{"id":6504,"date":"2017-09-03T16:41:45","date_gmt":"2017-09-03T20:41:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=6504"},"modified":"2017-09-03T16:59:20","modified_gmt":"2017-09-03T20:59:20","slug":"kerrys-advice-on-talking-salary-at-a-job-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=6504","title":{"rendered":"Kerry’s Advice on Talking Salary at a Job Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>You\u2019ve snagged the job interview and are acing its questions. Then comes one of two inevitable fireballs from the interviewer: \u201cWhat is your salary requirement?\u201d or \u201cWhat is your current salary?\u201d<\/p>\n

These are tricky to answer, especially for older workers who hope to get hired without taking a pay cut. And your response can either keep the conversation going or deep-six it quicker than a New York minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this stage in your career, you\u2019ve worked your way up to a certain salary and you don\u2019t want to take a step back,\u201d says money and work expert and Next Avenue blogger\u00a0Kerry Hannon<\/a>, author of\u00a0Getting the Job You Want After 50 for Dummies<\/em>.<\/a> \u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of a dance.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When Asking About Salary Is Illegal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

C<\/strong>ompensation questions during job interviews have drawn the attention of a few places.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia just made salary inquiries a no-no. New York state agencies can\u2019t ask an applicant for current or prior salary before making an offer. New York City and Massachusetts have also passed laws barring employers from asking job candidates about their salary history. The laws are scheduled to take effect in New York later this year and in Massachusetts in July 2018.<\/p>\n

Other states, such as California, are considering banning employers from asking applicants about their salary history, too.<\/p>\n

How Salary Questions Hurt All Workers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

But it\u2019s perfectly legal in most places, which can be problematic for all workers.<\/p>\n

Read on Next Avenue<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the National Women\u2019s Law Center, when employers rely on job applicants\u2019 prior salary in hiring or in setting pay, pay inequalities from past employment are perpetuated throughout the applicants\u2019 careers and qualified people are blocked from much-needed employment opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s none of their business to know your current salary,\u201d says Philadelphia career coach\u00a0Joyel Crawford<\/a>. \u201cEverything is negotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Theoretically, yes. In reality, for older workers, not necessarily.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>They\u2019re often faced with a challenge when job hunting, Hannon says<\/strong>. Some employers with age biases are concerned about hiring, and investing in, someone who might be stepping out of the workforce in five to six years. \u201cThe job market can be cruel \u2014 you need a clear-eyed, real expectation,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

5 Tips for Handling Salary Questions<\/h3>\n

To manage your expectations and successfully maneuver through the salary minefield, career experts offer these five tips:<\/p>\n

1. Do your homework.<\/strong>\u00a0Research what the job you\u2019re applying for pays to make sure your expectations are on target.<\/p>\n

Websites such as\u00a0Glassdoor.com<\/a>,\u00a0Salary.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Payscale.com<\/a>\u00a0offer salary information for positions in various industries, even specific companies. And the\u00a0U.S. Office of Personnel Management<\/a>\u00a0gives pay insight for government jobs.<\/p>\n

2. Think about a salary you\u2019re comfortable accepting.<\/strong>\u00a0Decide what is the minimum you can accept to meet your living expenses and that you would be satisfied receiving. Then shoot for the sky, within reason.<\/p>\n

3. Deflect salary questions early in the interviewing process.<\/strong>\u00a0Try to put off this conversation until there is a firm offer on the table. But if you asked before then, refrain from giving a direct answer. Instead, drop the question back in the interviewer\u2019s court.<\/p>\n

You can say something like: \u201cI\u2019d like to know more about the position and its responsibilities before I consider compensation. What\u2019s your expectation for this job?\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Avoid giving your present or former salary.\u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s to your advantage to get the interviewer to reveal the position\u2019s salary range before you divulge any information. Sometimes, though, the salary question will come up in an online application and the form won\u2019t be accepted without an answer.<\/p>\n

In that case, get creative.<\/p>\n

Try typing in \u201cnegotiable\u201d in the salary field or note your acceptable range. \u201cI\u2019ve even heard of people putting down \u2018zero\u2019 \u201d to get the application through, Hannon says.<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Look beyond salary.<\/strong>\u00a0Ask yourself: \u201cIs this position worth taking a pay cut in order to work for the organization?\u201d For many people, a job is more than just money.<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t get the salary you want, negotiate for\u00a0total\u00a0<\/em>compensation. That can include benefits such as telecommuting, flexible hours, more vacation days and education reimbursement.<\/p>\n

You may also request revisiting your salary in three to six months \u2014 time enough to prove yourself on the job.<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line About Salary<\/h3>\n

The bottom line: Know what you\u2019re worth.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t undercut your value for the sake of finding something,\u201d Crawford says. \u201cIf you sell yourself short, you\u2019re going to resent that position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hannon agrees.<\/strong> \u201cYou never want to feel like you\u2019re undervalued. That is something that\u2019s a stumbling block to loving your job,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

This story is part of our partnership with\u00a0Chasing the Dream: Poverty and Opportunity in America<\/a>, a public media initiative created to stimulate a deeper understanding of the impact of poverty. Major funding is provided by The JPB Foundation. Additional funding is provided by Ford Foundation.<\/em><\/p>\n

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By\u00a0Barbranda Lumpkins Walls<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Barbranda Lumpkins Walls is a freelance writer, who has been a features editor and blogger for AARP Media, program director of AOL Black Voices, managing editor for Heart & Soul magazine and an assignment editor at USA Today.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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