The Worst Interview Question of Them All

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John66 of WA 7:31AM October 22, 2009

ontyime1.txt;4;5

hunHbeRviwZL of 12:16PM August 10, 2009

Nice article

arhiderrr of DE 9:04AM February 28, 2009

HillbillyBill is right. You shouldn't be at interview if you have no idea what a job pays before you go there.
You are either willing to accept their range, or you're not.
Your salary past is actually none of their business at all, but you'll probably end up telling them if they ask---so be prepared and don't hesitate or beat around the bush.

of 12:27PM August 28, 2008

Common sense?
If I'm hiring, I need to know what it will cost me.
If I'm applying, I want to know what the job pays.
What is to be gained by playing childish games--for either party?
If you want to play childish games with children---go home and play with your children.
If you want to run a business for profit, or land a job that you can support your family with--stop playing games.
It's too important to play with.

HillbillyBill of TN 9:19AM August 28, 2008

Those are great comments! Smart advice.....

Working Girl of WA 10:32PM August 27, 2008

I agree this is a terrible question, and also a stupid question for a company to ask if they don't want to offend their best candidates. It seems to telegraph an intent to low-ball, doesn't it?
However, maybe the company hopes to avoid wasting time (yours as well as theirs) if your expected salary range is very much higher than what they have in mind This could work in an applicant's favor too. Why go any further in the application process if you can smoke out, early on, that they hope to pay you in peanuts?
I prefer the option behind door number 3. Do your homework (don't guess, and don't get all wishful-thinky either!) -- find out what people IN YOUR AREA, doing similar jobs are making (there are lots of online sources, and you would also be smart to fine-tune even further by asking around, if you can.)
And always give a range rather than a hard number. This shows you are flexible, and helps them be flexible too. What you don't want to do is cut off negotiations prematurely.

Almostgotit.com of TN 8:58PM August 27, 2008

This IS a hard interview question! I get so flummoxed talking about money that I always get flustered when asked this question. Great suggestions for how to handle it, though!

Erika with Qvisory of WA 8:01PM August 27, 2008