When to talk about money
As you anticipate your upcoming interview, you may be asking yourself, “Should I ask what the job will pay?”
It’s usually the best policy to hold off on the money question until a second interview. If you are employed, most of the time a candidate would not move on without the new opportunity increasing one’s pay. With that being said, try to be patient on pay questions until you find out more about the position, the company, and everything the new opportunity brings to the table.
What if the company asks me about my income desires first?
Sometimes filling out a job application is like walking a mine field. This is especially true when inserting dollar figures from previous positions. The danger lies in if your previous positions paid significantly higher than what the new company is seeking to pay for their opening.
There is also the possibility that the interviewer may low ball the candidate if what you’ve made previously is quite a bit below what the company originally budgeted for the job.
Honesty is the best policy.
So far, we’ve covered a few of the worst case scenarios for approaching the money subject. If you’re a good candidate and present yourself in the best light during an interview, you’ll be rewarded with a job offer and a pay rate that is deserving of you and the position you applied for.
Like everything else in life, it’s best to go into your interview prepared. Research what comparable positions have paid. If or when the question comes up as to what you are seeking in compensation, one reply might be to mention what you made at your previous or current position. That gives the interviewer a measurement of how your past needs match up with the compensation budgeted for the position.
Usually dollar figures don’t come up in the first interview. If toward the end of your first meeting the interviewer asks if you have questions, it’s best to inquire about anything else that might help you determine if this is the right job for you.
Jobs and Matrimony
A job interview can be compared to dating. You wouldn’t ask someone to marry you on the first date. The same can be said about talking money in a first interview. For a candidate and a company, it’s important to find out if you’re compatible and if a working relationship is mutually beneficial.
Go into your interview prepared and with an open mind. The candidate who is patient on the money question is often rewarded in the long-run.