How to Answer “How Much Salary Do You Expect?” for Freshers

As a general rule, questions that seem both frequent and necessary in an interview for a new hire are actually quite difficult. Candidates often fail to adequately prepare for interview questions because they fail to appreciate the interviewer’s perspective on the significance of context. You might expect questions like “Tell us about yourself” or “Walk me through your résumé” to come up at the beginning of an interview. Perhaps the interviewer has some personal questions for you. In that case, they might be curious about your interests and aspirations. At last, the inquiries may get more targeted to your precise job interests. Your salary is a topic that always comes up midway to the end of the hiring process.

When asked, “What are your salary expectations?”, candidates are often taken aback. The interviewer can inquire, “How much of a raise are you looking for?” if they are aware of your current income.

Before the candidates answer, quiet tension builds. One’s self-esteem can take a hit if one believes their interviewer will pass judgment on them. The candidate’s own contentment is another factor to consider. It appears that the two factors work together to make him or her feel panicked and make hasty, maybe costly, calculations.

Consequently, this is a particularly delicate aspect of the interviews and must be treated with care. When a recruiter asks you this, they are already leaning toward giving you a job. You might make it to the finish line if we don’t screw it up! For this reason, you should practice a response to this question that “needs to feel just” to both the employer and the prospect.

1Why was the Question, “How much salary are you expecting?” asked at an interview?

When asking this question, the interviewers are taking into account a wide range of factors. They need to find a middle ground that works for both you and their company. They need to know they’re hiring the best person for the job. Let’s examine the most pressing issues that have people wondering about this.

Hiring Costs

A position’s budget is a set amount of money that can be spent on that role. Each division has a pay scale based on the level of the employee. These figures are settled well in advance of the actual hiring procedure.

The interviewer will want to make sure that your desired wage falls within the salary range they have established for the position. If they can’t meet your financial requirements, even if you’re the best applicant, they have to let you go. Exceptions to this rule can be made if the candidate is in an unusually advantageous position to excel in the role and make a significant impact on the firm. Recruiters may try to rework their spending to make room for the prospective employee.

Your suitability and qualification for the open job

Good candidates are hard to find, and interviewers have challenging jobs. Quite a few businesses have an obvious need for people with such skills. In calculating your worth, they consider your work history, academic performance, and extracurricular involvement. Everyone has an idea of how much they can earn with their particular set of skills. If you can maintain composure and assurance when discussing your expectations, they will receive your message with open ears.

To find out if and where your needs can be met

Compensation for qualified applicants is competitive. However, there is flexibility in the form that their compensation takes. Base salary, bonus compensation based on performance, and salary increases based on length of service are all viable options. It can be paid for via a combination of cash and equity. In order to make you happy with their final offer, the interviewers want to know how they can best structure your basic salary, bonus, and stock allocation.

Understand HP Salary for freshers by checking our latest blog at SLA

2How will you expertly respond to this question?

You should now have a good understanding of why interviewers ask this question, and how to best respond to it. It is time to take a methodical strategy to respond to it.

Here are ten things to keep in mind as you think about and practice your response.

Do some preliminary research on comparable salaries in the market

Various factors affect the range of possible salaries for even the most generic jobs in the industry. The applicant’s chances of getting hired are affected by a number of factors, including the company, the location, the level of the position, the number of years of experience, the candidate’s educational background, and any distinguishing factors, such as unique experiences or particular skills.

You can conduct this sort of investigation using any one of a number of suitable resources, including online databases. Start with sites like Payscale, LinkedIn Salary, and Glassdoor to get an idea of what you’re worth. Not only can you see what the market rate for a given position is, but you can also read evaluations of other companies to get a sense of what kind of wage range you might be looking at.

Think about or inquire about the job’s specific requirements.

Make an effort to learn all you can about the position’s expectations. Do not jump to conclusions about your qualifications for the position until you have asked the interviewer a series of clarifying questions. You should know your role before making demands. You won’t know where to place yourself unless you have this information. Before accepting a job offer, think about the potential costs, such as moving expenses.

Instead of a set amount, think of a salary range.

It leaves room for discussion on both ends of the salary bargaining table. The interviewer will see that you are less demanding and more receptive to their questions. Therefore, you might expect a narrow margin of error. Otherwise, your thoughts may come across as unspecific or unfocused. Maintaining a little disparity also demonstrates an ability to think clearly.

Be flexible with potential payment structures

When determining compensation, businesses take into account a number of factors, including cash, stock, and bonuses. If you are flexible about the form your pay takes, you’ll find it easier to settle into your new role and will have an easier time negotiating your wage in the future. Keep in mind that both you and the recruiting company want this to be a successful recruitment. Finding a compromise is crucial.

Put off discussing expectations if you are asked upfront.

The company’s HR representative may inquire as to your wage expectations for the position even before the first interview. Answers should be brief and general, using phrases like “industry norm” instead of providing specifics. It’s prudent to state up front that you want to learn more about the position and its long-term viability within the company. Force the recruiter to pitch you on the job.

Obtain their budget by using counter-questions

It’s a good idea to respond positively to the interviewer’s inquiry into your desired wage by saying something like, “Good that you asked me about it. I was wondering if you could provide me the ballpark figure for this position’s salary. They can relax and be themselves around you. It’s a chance to learn how they’re thinking and feeling about you as a person.

Strive to achieve the higher end of the range

This demonstrates your bravery and pride in yourself. Keep in mind that money isn’t everything, and the proper person will find a way to fit in. The quality of the company’s employees is its greatest competitive advantage, so it actively seeks out the best candidates for employment.

Explain the value you can contribute to the group.

Even if you’ve already touched on it, it’s crucial to briefly mention your talents and expertise when discussing your expectations. In doing so, you establish the stage for productive interaction. What sets you apart from other candidates is easier to recall for the interviewer.

Keep a cool head and use upbeat language

To appear assured is helpful at this time. The uncomfortableness of the situation is therefore eliminated. In fact, it may sway the interviewer to choose you. Don’t give off an impression of insecurity or doubt.

Honest planning

Most job-seekers gloss over this issue, but it ends up being the single most important factor in determining who gets the highest salaries. You should shoot for no less than the greatest deal you can get.

Example 1

“I am flexible regarding my salary expectations. Furthermore, I anticipate receiving a reasonable salary for this position, given my educational qualifications and acquired talents. Therefore, may we explore the specifics of this position?”

Example 2

“My research revealed that the average wage range for this type of position is between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. If I end up having to move, I know that it will be important to take into account the expense of living there. Yet, I hope to maintain an accommodating and open attitude during this conversation. Can you provide a range that you are considering?”

Example 3

“Regarding this, I have consulted with a few acquaintances and examined a few websites. It has come to my attention that I should earn between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 for this position. I’ve been utilizing HTML, Python, SQL, JavaScript, and Node JS since my first year of college when I began working on multiple projects. It is a complete experience. However, the amount of money I will earn is one of the many factors I consider before selecting my next chance. I would like to understand more about your organization, its culture, the rewards it offers, and the learning opportunities I may anticipate over the following five years.”

As a whole, if you take the advice in this article effectively, you should be in a good position to address your interviewer. All the best.