Salary Information

You've managed to receive a meeting towards the exciting new job ... the interview has gone well, and you've established a great rapport with all the hiring managers ... only a few more minutes to go ... Uh oh! They just inquired about salary expectations!

That's where you'll be glad that you did that research early in advance. If you didn't, and aren't sure where to start, here are some ideas.

Discovering Salaries

Whether or not the salary is not really stated in the job description, you will have to evaluate what the career is definitely worth. Sometimes you can be asked to provide your expectations in your employment cover letter, sometimes it will come up in an interview. But the key is to be prepared for this question, given that it usually pops up.

Practically no one magic figure when aiming to determine salary for any particular position. It all depends on market conditions, the company, geographical location, size of the city alongside your own skills and experience compared with other applicants. So how will you find what a job is really worth? Try to utilize a combination of methods to get as best a range as you can. These can include:

discover similar advertised jobs which does state an income range

research salaries on the internet, using career web-sites, expert association websites and search engines (we've provided some initial points by the end within this article) - what is the interest in your abilities?

check out a local Human Resource Centre of Canada office

speak to people in similar jobs

What direction to go when you are asked to provide salary expectations inside your cover letter?

Many companies ask applicants to provide salary expectations inside their cover letter. This is frequently performed to screen out job seekers who expect a greater salary as opposed to the employer is willing to offer. Try to answer by using a neutral statement, emphasizing that the opportunity is the most essential consideration in your own decision and you would look into any reasonable offer. When necessary, provide a reasonable range of what you will be prepared to accept rather than a set dollar amount.

Salary discussions during the interview

Never raise up salary during interviews. Always let the employer bring it up. The same guidelines apply as above for cover letters. That is, try and postpone wage discussions until after an offer is made. Indicate you are open for negotiation but would prefer to wait until after the hiring decision has been made. Again, should you feel that possibly they are really pushing for a figure, try and offer a range, not just a specific dollar amount and make sure they know it depends on the entire package together with benefits.

Don't worry if salary is not discussed during the first interview. It likely will come in the next or at the very latest, once you get an offer! The truth is, salary is often best left for discussion until after the employer has decided that they would like to hire you. By this method, you minimize the risk of taking yourself out from the running.

When a deal is made - Negotiating Salary

Employers will often offer you a salary amount when an offer is created. Take some time to consider it; a couple of days is often acceptable. Seeing that they have decided they want to hire you, you may be allowed to negotiate slightly. But you must decide what you're ready to accept, taking into consideration the possibilities of receiving other offers, etc. Take all factors into consideration when making your final decision, such as the level of responsibility, working conditions, opportunities for further education, salary, type of work, etc. Ask about extended health and dental insurance, education re-imbursement plans, vacation, etc.

Consider negotiating in some perks instead if the organization provides a rigid salary structure. Depending in the level of the job and current economic conditions, consider asking about a signing bonus, paid professional development, having access to your working computer for personal use and/or stock options. A flexible work schedule and operating from home occasionally can even be possible. Note: if the economy is in a downturn, several of these perks will not be available (eg. signing bonuses) so make use of your judgement and good sense when deciding just how much room you have to negotiate.

Everybody is apprehensive (in other words, scared!) about negotiating for benefits and salaries. You shouldn't be... it is extremely common. But do make sure to remain professional about it! No matter what, you shouldn't be rude or arrogant. Think carefully about what makes you worth an increased salary compared to the one they've offered, and be ready to articulate this to the employer. It's during this time that you will be glad you did your thorough research.