Salary requirementsI need to know how to respond when an add says "send salary requirements". My trouble is that I am new to this part of the country, and new to job hunting, having trouble figuring out what the average wage for my job in this area is (cost of living is much lower than where I was), and frankly, I don't have a requirement at this point, I just need the job! I do have a starting salary amount from another company, same type of job, should I use that and make up a range? or can I say that I want to leave it up to them to be fair and pay me what they think I am worth based on my experience? When they ask, "how much do you want?", reply, "how much do you have?"
Respond with previous earnings and then with a caveat that you would expect to be paid for the value of the position. You can even add that you understand that salaries in your new area may be lower and are willing to negotiate a fair salary for the position based upon that.
You need to know what level of income you need on a monthly basis to pay your bills, make ends meet, and at least maintain your present standard of living. There may be some geographic differences in the cost of living, so you may have to do a little research to see what, if any, adjustments you need to make. But once you have a monthly average income you require, take that amount times 12 and you should have a pretty good idea of the annualized income you require and below which you cannot go in order to stay afloat financially. Call that amount $X. Add about $10K to that "can' t go below" amount to come up with a salary range in which you need to be. Call the $X plus $10K amount $Y. Then, when you' re asked your salary requirements you can respond by saying something like, "My salary requirements are negotiable within the $X to $Y range." Zat help?
WOW! you have no idea how many times I would have LOVED to had said that!
What you made elsewhere, doing a different job for a different employer, particularly in your case in a different geographic area, has absolutely no bearing on what you' re worth. Tell them what you want to make, or tell them in all honesty you don' t have a particular requirement but trust them to make a fair offer based on your knowledge, skills, and experience. ...and when they tell you you' re no longer in the running for job for not following instructions, don' t be surprised. | |
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