What is your expected salary?
By thatsjvl
@jvincent_129 (4994)
Philippines
July 24, 2012 9:48am CST
There are a lot of tricky interview questions in applying for a job. This is one of them. How would you answer this? Is there a good response to this question? Please suggest mylot peeps. 
WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTED SALARY?
WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTED SALARY?4 responses
@AgentGulaman (3546)
• Philippines
24 Jul 12
It can be a bit tricky at times, but of course you are the one who can command what expected salary you should have. Better base it on your current salary and consider the premium of having to transfer to a new company. Consider your acquired skills and experience also. One way to answer this is to try and reflect back the question to the interviewer. Just try to ask, how much they are paying their best guys in the field? or what is the ceiling salary for the position? Just always try to bargain ahead and be confident in producing your expected salary. Else, you won't be satisfied with your salary.
@AgentGulaman (3546)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Surely, being inexperienced would be a tough situation during job interviews. But in my opinion, you only have to show some class, spunk, poise and confidence to increase your worth. Those are the skills most employers want especially for the fresh or entry level applicant. Such characteristics are a primed choice for training and development of potential.
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Yeah. The hard part is that you have to convince them that you're worth that amount. I am only a entry level applicant with no strong experience yet except I have been in job trainings. For me, this is really very hard to answer.
@microengineer (587)
• Indonesia
26 Jul 12
I think you should try to get an information regarding the range of the salary from each jobs. It will be depend on the profession, country, beginner or expert level.
The first time I apply I only said, I will follow the company regulation.
But now, with more information I got, I can say how much I should be paid.
As example, fresh graduate engineer will be paid [basic salary] USD 250 / month as minimum (in most of company in my country). The benefits can be negotiated.
You can expect much-much higher in Oil and Gas company.
Still, be careful with this tricky question.
@microengineer (587)
• Indonesia
26 Jul 12
You do not need to know exact salary. There are some survey regarding salary in my country. I can base the salary on it. But still, I need to know how big the company, relative to the list.
Yes, in my country the salary is rather cheap, unless you work in oil and gas company (although some small oil and gas company can not offer more).
Wishing you luck entering oil and gas company circle. Once you are there, it will be easier.
I am afraid that there is no perfect answer. Since it is depend on the company you apply for.
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
27 Jul 12
Thank you for your insights. I am still in search of finding a job. I am a ECE graduate.
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
26 Jul 12
It is really required to know the range of salary that a company offers so that you can create the best answer for that question. USD250 a month is a small range of salary. But as a fresh graduate or for an entry level position, you can't really demand a lot.
Yes, I also expect a lot from oil and gas companies.
Yes, it is a tricky question. Is there really a perfect answer?
@luxlyangels (1286)
•
24 Jul 12
Yes. Obviously there is already a structured pay allocated to every position in an organisation, so if you are a fresher you can say that 'you believe there is already an amount attached to this position and that would be just fine for you, or if you are experienced you could tell them to pay you according to your worth which should be higher than your former place of work assuming money was the motivating factor for the change.
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Ok thanks for the response. But if I already job experience and the work I applied for is not related to my experience, could I still have the right to expect a higher salary than my former place of work?
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Thanks for your response viju. I think you're right. We should use it to our advantage. After all, it's the salary that is most important to us. We don't want to be underpaid.
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
25 Jul 12
Hi,
Since you are a fresher and looking around for jobs/ facing interviews, try to gain the idea as what is the salary offered by that sector to a fresher in the market.
Again, if the company is good and has advancement options for your career, then you should just answer that 'since i am a fresher, i need a gateway to show my skills and talents. As salary is the motivational part, a better pay/a handsome CTC would help to improve individual skill and participation in the overall growth (or the growth of the organisation).
Also what will you answer if they ask, how will you justify your salary? Here you may tell them that you would perform well and above their expectation level.
Best wishes...
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
26 Jul 12
hi,
You should avoid quoting an amount in particular. As i said earlier, you can tell them that salary is the motivation and a little higher than the proposed will make me more confident and i can even do some course/s for my improvement. That way you can avoid an embarassing situation.
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
26 Jul 12
By all means, avoid discussing the salary in terms of giving an amount. I think you can only mention an amount if you're really worth the salary you expect. That's the time when I already have a strong work experience. Thank you for your views viju.
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
25 Jul 12
Thanks for the response. I think I mess up my interview because I gave an amount much more higher than the actual salary they proposed. In this case, should I really mention an amount if salary is that important to me? It's also hard for me because I can't ask for a higher pay because I'm still a fresher.
