You are attending a job interview and everything is going well. So far, you feel good about the way you answer all the questions. Then, the hiring manager asked, "How much do you earn at present?" Or "How much salary do you expect?" Your heart beats faster and you start to sweat. How should you answer? You are attending a job interview and everything is going well. So far, you feel good about all the questions you have just answered. Then, the hiring manager asked, "What's your current salary?" Or "What salary do you expect?" Your heart beats faster and you start to sweat. How should you answer? As a recent student discovered, if you haven't thought about the potential answer, the salary issue may be a difficult topic to discuss. "James" (a pseudonym) feels that he almost got hired in several job interviews. Then, the inevitable salary problem appeared, and the hiring manager asked James how much money he could earn in his current position. He told the truth, and in both cases, the hiring manager responded that James' current salary was higher than that of the position. As a recent graduate student found out, it is difficult to discuss salary without fully considering the possible reaction of the other party. "James" (a pseudonym) feels that he was almost hired in several interviews. So it is inevitable to talk about salary. These hiring managers asked James how much money he could earn in his current job. He will tell the truth on this issue, but in both interviews, these hiring managers all said that the salary of the position recruited was lower than James' current salary. "What is the best answer to the question of how much money you can earn in your current position?" James asked me. "I let two hiring managers know that I am flexible in salary, but it seems that once they hear about my current salary, they are a little uninterested and no longer regard me as a viable candidate." "How much do I earn now?" James asked me, "I always tell the hiring manager that there is a discussion about salary, but it seems that as soon as they hear about my current salary, they' shoot me' and no longer regard me as a suitable candidate." For job seekers, I tend to regard salary as a poker game, with the purpose of letting the hiring manager (or human resources representative) show his cards first. As James discovered, this is because once you share a specific salary figure, you may overestimate (or underestimate) the position. For job seekers, I like to compare answering salary questions to playing poker. Its goal is to let recruiters show their cards first. The reason is that, as James noticed, once you disclose the specific salary, you will be in a position of asking too much (or too little). The following are suggestions for preparing salary questions/discussions in job interviews: The following suggestions may help you answer salary questions and start a dialogue when preparing for the interview: Suggestion # 1: Arm yourself with salary information. Tip 1: Arm yourself with salary information. Before you attend the job interview, spend enough time to investigate and find out the average salary and salary range of similar jobs in your region, industry and geographical location. Salary research websites include: salary.com, payscale.com, indeed.com, careeronestop.org, glassdoor.com and jobsearchintelligence.com. Before attending a job interview, do your homework in advance and find out what the average salary and fluctuation range are for those positions similar to your work field, industry and region. The websites that are helpful to refer to salary issues include: salary.com, payscale.com, indeed.com, careeronestop.org, glassdoor.com and jobsearchintelligence.com. Tip # 2: If you are asked about salary early in the interview, change the subject. Tip 2: If you ask the salary question too early in the interview, try to change the subject. If you don't see whether you and the hiring manager think you are a suitable candidate at least at the end of the interview, it won't do you any good to tell the hiring manager about your current income or expected salary range. Let her/him know that you want to better understand the job responsibilities and requirements before discussing the salary topic, and to what extent you can meet these needs. If you don't know whether you and the hiring manager think you are a suitable candidate before the interview is over, it won't do you any good to tell the hiring manager your current salary level or expected salary range. Before discussing salary, let him or her know that you want to know more about the responsibilities and requirements of this job and how you will meet these needs. Tip 3: Be prepared to provide a salary range. Tip 3: Be prepared to provide a rough salary range. This can be handled in several different ways. You can provide the salary range you have studied, for example, "According to my research, the current salary of similar positions in this region and industry is between $ X and $ Y.. Is this also your budget range for this position? " Or, you can share the salary range you want, for example, "According to the job requirements we discussed and my knowledge, skills and experience, I hope the salary range of this position is between X dollars and Y dollars." This can be handled in several different ways. You can provide the salary range you have studied, such as "According to my research, the salary of similar positions in this region and this industry is between X dollars and Y dollars. Is this also within the budget of your position? " Or, you can share your expected salary range, for example, "According to the job requirements we discussed, my knowledge, skills and experience, I hope the salary range of this job is between X dollars and Y dollars." Tip 4: Think about how much money you want to earn. Tip 4: Think about how much money you want to earn. This doesn't mean sharing an exact figure, because it can make you higher or lower than the budgeted salary of the position. Instead, provide a range you want. "Because I am changing industries, I don't expect to match my previous salary completely, but I hope my salary is …" This doesn't mean to disclose a specific figure, because it will make you higher or lower than the salary budget of this position. Instead, offer a salary range you expect. "Because I'm going to change careers, I don't expect to get the salary exactly matching my last job, but the salary range I want is …" Suggestion 5: Find a way to solve the salary problem. Tip 5: Think about how to avoid salary problems. Remember, our goal is to have the hiring manager tell you the budget salary range of the position before you share any salary information. Try to avoid giving such an answer: "My research shows that the salary of similar positions is between $ X and $ Y.. I believe you have set a salary range according to the competitive data of this industry. What is your budget range? " Or, "If I'm the candidate you want, I'm sure we can agree on salary because I'm willing to be flexible. What is the budget salary range? Please don't forget that our goal is to let the hiring manager tell you the budget salary of this position before you disclose your salary information. Try to avoid leaking information and provide the following answer, "My research shows that the salary range of similar positions is between X dollars and Y dollars. I believe you have made a competitive salary budget according to the situation of the industry. What is your budget range? Or, "If I am your favorite candidate, I believe we will reach an agreement on salary, because I am willing to show flexibility in this respect. What is your salary budget range? Tip 6: In the initial screening interview, discuss the salary range with the HR representative. Tip 6: Discuss the salary range with the HR representative in the initial screening interview. You don't have to wait until you successfully enter the interview of the hiring manager. The first telephone interview with the human resources department is a good time to discuss the salary range of this position to ensure that your expectations are within the salary range. This also makes it less stressful (if mentioned) to discuss salary with the hiring manager. You don't have to wait until you have an interview with the hiring manager to discuss this problem. The first telephone screening interview of human resources is a good time to talk about the salary range of this position, so as to ensure that your expectations are within the salary parameters. In addition, it can greatly reduce the pressure of discussing salary issues with hiring managers. As my student James discovered, sometimes honesty is not always the best strategy. When discussing salary in an interview, avoid sharing your current salary with the hiring manager. Instead, the key is to let them share the salary range they are willing to pay. This is not always easy, you need to be professional and respect your methods; Anyway, it will help you get closer to the salary you want. As my student James pointed out, sometimes honesty is not always a strategy. When talking about salary in an interview, avoid discussing your current salary with the hiring manager. Instead, the point is to get them to disclose the salary range they are willing to pay. It's not that easy, you need to show professionalism and respect in your methods; However, it can help you get closer to your expected salary.