"What are your salary requirements?"

[Leros]

I have several friends who did not even go to college making $15 right out of high school. I have several friends working while in college making $20ish. You're getting ripped off.

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

That seems insanely low (like you already know). I would be a bit skeptical of a company that is only going to pay McD wages for a company-critical position.

 

[skace]

You are actually trying to defend the $10 that you sold yourself short on. Impressive.

You know what the real problem is with this? You ask for such a low amount of money and it doesn't fit the position you are looking for, then the company starts asking questions / doesn't take you seriously. You want to be on the low end of whatever the expected pay is for that job.

 

[ViviTheMage]

uhhh, you can make more at whole foods hahaha

 

[Deeko]

lol

 

[Glavinsolo]

I always highball salary requirements, the trick is to never answer first. Most interviewers are trained not to release a salary figure before you do. First person who says a number always loses.

Highball it and have them come down. But then again any $ is good $ for a lot of people today.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'm waiting on an offer as well... the job description pays $75K to $80K, but when asked about salary I requested $82K and let the headhunter know that I wouldn't consider anything less than $80K.

I make a lot more than that now in a consulting job paid hourly, but the 55+ hour work weeks and 12 1/2 hour shifts are driving me crazy.

 

[alkemyst]

I always reply I am looking to be paid the typical wage for the position with my experience level. If pushed I mention these numbers are available from many sites then I push back asking them what were they expecting to find someone for.

If they say they don't know or get more difficult I simply ask them to do a little research and contact me if they think the salary is an option. This is especially true if in a programming interview the asshat brings up they have a few 'kids' doing this for $10-15, why should they pay more?

In negotiation your lowest mark will be what they will always hit. It makes no sense for a hiring manager to say "Hey I know you said $25/hr but I think I may like you so how about $35/hr?".

Although good hiring manager will not let you come on board too low though usually if you really shoot yourself in the foot on a wage quote. This happened recently where due to regional differences a candidate was quoting a salary requirement about 20% less than standard.

 

[Tobolo]

I make $14 an hour right now and I do not have a degree. Actually I don't do much of anything.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
I always highball salary requirements, the trick is to never answer first. Most interviewers are trained not to release a salary figure before you do. First person who says a number always loses.

Highball it and have them come down. But then again any $ is good $ for a lot of people today.

does this work for you? is it true that if you highball that there are chances you won't be offered a position that you otherwise would be qualified for?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: EMPshockwave82
10 bucks an hour is 20k a year (in a 40 hour work week 50 weeks a year)

even 15 an hour is only 30 a year....

Unless you're living in your parent's basement.... (absolutely nothing wrong with this).... you will probably struggle

As a SINK making <$30/yr, I have money. Granted I'm living with my gf (although was on my own for a year, and prior to that supported myself and my gf on just my income for 2 years) now, so it's a bit easier.

I don't have a ton of money and am by no means rich, but I have enough to live off and some extra spending money. Am I rich? No. I am doing damn well for my age group though, and when compared to my peers.

OP you can live off that, but don't expect a lot of expensive things. You can be comfortable, and not struggle but you have to mind your finances. I wouldn't have told them my absolute minimum, and if it was $10 I would have told them $13. You have no room to negotiate now, and with a degree and the responsibility you should be in the $15-$18 range (depending on the job and such).

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Cashiers make 10 an hour.

 

[Insomniator]

10 an hour get the hell out of here, a college degree in anything is worth more than 10... even with no experience i think you could do better than file clerk...

 

[alkemyst]

15/hr full time with benefits is a lot different than $15/hr part time and no benefits.

It's like when delivery dudes talk how they are making $25-30/hr.

 

[ivan2]

even $15 an hour is too low for a position that comes with the risk to totally ruin the organization, they won't try to cut cost there, it's not logical. Don't low ball yourself and go for at least 15, if they like you they will pay.

 

[dmw16]

You messed up pretty bad. Sorry, not saying to be a d!ck, made similar mistakes.

When they ask what you want, you ask them what the range is. If you do get backed into naming a number ask for more than you want. You asked for 13 (which for a degreed job seems really low, you can make that at Best Buy as a tech) then said 10. Get ready for 10. 10/hr isn't going to go very far. I think you are going to have to find a way to get as much as possible and probably will have to walk for this offer unless you are totally strapped and need income.

 

[compman25]

You went to college, and you'll accept a job paying $1.45 more than minimum wage? Did you take any personal finance classes?

 

[SunnyD]

I usually say "How much ya got?" or something stupid like that as an ice breaker. To be honest, I usually leave it as "you can make an offer, and we'll go from there". If they press, I give then an answer of what I'd like to be making (even if it is unreasonable), yet finish up with "I've done some research on the area, cost of living, housing, etc., and I think I'd be comfortable with X" (in the middle of listed averages for the area).

 

[dbk]

I made 10.25 in high school

 

[Wheezer]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I usually say "How much ya got?" or something stupid like that as an ice breaker. To be honest, I usually leave it as "you can make an offer, and we'll go from there". If they press, I give then an answer of what I'd like to be making (even if it is unreasonable), yet finish up with "I've done some research on the area, cost of living, housing, etc., and I think I'd be comfortable with X" (in the middle of listed averages for the area).

this^^^^

as someone who has been on the other side of the table for many years and had to ask that question this kind of answer goes a long way...for me anyway:

#1- Humor...doesn't take himself too seriously.

#2 willing to negotiate

#3 does his homework and willing to put out the effort to research his options.

likely a well rounded candidate.

he may not get the big buck right away, but if that is the attitude in general it will not take long.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I usually say "How much ya got?" or something stupid like that as an ice breaker. To be honest, I usually leave it as "you can make an offer, and we'll go from there". If they press, I give then an answer of what I'd like to be making (even if it is unreasonable), yet finish up with "I've done some research on the area, cost of living, housing, etc., and I think I'd be comfortable with X" (in the middle of listed averages for the area).

this^^^^

as someone who has been on the other side of the table for many years and had to ask that question this kind of answer goes a long way...for me anyway:

#1- Humor...doesn't take himself too seriously.

#2 willing to negotiate

#3 does his homework and willing to put out the effort to research his options.

likely a well rounded candidate.

So when do I start?

 

[James Bond]

I got in a huge argument with an ex-girlfriend over a similar situation.

NEVER sell yourself short. I don't care how good the job is, how excited you are, how bad you want to work there, fuck that.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I usually say "How much ya got?" or something stupid like that as an ice breaker. To be honest, I usually leave it as "you can make an offer, and we'll go from there". If they press, I give then an answer of what I'd like to be making (even if it is unreasonable), yet finish up with "I've done some research on the area, cost of living, housing, etc., and I think I'd be comfortable with X" (in the middle of listed averages for the area).

this^^^^

as someone who has been on the other side of the table for many years and had to ask that question this kind of answer goes a long way...for me anyway:

#1- Humor...doesn't take himself too seriously.

#2 willing to negotiate

#3 does his homework and willing to put out the effort to research his options.

likely a well rounded candidate.

So when do I start?

And how much ya got?

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: JD50
FWIW, I never give out my real minimum.

this

 

[BassBomb]

I made 10CDN/hr on my first internship
second internship 15
third internship 19.75
fourth internship 18

all part of my degree requirements