You’ll likely be asked to specify your salary requirements, either directly on a job application form or during an interview. Unless you know how much the position should be paid, you are in danger of blowing all your hard work by either putting yourself out of contention for the job because your demands are too high, or you risk being underpaid.
Unless you are certain of how much the position is paid, then you are best to write “open” or “negotiable” on your job application form. When you are asked directly an effective response is “I’m very interested in the position and I’d like to earn as much as I am qualified to earn. How much money do you feel is fair for someone with my qualifications?”
This now puts the ball back in the company’s court, and you can start to negotiate. Many candidates have actually been able to get more money than the company first intended to pay by using this approach. If they insist on you supplying a number then let them know what you are approximately earning and you would like to earn something in the same area.
If the employer makes an offer you consider fair and you really want the job then you should accept immediately. If you are still unsure, don’t be afraid to tell them that you would like a day to think it over. But you will need to make your decision in the next 24 hours. The longer you wait, the less interested you will seem in the position and they might offer it to somebody else.
Hint: You can obtain current salary levels on a wide variety of positions by using our CV-Online Salary Wizard
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