Career Cube Blog

Aside from the question “Why did you leave?”, the question “What are your salary requirements?” probably causes the most discomfort and makes job seekers sweat. The company holds all the cards and they’re not letting you peek. They want to know everything, and they’re not going to give you any feedback. The moment you’re asked, you know that if your answer is wrong, you could easily kill any further discussion.

As if the question isn’t awkward enough at any time, too often it’s asked on a phone interview or a quick intro screen by HR or a contract recruiter. In other words, it’s asked at the beginning of the process in order to see if they want to bring you in. Or worse yet, you’re expected to put the number in your cover letter. It almost makes you want to humor them facetiously by including a paragraph that says, “By the way, if my number is outside your sacred range, don’t pay any attention to me or what I’ve accomplished. Just throw my resume in the trash.”

At least it would make the recipients more cognizant of how silly it is to ask that question so early in the process when they know nothing about you - and aren’t likely to read much further to find out - if your magic number doesn’t seem reasonable to them.

In actuality, the question itself isn’t what’s unreasonable. It’s the time frame in which it’s asked (too early) and the underlying reason for it - of which companies are usually unaware - that is so odious.

Remember that companies - not overtly or consciously - look for reasons to screen you out, and a problem answer is as good a reason as anything else.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

A job interview is stressful. The person who hasn’’t made a lot of changes isn’’t practiced at what is involved (nor should they want to be), and the person who has made a lot of changes doesn’’t have any idea what’s involved either, or they wouldn’’t be making so many changes!

Preparing for the interview de-stresses the situation considerably. Yet, 78% of all candidates - regardless of the level for which they are interviewing - wing it! As a result, they’re frequently dropped from further consideration.

Seemingly innocent questions can trip you up. For instance, in response to the question, “Why do you want to work here?” occasionally people say things like:

* I don’t know
* Because it seems like a good place to work
* It’s a great growth opportunity for me

Others at least attempt a thoughtful response:
“I’ve worked in this industry for 15 years and been very successful. I feel I can make a difference in your organization. I have a proven track record of leadership. I’ve read in the paper that your company is having some problems, and with my experience as a Director of Marketing, I can help straighten those out.”

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Popularity: 4% [?]

Many of you are thinking-”Yeah RIGHT! I should BE so lucky!”  The truth is that these things can sneak up on you without any advance thought, so it’s best to have a plan in place to handle it.

Here’s some things you are probably not considering.  Whatever company makes you an offer is very excited to do so.  After the grueling gauntlet of resumes, phone interviews, in-person interviews and reference checks (and you thought the process only stunk for you) they’ve finally found someone whom they really love, in fact everyone in the organization really loves.  They proudly call to make you the offer (and after they ask for your references, you can assume the next time you hear from them will be to make you the offer or take you out of the running.)  and you say—-

Well–I’m actually waiting for another offer–but I AM interested in your company.

Ohhh—what a buzz kill!

First, have a better answer prepared.  A generic “Can I have a few days to consider this offer?”  will be fine.  Employers-at least before you start working for them-are not stupid.  They’ll read between the lines and figure out that you’re weighing another offer.  They won’t be thrilled, but they’ll be OK.

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Popularity: 4% [?]