I'm back and ready to write some more articles on topics that I've been speaking to lately.
Unfortunately, a lot of my friends have been laid off recently and are searching for a job in this terrible economy. I've picked up a lot of tips and tricks just from chatting with them and I'll write about them in several articles.
Today one of the topics I discussed with a recently laid off friend was "interview skills." She was interviewing for a job in which she found that the highest salary budgeted was $5k lower than her previous salary. Due to this, the interviewer was concerned with how she felt about this (she had worked in the same company before).
What's the correct response to "the position's salary grade is less than your salary range?"
Well, firstly, there isn't a "correct-correct" response, but there is definitely a very very incorrect way to go about it.
Possible scenarios:
A) You want to assure the interviewer that you are willing to accept this positioning. Afterall, "your job comes before salary" right?
B) You tell the interviewer that you understand, but hope they will reconsider due to what you can bring to the position.
C) You express major concern over this salary difference.
Scenario Explanations:
A) The most cautious response. You want the job - yes - but you don't want the interviewer to know that the salary decrease bothers you.
B) This is the "honest" route with a side of caution. Yes, the salary thing bothers you, but because you like the position, you hope that your skills will make them reconsider their budgeted salary.
C) Probably the worst way to respond. You're letting them know money is more important than the job.
I think this was a pretty obvious exercise, but what I should let you know is... IF and ONCE you get a job offer THEN you can NEGOTIATE. It's important to know that when an offer is given, yay, they like you! Yay you're qualified and YAY you have a bargaining chip. You can negotiate with them on salary most of the time and because you already know that you're qualified and they like you, you have a good chance of getting at least some of what you want (even if it may not be 100% of what you want).
Recent Articles on Interviewing:
