Responding to the salary requirement question
Dear Sam:
I’m returning to Columbus after living in a small Southern town for several years, so I’m gearing up my resume and cover letters. I’ve noticed that companies occasionally ask for salary history and/or salary requirements. I find this awkward to answer. I’ve been self-employed for the last few years, so my income has fluctuated. And for those that ask for salary requirements, I’m never comfortable. I’m afraid of pricing myself too high or stating a figure so low that I’d have a hard time living on it.
Carolina Dear Pat:
Having been selfemployed does present a more difficult situation due to your varied income. You could state that your requirements are flexible, but you risk elimination, as you haven’t answered the question. Try to avoid providing a salary history if possible. If you have to, you could present that information in your cover letter. This allows you to explain that your salary history while self-employed varied and is not indicative of your current needs.
When asked for a salary requirement, there are a few standard approaches. Include this information on your cover letter toward the end to minimize negative impact. Never offer this information unless specifically requested.
First, know what you want to be paid, what you are worth and trends within the industry, employer and geographic location of the job. Use payscale. com and glassdoor.com to find this information. As you are relocating, research the cost of living differences, using CNN Money Cost of Living Calculator (money.cnn.com/ calculator/pf/cost-of-living/) to compare.
There are several ways to respond (or not) to the salary question, each with its own risk.
Response One:
Tell the hiring manager what you want to earn. If you have a base salary requirement, state it as such so to tell the hiring manager that you probably expect a little more. The risk is that you will be immediately disqualified because your amount is too low or too high.
Response Two:
Give the hiring manager a wide range. State that you want compensation in the “mid $50s” or are seeking compensation from “$50-60K.” The challenge is not presenting a range where your lowest amount is their highest amount or vice versa. Hence the first strategy of “mid $50s” might work more to your favor.
Response Three:
Avoid the question by stating that you are seeking competitive compensation for someone in your field, or are flexible as to your total compensation package. You avoid disqualifying yourself because of a number, yet you answer the question to a degree. The risk is that you will be eliminated because you didn’t provide a hard number.
Communicate that you would like to discuss salary requirements once a mutual interest has been established. This gives you time to assess the functions of the position and evaluate what you should be compensated. The risk is that you will be eliminated for avoiding the
Response Four:
question.
Response Five:
Don’t respond. A lot of candidates take this approach and hope their experiences, accomplishments and skills pull them through despite avoiding the question entirely. Unfortunately, if you disregard their request, your resume might also be disregarded.
At the end of the day, you have to make a decision on which strategy you want to employ, and whether the risk it worth taking. Samantha Nolan is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and owner of Nolan Branding. Reach her at dearsam@nolanbranding. com, visit nolanbranding.com or call 614-570-3442 or 1-888-9523928. Meet her on Facebook, live on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. EDT, for an extended discussion of this week’s Dear Sam topic.