Common Interview Questions & Answers

In interview process, salary expectation question may be asked at different points. It's better you to well prepared to answer this question. A wrong answer can cause a job offer with a salary that is too low. If you state a salary that is too high that may be out of the company's salary range and may result in lose of your opportunity .

1. Filling salary expectation section in an application form

If you want to fill the application containing a required field for 'salary expectation', type in a word like "negotiable" or "appropriate" or some similar answer that is relevant but is not a specific number. If you decide to use a number, then better you choose a number from the higher end of your range rather than the lower end, but keep in mind that being "expensive" may eliminate you from consideration, choose a number depending on the employer and their budget.

2. At the time of interview

If you don't have a better idea about what the job is like and if you want it. Then you can use this question as an opportunity to collect important information about the job and the salary grade.

Example:

Before I give you a number, I'd like to understand how you compensate employees and how this job fits into your compensation structure. I'm curious to know the salary grade for this position, the salary range and midpoint for that grade, and where that grade fits into your compensation system? That will give me a better idea of how this position fits into your structure and my career plans

At the end of your interview, you may get more about the job and the organization. When they ask you the salary-expectation question, If you don't have any idea about total compensation and the information about benefits then you can ask something like this,

I need to understand and evaluate the total compensation package before I give you a salary number. Could you share the standard benefits you provide?

Use your research to give you a number for your answer to this question:

Based on my research and the information you have provided, I believe that a salary in the range of $XX,XXX to $XX,XXX with 2 weeks of paid vacation and your other benefits would be appropriate.

This question usually comes at the beginning of the interview. In asking this question, interviewers are judging if you are an active or passive job seekers. Active job seeker means that you're actively looking for a job. Passive job seekers are people who are open to something new but haven't yet taken the step of beginning an active job search. While they may have decided it is time to get a new job, they are committed enough to their current position and organization to continue working while they look for a new opportunity. Remember to be confident , you want to make a good impression.Considering this, you want to be strategic in the way you answer this question.

Points to Emphasize

Depending upon how you heard about the position, there are different ways that you can answer the question. Still, there are certain points to mention that can help you to properly answer such type of inquiry.

• Clearly state the source from which you heard of the position, but do not go into elaborate detail, other than the name of the individual, company or resource.
• Explain what aspects drew you to the position.Remember to talk about the duties of the position or values of the company you liked.
• Briefly state why you feel qualified for the job.
• Express your excitement about the possibility of obtaining the position.

Mistakes You Should Avoid

Review these mistakes to avoid when answering this question.

• Even if you heard about the position from an employ, do not go into great detail about your relationship with that employee.
• Do not give vague one word answers.
• Do not say you're not sure or don't remember
• If you do not recall what job board you found the position through, do not dwell on that fact or make something up.
• If you heard of a job from an employee who is on rocky terms with the company or recently departed on negative terms, do not mention their name.

Sample Answer

One way to properly answer inquiries about how you heard about the position might be:

I heard about this position through a current employee, Jane Doe. She was a previous co-worker of mine at XYZ Company where I served as a project manager. After reviewing the position and researching the company, I felt qualified to fulfill the position and excited about the possibility of joining such a reputable company.

Remember, the question is asking more than just who sent you. Make sure that you address why you applied to the position and how you qualify. Addressing these things can help to avoid certain additional questions and possibly help you to secure the position.

In asking this question, The interviewer wants to see 'how much research and preparation you've done for this interview?', 'if you can describe the company well as an informed outsider?' and 'if you can translate what you know about the company into expressing interest?'. So if you really want to impress them, be ready to get specific with a couple facts you read about their company while preparing for the interview. If you don't seem like you know anything about them, you'll come across as desperate - somebody who will take any job they can find. And that's going to make you unattractive to any good employers out there.

Do:

• Make sure to research the company before the interview (on their website, their LinkedIn page, and Google)
• Understand What products or services does the company, provide, and who are their clients?,what they sell and how they make money ?
• Try to have some sense of their company size. How many offices do they have, and how many employees do they have?
• What are the company's goals, and what is their overall mission?
• In your answer, show you've done research and show that you're excited about interviewing with their particular company
• Company history-basics about the founder(s) and when the company launched

Don't:

• Say you don't know anything
• Do not say anything negative about the company, or make guesses about what the company does.
• Say facts that are incorrect or you aren't sure about.
• Do not give an essay-like answer to the question-sincere and simple answers work best.

Good answer examples:

From what I read, your company is one of the leaders in providing security software to other businesses. I read the list of clients on your website. Do you mostly serve Fortune 500 clients? I saw a couple big Fortune 500 companies mentioned on the list, including ___ and ___.

You're one of the largest investment banks in the US. Your headquarters is in Raleigh, NC, and you have 25,000 employees worldwide based on what I read on your website.

While answering this question you focus on your experience and skills with the specific role. It's better to add a few words about the good/positive image of the company. Keep in mind that you should try to construct an answer that will explain who you are and why you are there.

You want to start by describing why you're interested in that specific job. Then focus on why you want to work at this company . Thus, your response needs to show : How your skills match the role and How you fit into the culture . Show that you are a good fit and talk more about what you can do for the company. Then express how your skills and experience can help the company move forward .

Here are the appropriate responses:

• Given the feeling of significance of this career field; it has constantly made me need to be in this career, in light of the fact that I can't think about some other activity profession that is so vital to society.
• I would like to gain experience in this line of work because I feel that it will perfectly suit my ABC skills.
• This position challenges me to keep up with the cutting edge of technologies
• I feel I should have direct hands-on knowledge/experience in this position/at this stage of my career.
• I would like to develop my EFG skills to acquire in-depth experience in my profession for the benefit of this organization.
• This job in such a stable company offers long-term career development and this is what I am looking for.
• I see this company not only as a positive work environment, but also as a good opportunity to have my skills and qualifications make a difference.

• This challenging job will allow me to utilize my ABC skills.
• Being part of a research and development team is a job experience I always love to have.
• I believe that this job will help me assume another level of responsibility in my career.
• The job is tailored to my AFG skills and previous experience.
• I want to be a part of a company on its way up as this company already launched several top products.
• I believe that this entry-level job may enhance my professional experience.
• This company is known as a company that rewards employees who deliver good results.
• The company's good reputation and its successful strategies and values make everyone want to work for such a company.
• This position provokes me to stay aware of the forefront of advances.
• This job is a good fit for what I've been doing and enjoying throughout my career. It offers a mix of short-term projects and long-term goals. My organizational skills allow me to successfully multitask and complete both kinds of projects.
• I have admired this company's successful strategies and mission for years. Your emphasis on creating a relationship between your company and the surrounding community have brought you success everywhere you have opened an office. There are values I greatly admire.

The best approach to answering this question is to focus on your education, work experience, skills, aptitudes and abilities which differentiate you from your competition. Try to talk about your problem solving abilities and how you'll help them. What will be better for them if they hire you? What will you improve for them?

And show you've done your research. Make it clear that you know what this position involves, and you're ready to perform the tasks.

Do:

• Be confident in your skills and abilities
• Talk about specific things you can help them do or achieve if they hire you
• Do your research before the interview and understand their needs, so you can "tailor" your answers and target the specific things they'll need if they hire you in this role

Don't:

• Say "I don't know"
• Say 'You should hire whoever you want'
• Give a generic answer that'd fit any company. You really need to "tailor" this to the specific duties you'll be performing in this specific job. Otherwise your answer will not impress them.

Good example answer:

For experienced candidates : "Because I'm the best person for the job. Because I have all of the required qualifications that you are asking for in this job. The education, the experience, the industry experience. But I also bring a passion to the job that makes me the best person for the job. Why? Because that passion translates into results. I really love what I do. Let me give you an example---"

For entry level candidates: "Because I'm the best person for the job. I know you are interviewing other students with similar qualifications in terms of my degree and my internship. Yet I was awarded the Employee of the Month award as an intern this past summer and was the first intern ever to receive that award. I was given that award over all other nominations of their full-time staff. That award was given due to my delivery on a project that no one else had been able to successfully complete. I not only delivered the project, but I did it while also working on two other projects, both of which were completed during job one summer as an intern. Let me tell you about the project where I won the award----"

The main reason interviewers ask this question is to identify if your strengths meet the needs of the company and the job's responsibilities. Your response will help the employer decide whether or not you are the strongest applicant for the position.