This document provides tips for answering the common interview question "What is your salary expectation?". It advises the reader to avoid mentioning numbers, research average salaries for their role and experience level, focus on fit for the company and role rather than salary, keep an upbeat tone, and never lie about past salaries. The overall message is that this initial question is not the time for negotiation, but rather an opportunity to showcase interest in the work.

1. “What’s
Your
Salary
Expecta5on?”
What
You
Need
To
Know
About
This
Tricky
Interview
Ques5on

2. “What is your salary
expectation?”
It’s
one
of
the
most
dreaded
interview
ques5ons
because
it
blends
awkward
conversa5on
of
money
with
the
fear
of
asking
too
much,
too
liJle,
or
rejec5on.

3. Here’s
what
you
should
know
to
prepare:

4. 1. You’re Not Negotiatin
Hardball (Yet)
Avoid any mention of numbers.

5. If you’ve done your
research, you should know
exactly the range of what
someone like you should be
making.

6. 2. Be Prepared
It’s a general rule
when interviewing!

7. Use Glassdoor’s salary tool or
Payscale.com to gauge your
market value

8. 3. Avoid Talking
Numbers
At this stage, you want to be as vague and
disinterested in numbers as possible.

9. You can talk numbers
further into the process, but
right now it’s all about
learning about the
opportunity.

10. 4. Don’t Get
Defensive
Avoid feeling sabotaged

11. Your interviewer
doesn’t want to make
you a low ball offer,
they just want to
make sure it makes
sense to keep talking.

12. 5. Keep The Tone
Casual & Friendly

13. Likeable people
receive job
offers and win
salary
negotiations so
don’t get
ruffled by this
topic.

14. Smile and
casually
express more
interest in
learning about
the role and
potential fit.

15. 6. Talk Fit, Not
Finances

16. No one wants to hire someone who’s
only interested in money.
The company needs to know you’re invested in their
mission.

17. 7. Don’t get Overly
Confident
Conversations around salary are pretty
standard for the initial phone screen or
interview.

18. Just because we’re touching on
money, doesn’t mean we’re
talkin’ money just yet.

19. 8. Don’t Ever Lie About
Salary History

20. Why??
Lying is just
outright bad
(but you knew
that).

21. Why??
Employers can get
their hands on this
info.
nothing will take you
out of the running
faster than A Lie.

22. For more interview advice visit:
www.NGCareerStrategy.com