Tips on salary negotiations during interview

[Islandblue99]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone can advise me- I’ve posted elsewhere about a messy work situation I’m going through (not of my making) which currently involves negotiating a severance deal.

I’m currently also interviewing for roles and have been asked in each of two interviews (and have been given a heads up I’ll be asked in my next) what my salary expectations are.

My current situation has come as a shock (I thought I would have many more years left at my current company) and my confidence has taken a knock. Additionally, I’m aware that my current company offers salaries at the top end of the market. The feeling of desperation to get a new role is mixed with the worry that I might price myself out of the market when I mention my current salary (this has happened with a few companies previously) and the feeling I’m jeopardising securing a salary I deserve.

Should I still be pushing to match/increase my salary? If I wasn’t so scared/ desperate I would probably be doing this.

So far I’ve found myself apologetically telling them my salary and explaining I would have to consider the offered package as a whole.

How do other people tackle this awkward question in interviews?

Definitely don't apologise. just say "my salary expectations are £xxxx". Go in higher than you have now. I've only ever gone for jobs with an advertised salary so I don't know how you find out what's appropriate. If you are offered the job, that's when you would negotiate on the package etc.

@Rosesanddaisies1 thank you.

The two companies I’ve interviewed with so far have asked me back for second interviews. I suppose if we get to offer stage they’ll have invested a lot by then and might be open to negotiation. I have an interview with a third company next week. I don’t know what their salary ranges are but they’re a big US company so I’ll be firmer with my answer.

It might just be me but I find answering the question so uncomfortable. I also had discussions with companies the other year that abruptly stopped and the reason given was that I was too expensive for them.

There are so few jobs on the market in my sector at the moment, interviewing with three is great but these are pretty much the only ones available- I don’t want to mess it up but I also don’t want to take a step back in my salary.

If you aren't willing to take a cut in salary then you are between a rock and a hard place - your expectations are either your current salary, or more.

But if other interviews have said that you're too expensive then you could face a period of unemployment before finding the elusive one that will pay what you want.

For me, continuity of employment would be more important, so I would take a good hard look at how much I could reduce my expectations.

are these roles a step up or more responsibility than your current job, or on the same level? If they’re a step up then definitely go in higher. If they’re the same and you know you’re paid top of the market currently then tell them your current salary and justify why you should be paid that amount.

Just say your current salary and that it depends on the full package but ideally you don’t of course want a reduction in this. You are highly skilled in your sector and feel that your salary should reflect this. You can also ask them outright if this salary’s is within the range they were expecting and watch their response.

I get over the awkwardness by a firm phrase of “my salary expectation is between x and y” - I provide a small range. I don’t enjoy discussing it (does anyone?) but it’s brief and to the point.
This is usually discussed at the initial stage so they wouldn’t let you get through the process if it didn’t work for them.

"It depends on the details of the whole package (health care / leave allowance / bonus / equity etc.), so I don't want to get hung up on a base number, but broadly I am looking for £xxx"

That way you are leaving the door open for negotiation, but also giving the indication of your expectation.

Thanks everyone- your answers have been really helpful.

For context, two roles are sideways steps (although for one the role hasn’t yet been defined properly and they’ve discussed tailoring it around me) one for a much smaller company but their pension contributions are almost double my current company’s so I can’t figure out where salaries would be. The third is an upwards move of sorts (a little daunting with my current lack of confidence but the company told me they were thrilled I’d applied). For this one I told HR my current salary and she said she’d check with the manager to make sure I wasn’t priced out- I assume not as I have a second interview.

Ok for the upwards move definitely Goni. For a higher salary. The two sideways moves I’d just tell them your salary but that you’d be looking at the whole package and also progression path/opportunities as part of the decision too. Would you turn any of them down if the salary was slightly less but there was good progression?

@Overthebow Thank you. No I don’t think I’d turn it down for a slight decrease. One role is for a very small company which I wouldn’t usually consider- I’d be the only person with my skill set which is pretty much unheard of BUT there is an opportunity to get exposure to different sectors which in the long run could open career opportunities for me.

The upward move is the same sector, I’d be one of two (again unheard of as we usually have much bigger teams) but the other works in one geography and I’d specialise in another. Good for my career in one way as a big company, not consultancy which the other roles are, and leading the projects, but no exposure to other sectors.

I have interviews next week so I’ll get through those and then keep my fingers crossed that someone makes an offer.