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What do you do when your interviewing and they wont give you a salary range?

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Photo of Shamie T.

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03/05/2008 Shamie "Go ahead and make mine Spicy" T. says:

I have gone through two interviews with a company and I really really want to work for them but they wont give me a salary range. I told them I am open and flexible..but they kept drilling me for what I want to make. I have a number but I don't want to say it first. Especially because I'm new to the area and the cost of living is so much higher. Help!
Photo of Michael C.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Michael C. says:

Hmm... I think you need to provide details...

What kind of position is this for?
How many years' experience do you have?
Do you have any significant achievements in your career thus far?
Is this a start-up company?
 If yes, was it recently funded?  How much funding was received?
Will you be receiving any stocks or options?  How many shares, and what is the vesting schedule?  What's the strike price?  Do you have confidence that the company will be able to exceed that strike price when your shares vest?

I'm sure there are other questions, but those would be the first few to go thru my head...
Photo of Shamie T.

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03/05/2008 Shamie "Go ahead and make mine Spicy" T. says:

Retail Manager. I am overqualified but really want to work there.  I think that might be why they want me to give a # first?
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03/05/2008

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a registered yelper.

Photo of Donna P.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Donna P. says:

As someone coming from the HR side of things, all I can really say is the reasoning is likely that they want to make sure the job will be a good fit for you, which is why they won't give you a number first (as annoying as that is). They are looking for your minimum...so give them your actual minimum, but state that you're still negotiable and really want the job. Just research the going rate for your title and experience.

Trust me, you'll only annoy your potential employer if you won't answer one of their questions and they'll hire someone else who isn't as stubborn.
Photo of Walter P.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Walter P. says:

I'm very much upfront with salary expectations.    Anything below $100K, i'm not interviewing.
Photo of Donna P.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Donna P. says:

hahaha walter, you just volunteered to buy all the drinks at the next UYE! lol
Photo of Shamie T.

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03/05/2008 Shamie "Go ahead and make mine Spicy" T. says:

Donna- I really appreciate this advice. The problem is that I am not trying to be stubborn, It's more that I am new to the area and I don't have a minimum yet because I don't know what the average rate of pay/cost of living is here in the bay area (except that it is a lot higher than what I am used too) So I feel like I am in a serious predicament.. I really want to work at the company and now I think I might of upset them.. yikes
Photo of Walter P.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Walter P. says:

donna....  WHAT?!!!    I'll make sure the UYE is under 10 people.
Photo of Mary M.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Mary "Robotron Hero" M. says:

J -

It's really important that you come up with your own acceptable $ range.  Otherwise you could end up accepting an offer that is lower than you can live with.  So start thinking about numbers.  Imagine if they said $100K per year.  Is that too low?  If yes then think about a higher number until you figure out what is the absolute minimum you can deal with.  If $100K per year is not too low then keep thinking about lower numbers until you find your minimum.
Photo of Donna P.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Donna P. says:

hey J, that all makes sense. Just Google whatever your job title is and "salary"...a few sites should come up that will calculate this for you (depending on the city/region/state/etc). You have to do a little digging, but that should help you. Good luck!
Photo of Mary M.

Elite '08

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03/05/2008 Mary "Robotron Hero" M. says:

Also I should mention that the "name your price" thing is an old HR tactic to get someone for less $ because candidates will often lowball just to get the job.  It's really tough to counteroffer when the starting price was your own.  

But sometimes, for new positions anyway or for positions that are hard to quantify, a company just doesn't know what the market rate might be.  In those cases I couldn't tell you a strategy.  If you go too low you might be disappointed.  If you go too high they'll think you're an ass.

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