usually ask them if they can give me a high level overview of the opportunity ( a lot of postings may not go into much detail).  At the end, when they ask if you are interested in coming in for an interview, I would ask "could I ask what the salary range of the position is?"  In most instances, they are going to ask you what you are looking for.  You can certainly position it that you will need to assess it once you learn more about the position and opportunity and that you are looking for a range to see if the position is in the ball park.  I often been given the range, and I have often been asked what the range is that I am looking for.  Either way, whether they give it or not, I thank them for understanding and that the only reason for asking is that I do not want to waste their time (or mine) if it is not a position that I would entertain.

Listen....play with this and you' ll play with your future. I' m speaking from personal experience. Do not avoid asking them about your salary because you' ll be sorry after. What' s wrong with asking after all? It' s your life and your comfort we' re talking about. No room to be ashamed of asking the question. The problem is rather how you handle the salary negotiation
So be straight to the point and reasonable at the same time, check advantages versus disadvantages and you' ll be ok.

It's OK to ask, but don't make it seem like your primary focus.

Just explain that it is tough to get away from your job and do not want to waste their time or yours and ask if they could give you a salary range. As another poster mentioned, be prepared to give your range if asked.

Career Tips

  1. Interview Tips
  2. Resume Tips
  3. Salary Tips
  4. Career Change Tips
  5. Job Search Tips
  6. Career Tips

© Rights Reserved. Career, Resume, Interiview Tips | Sitemap