So I had a phone interview with a company and they are scheduling an on-site interview sometime this week. In the meantime they are having me fill out an application. There is a question that asks what salary I desire...the job posting said the salary is negotiable but listed a range of 35-45k. I feel like I am definitely qualified; I don't want to list the max, but I also don't want to low ball myself. What should I put, or should I leave it blank?

4/28/2008 10:03:45 AM

if you are sure of your qualifications, ask for the max. They'll counter with something and then everyone thinks they won.

4/28/2008 10:07:16 AM

I came across this a couple times in my last job search.

When they asked for salary, I always put the max. The job I took 4 months ago asked what I'd like to make after the first interview, which went very well. I told them a number higher than what I felt would be the max, but added that their return would be far greater than if they went with someone who wasn't as motivated. They offered the position and even made a plan for me to make more than I had mentioned. It is going very well so far.

4/28/2008 10:11:31 AM

I'd leave it blank but still come up with a number incase they ask you about it when you turn it in at the interview. Don't just look at the range they said and get greedy . . . what were you expecting before you saw that range? Take what you would expecting and add a little to it.

4/28/2008 10:12:02 AM

just write negotiable

its perfectly acceptable and then when you get an offer, you can negotiate better because you know they want you

4/28/2008 10:14:59 AM

I entered max on the application for my current job. They countered with a rate that is higher than I thought they would go, so I am happy.

4/28/2008 10:15:12 AM

max or more, they want you there to make yourself and them money... Companies WANT people who are interested in making money!!! Granted if you are IT or something.... not as big of a deal.

4/28/2008 10:25:24 AM

yeah, put in the max or more. A company isnt going to not hire you because you want too much money, they'll simply offer another figure. It's in your best interest to ask for as much as you can get and then go from there, especially if you are well qualified.

4/28/2008 11:19:20 AM

i'd put 40k...its directly in the middle...that way you dont low ball yourself and that way you dont lie and make it like you are worth more than you are

4/28/2008 11:23:41 AM

I always put negotiable. The one time I was forced to pick a number I picked something in the high range and we negotiated it down a little. There was no range given to me at that position so I just had to throw a number out there.

4/28/2008 11:28:11 AM

when you guys say negotiate, how do you go about it and how much time do you spend on it? Is it one of those "spend only a few minutes on it?" (unless they are lowballin' you). I mean, it seems to me that it'd pretty much be one of those "Here's what I offer and why..." Then they counter, and you pretty much have one last rebuttal to convince them otherwise before it appears pushy/rude. If they don't offer what you feel you deserve, then you move on. Or am I wrong here?

[Edited on April 28, 2008 at 11:35 AM. Reason : .]

4/28/2008 11:35:16 AM

Actually it depends on the company. I have asked for a high salary and been offered lower, as others have said, but I've had other experiences as well.

One company decided not to even interview me b/c they thought I wanted too much and they could fill it cheaper (I found this out through an employees I knew).

Another company interviewed me and decide to offer the position to someone less qualified b/c they asked for less (I was told this by the head hunter).

4/28/2008 11:35:51 AM

^^

Yeah, pretty much. With me, I listed a high figure I knew for sure several of my other friends were making at another company, but realistically knew I wouldn't make at this place. My manager then responded with a figure that was about 10% lower. I negotiated it back up about 5% since the benefits weren't that great. I made sure to give specifics too.

4/28/2008 11:40:01 AM

thanks guys, good info

4/28/2008 11:52:58 AM

for this part time job i just got i put down 10 and got 13

4/28/2008 11:57:19 AM

nice

4/28/2008 12:00:04 PM

so i notice a lot of yall negotiate and what not or just list a high number since it will go down some...let me ask you this...were you the only one applying or something for the job? i'd think an employeer would hire like 5 people and then offer the job to the one that takes the lowest money


for example...people like this david0603 guy...whats to say when he was forced to say a number and he self admittedly picked a high number...well whats to say at that point the employeer is like "ohhhhhhh....kinda high, we will pick someone else"

4/28/2008 12:01:51 PM

The job was already mine.

4/28/2008 12:02:44 PM

i think the employer would rather hire the best qualified of the bunch than the sellout

they're making an investment

4/28/2008 12:04:11 PM

any of yall ever turned down a job for being too low?

happened to my stepdad about a month ago...he loved the company he interviewed at, and it was closer, but they only offered him 65k, about 45k lower than he made last year...he told me thats where negotiations broke down

4/28/2008 12:07:49 PM

I've never turned down a formal job offer, but I have turned down non formal offers, especially if taking the salary cut won't help me long term. I took a big paycut when I graduated but I did so knowing I would get a 20K raise after 2 months.

4/28/2008 12:21:34 PM

Quote :

"just write negotiable its perfectly acceptable and then when you get an offer, you can negotiate better because you know they want you"

bingo

4/28/2008 12:37:03 PM

Quote :

"i think the employer would rather hire the best qualified of the bunch than the sellout they're making an investment "

You might think that, but that's not always the case. It depends on the company. If you are overqualified, they may think you won't stay long. And others only care about the bottom line, such as when I was working in pharmaceuticals.

4/28/2008 1:38:16 PM

One of my pet peeves is when they ask to provide a resume and "salary requirements", particularly when they have "negotiable" or "depending on qualifications" listed on their ad. Salary is one of a number of considerations, and I have no way of knowing what my "salary requirement" will be until after I have interviewed, met them, and gotten a better sense of the position and organization. Of course I'm not going to apply if they put a listed range that isn't in the right ballpark.

4/28/2008 1:43:29 PM

My first position where they gave me the choice I said a number and they took it immediately. I learned a few months later that I'd low balled myself. Figure out what that type of job pays through coworkers/friends and pick high then negotiate down if you have to.

4/28/2008 2:38:06 PM

I'd fill it in with a range. Like 40-45K. It leaves room for negotiation, doesn't pin you down, and if they lowball you on your range perhaps it's an indication that the company is tight fisted with raises, etc.

[Edited on April 28, 2008 at 4:59 PM. Reason : -]

4/28/2008 4:55:37 PM

A range is equally as bad as the reason I said above. You really have to know what you're worth. If I'd said a range I'd of screwed myself as well, because what I thought was high in my range was actually low...

4/29/2008 11:50:02 AM

nvm

[Edited on April 29, 2008 at 8:53 PM. Reason : read wrong]

4/29/2008 8:52:26 PM

Quote :

"i think the employer would rather hire the best qualified of the bunch than the sellout they're making an investment"

Most employers are not smart. They get what they pay for -- if they try to be cheap, they will either get a crappy person or a good person who will move on quickly. Good employers realize that hiring the right person at a competitive price is cheaper than hiring a crappy person or having to hire and retrain a new person in a year.

4/29/2008 9:26:59 PM

dnl - I havent, but I do know people who have.
They wanted a friend of the family to relocate to a more expensive area, flew him out there knowing that someone with his qualifications should not take below x amount, and offered him like 60% of it an couldn't go any higher. Of course he turned it down.

There's a point where the company should realize that they are asking for someone who is way out of their leauge - these guys didnt, sounds like the guys intervieviewing your step dad din't get that either. Paycuts are one thing, chopping your salary in 1/2 or 2/3 is another.

4/29/2008 11:39:04 PM

the bottom line of the discussion is: never give an amount unless you have an offer on the table.

make sure you research the competitive rate for your background experience

always make your ask for more than you think you're worth, and let them come back down to your acceptable range or atleast negotiate somewhere in the middle

4/29/2008 11:41:16 PM

Quote :

"just write negotiable its perfectly acceptable"

not really

it shows you havent done your homework, and are just winging it.

4/30/2008 3:37:04 AM

First party to name a number loses. Works for me. Research you field and area and be ready to get to brass tacks, be ready to walk away if things get silly. It's not negotiating if you take whatever they throw at you first and aren't prepared to politely walk from the table.

4/30/2008 6:07:11 AM

Quote :

"not really it shows you havent done your homework, and are just winging it. "

have fun being paid less than you're probably worth the rest of your life!

Quote :

"First party to name a number loses. Works for me. "

exactly.

4/30/2008 7:36:53 AM

well I sent the application yesterday, left the salary question blank. We'll start negotiating if and when they offer me the job.

4/30/2008 7:53:00 AM

that was a mistake

4/30/2008 8:10:32 AM

I hate that question. I have a job opp now where I gave them a very reasonable number and they think its a bit high. I'm waiting to see what they offer in return.

I don't see how they're going to hire somebody for what they want for much less than I asked for.

5/1/2008 11:50:26 AM

you should have atleast written negotiable

leaving it blank might have them passing on you

5/1/2008 11:52:03 AM

yea, in all honesty I just forgot to write that. oh well, I have an interview tomorrow so we'll see what happens!

5/1/2008 12:46:03 PM

I ask for less money upfront and more commission

They thought it was a good deal for them

but so far I've made nearly twice what I would have with the initial contract

5/1/2008 12:48:56 PM

what do you sell?

5/1/2008 12:50:13 PM

I don't sell anything

I recruit investors and look for potential investment opportunities

5/1/2008 12:51:38 PM

So you don't sell investment opportunities?

5/1/2008 1:07:03 PM

Quote :

"Wage or Salary Desired? Yes"

5/1/2008 1:09:38 PM

haha, I should have put "six figures"

5/1/2008 1:11:15 PM

he sells dreams

5/1/2008 1:17:05 PM

you could put "more than that"

5/1/2008 1:24:17 PM

Quote :

"Wage or Salary Desired? Yes"

5/1/2008 1:34:37 PM

Quote :

"haha, I should have put "six figures""

your answer will be $3,000.00 per month

5/1/2008 1:56:04 PM

so, what do I wear to my interview tomorrow? my last interviewer specially told me not to dress up, the one before that I did dress up b/c I didnt know and they said "we should have told you not to dress up" This time I am definitley wearing a shirt and tie, but should I go for the jacket? I dont want to look like a douche

5/1/2008 3:15:53 PM