Job Interview Questions and Answers
Question 49: What salary are you expecting?
Don't sell yourself short when asking for a specific salary. Studies have found that those who negotiate for a higher salary often get it. You should do some research before the job interview so that you don't ask for too much or too little. You might be asked to justify why you are worth the salary you are asking, so be prepared with an answer (i.e., tell them how your skills and experience will benefit the company so much that your salary will be a bargain for them.)
The best salary resource on the Internet is Salary.com where you can find out what people earn at various experience levels and in every region of the USA. At the time this was written, you could search the Salary.com database free. You also need to consider the cost of living in the area you will be relocating to, if applicable. There are cost of living calculators on the Internet. A good one can be found at Homefair.com. With a cost of living calculator, you can find out how much you will have to earn in your new location to maintain the same standard of living you enjoy in your present location.
A good answer: "After doing some research at Salary.com and a few other sites on the Internet, I am asking for a starting salary of $100,000. I base this figure on the fact that I have seven years of experience in the field and have proven myself a great asset to my past employer. I realize that this figure is $20,000 more than I am presently earning; however, the cost of living is considerably higher in the San Francisco area and I have included an amount to cover the higher costs I would have to pay if I relocated here."
