When I am prepping candidates for interviews, I am asked this question all of the time: “Should I bring up money on an interview?” The simple answer is “no.” As a rule, compensation should not be discussed on a first interview.
When an employer is interviewing candidates, they are looking for someone who is interested in the position and who is dedicated to making a positive contribution to the organization. In addition to the mere fact that bringing up salary doesn’t add to your marketability or qualifications for a position, bringing up salary can also put you in a tough situation later on in the interview process.
Often times, I see candidates rule themselves out by giving specific salaries amounts that they are looking for. If you say something too low, you risk selling yourself short and lose your negotiating power early on in the process. If you shoot too high, you can rule yourself out all together because an employer will fear that they can’t afford you and that you wouldn’t be happy with their compensation package. Plus, sometimes there is absolutely no room for negotiation, so you might as well get a job offer and then decide whether it’s a position you want to accept!
At the same time, you may be asked point blank, “What are you looking for?” This is when it can get tricky, but don’t let this throw you off! Before going on an interview, you should be prepared to discuss a range of salaries, but I always encourage candidates to avoid giving specific numerical amounts. Take some time to research what the competitive market salaries are in your industry and for this type of role. This will help you know what a fair range is.
If you are pushed to offer a specific number, I recommended providing your current salary as a baseline. Your current salary is a fact, but it leaves things open — just because you are making a certain amount, doesn’t mean you wouldn’t consider less and also doesn’t mean you aren’t looking for an increase! It’s always important to communicate that the reason you are looking for a new role is to find the right opportunity for you and that money isn’t the most important thing!
From my years of experience negotiating salaries for all different levels of professionals, I have seen too many people either not get offers at all or get way too low of offers because of not handling the compensation situation correctly on an interview. I can promise you that you will have much more influence on your compensation once the hiring manager has decided you are the top choice candidate!
Jennifer Kessler
Executive Recruiter- Healthcare
