How to answer: What are your salary expectations?

What the interviewer is testing.

Researched range, flexibility and calm. Whether you know your market value and can talk about money calmly.

An outline for this question.

1. Research the range for this role, location and level before the interview.
2. Give a range, with the lower end at a number you would accept.
3. Say that you care about the whole package and the role, and are open to talk.
4. If they push, ask what range they have budgeted.

The mistake to avoid.

Naming a number too low out of nerves. It is hard to raise later.

The general method: honest, specific, brief.

The same shape works for most hr questions, whatever the topic.

• Answer the question that was asked in your first sentence.
• Back it with one specific example or fact, not a general claim.
• Tie it to this role, and stop. A calm thirty to sixty seconds is enough.

Practice it, out loud.

Reading an outline is not the same as saying it. Answer this question in a mock interview, in your own words, then compare it with the outline above.

Practice this questionSee live interview help

More to practice.

• Tell me about yourself.

  Any role, HR

• What is your greatest strength?

  Any role, HR

• What is your greatest weakness?

  Any role, HR

• Why do you want to work here?

  Any role, HR

This is a Replysis practice question. It is not a leaked or official question from any company, and the outline is a guide to structure, not a script. Use your own experience and facts.