The question of salary expectations is a source of stress for many job seekers. The answer you give is likely to have a significant impact on how the rest of the process unfolds.
Preparation is therefore an essential step in order to know the remuneration that is acceptable to ask for the desired position. First, we recommend that you do as much research as possible prior to your interview. Indeed, many websites present pay scales for several types of positions.
However, it is important to consider factors such as industry, type of business, location, and years of experience as they affect the pay scale.
Once you have completed your research, here are 4 Pitfalls to avoid during the interview:
Pitfalls #1: Start the interview by addressing the salary question
Above all, a job interview allows you to get to know each other, both on the employer's side and on the candidate's side. For their part, the recruiter wants to hear more about your work experiences, your skills and the elements of your personality that distinguish you from other candidates.
For the candidate, it is an opportunity to better understand the position in all its particularities and to learn more about the company. This is a good time to ask questions, prepare in advance and to ensure that you see yourself evolving within the company if hired later in the process.
In general, we therefore wait until the end of the interview to talk about the salary. In addition, it should be noted that it is usually the recruiter who will launch the subject and ask you what your salary expectations are.
Pitfalls #2: Boosting your current salary
Along with your salary expectations, the recruiter may ask you what your current salary is. It can therefore be tempting to inflate your salary. A strategy that can be risky. On the one hand, recruiters have a good knowledge of the market, and inflating their salary above what is the industry standard for a certain position and number of years of experience will make the recruiter doubt at best.
It is also possible that the recruiter will ask about your current salary and discover that you were not telling the truth. Lying at any stage of the process often leads to the end of the process with the candidate, since the bond of trust is already broken with the employer. We recommend that you always be honest during the recruitment process.
A good employer will take into account your salary expectations, and will be able to honestly judge your experience and skills to offer you a salary that reflects what you are really worth. If this is not the case, be wary of working for an employer that does not value its employees at their fair wage values. It would certainly hide other internal problems.
Pitfalls #3: Give a random number
As with any interview question, it's important to do your homework and be prepared. The salary issue is one of them! Giving a random number may highlight a personality trait linked to uncertainty or poor preparation on your side and thus reduce your chances of taking the next step.
If you don't know where to start, we recommend Glassdoor or Linkedin which are good places to start your search. Indeed, they list numerous employee salaries in different sectors and jobs. This will give you a good idea of where to place yourself in terms of experience.
Other relevant resources:
Job Bank : site allowing you to explore the minimum, median and maximum wage according to your profession and your region.
Guide to salaries by professions in Quebec - 2014 edition
Pitfalls #4: Being too specific
When talking about your salary expectations, it is advisable to present a range rather than a specific figure.
The range is composed of the amount below which you feel you do not want to fall and the amount that you would like to reach eventually. This way of doing things gives the employer room for manoeuvre and leaves the discussion open.
Need more tips to prepare for your next interview: 10 mistakes not to make in an interview
