Let's Talk about It

What is the one thing during a job interview that you want to know the most about but are forbidden to ask? Money. Applicants care most about the salary of the position for a number of reasons, but are forbidden from asking the question in order to avoid seeming self-serving. An employer wants applicants to have a passion for the position, not for the money. However, don’t be blindsided by an employer who asks for a salary range or expectation. Your answer should be well thought out and stated with confidence. Don’t say that you are not concerned with the money, which the employer could interpret as a lack of preparation or focus. You should know the appropriate salary range in your field and how that salary range can be affected by location, company type, and experience. It is important to remember that the cost of living in a certain location, the size of the company, and your education and experience will also have an effect on what the true range for the position will be.

You also need to consider your own living expenses and determine the lowest salary you could afford to accept. In addition, remember not to focus too much on the money because organizations often offer more than just the salary. An employer that offers a lower salary but includes benefits like insurance, tuition reimbursement, stock options, or a retirement plan may be offering a better package in the long run. Take into consideration what the job has to offer you besides the money and make an informed decision based on that.

There are many tools on the Career Center’s Web site and in the Career Resource Lab, Lucina 235 to help you identify salary ranges. Use the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ salary surveys and the Occupational Outlook Handbook in the Career Resource Lab, Lucina 235, to gauge general market data. Or visit http://www.flcdatacenter.com/ for more specific salary ranges. In addition visit http://benefitslink.com/index.html to get an explanation of benefits or http://www.bls.gov./bls/blswage.htm for the most accurate salary ranges. For more information check out our Great Links to Explore link for a list of related links on this topic.

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