How do you negotiate a higher salary in a first interview?

Question

I have a first interview tomorrow, and during the phone interview, I was told that the position offered a slightly lower salary than what I'm making now. I don't want to be offensive, but I don't want to leave my current job for a lower paying one even though it's a better fit (financially, I can't). Do I just suck it up and take the lower pay or are there any suggestions on how to negotiate to where I'm at?

Answer 1

NEVER bring up salary or hourly pay on a first interview. I've been on BOTH sides of this situation & know firsthand what it can do to the interview.

When salary or hourly pay is negotiatied or even discussed during the first interview, the person or people conducting the interview will make a notation about this, either on the application, resume or their own notepad. More often than not, the notation is negative, to pass this person up for the job & move on, to circular file the resume and/or application, to end the interview as quickly as possible, etc.

I got some training in Human Resources from a job in the past to learn how the hiring process works. The subject of money is a BIG turn off for a lot of employers in the first interview. That interview is to find out about the applicant. They want to know if you have the skills & experience to work for them. They want to know if you'll fit into the company long term. They want to get to know your strengths & weaknesses. During my HR training for hiring people, I got to observe several first interviews. I saw several potentially awesome employees not get the job simply due to the fact that they brought up salary. Salary information is best brought up in the second or third interviews. Those usually mean you're seriously being considered for the job & they need to find out more about you.

Financially, you CAN accept a lower paying job. NEVER ever corner yourself into a certain amount so you can have that IPOD, new cell phone, bigger or better car, house, etc. Sure things would be tight. BUT you'll make ends meet simply by cutting back on some expenses like movies, dining out, Starbucks, etc. I've taken several jobs that have paid less than I needed to get by on. BUT by cutting a few things back, my son & I survived just fine. We NEVER starved or went to bed hungry, either. ALL the bills were paid & we learned to entertain ourselves with movies we owned, board games & other inexpensive activities. Almost all the jobs were worth the pay cut as I made up the initial loss in raises and/or bonuses. I'm not suggesting you take a job that pays less than you need to pay your basics, rent/mortgage, power, gas & water. Find out where you can cut costs & go from there.

Answer 2

Never negotiate salary at the first interview. The first interview is for the employer to take a hard look at you, base on your skill set, compentancies and attitude. You know what the job is offering so the employer will assume that you think this is acceptable by taking the interview. If the employer believes your a match for the job then either a 2nd interview or a job offer will ensue, this is when it is acceptable to begin negotiating. Employers are willing to negotiate, especially if they believe your the best candidate and the one they want. But all companies have salalry guidelines, and as a rule of thumb most starting salaries advertised on the open market (soliciting for first interviews) are about 10% higher then current employees in those same jobs (or similar ones) are making, so an employer will not be willing to go much higher unless they really believe you can offer something to justify this high compensation verses the peer group inside their organization.

But again, you won't get to any of this unless they think your the right person, which is what the first interview is for. If they come back to you after the first then this is the right time to discuss salary. If you try at the first, it is the quickest way to be scratched off the list, or at a minimum difficult to overcome. Even if they bring up money just say " I'm here so that you can take a good look at me, and I a look at the organization, to ensure we are a "fit". If we both believe we are then we can discuss salary when we get to the next step" Your may even get more then you expected by acting as a professional.

Good luck >

Answer 3

Generally speaking, if they bring up the salary question ask them what the range is. If it is just what they told you, then you need to decide if the fit is worth the lower pay. You say the salary is slightly lower. How much is happiness in a job where you spend the majority of your days worth to you? Find out what the benefits are. Do they pay for additional training? Is it possible to be promoted? Do you fit in with the culture of the company? There is more to salary than just money. Also, the best line I've heard yet when asked about expected salary is that you've done research on this position on salary.com and careerbuilder's salary guide and according to those this position pays a median of $$$...I am certain that with my qualifications and what I can bring to the company that I will be paid fairly. Check out the negotiations area of the three resources I've listed. And remember...a first interview is a time to figure out whether you want to be at the company or not. Ask questions. You're interviewing them too. If at all possible do not bring up the salary issue until you are actually offered the job. Good luck!

Answer 4

If they ask you during the first interview what you are making now and what kind of salary you expect, be sure to be honest. They may not have done their homework (current salary surveys, etc.) and have unrealistic expectations of the quality of employee they can expect for the salary they are offering. I have run into this situation before. All employers want to get the most for the least amount of money, but in a sellers' (i.e., employees') market, or if you have an unusual skill, you may be in a position to negotiate a better deal.

If the subject of salary doesn't come up during the interview, I'd say to just wait until they make you an offer. At that point, you know that they already want you, and they will probably be willing to come up a bit if it means the difference between you taking the job or not.

Answer 5

This is a tough one and has to be treated very carefully. Chances are if they told you in the phone interview what the salary is then that's what it is. Going into this you must know where you stand. If you go in and say that you MUST have a higher salary then you most likely won't get called back. If it were me I'd go through the interview and at sometime bring up the fact that you ahve reservations about the salary. Maybe ask about the opportunities to grow within the position. If you decide you do want the job regardless of the salary say something like, "While the salary is a little lower than I was seeking, I feel like this opportunity will give the chance to grow professionally. I'm more concerned about finding a job that has a future than I am about the current salary."

Answer 6

A first interview is not the time to negotiate a higher salary. Your goal should be to get the job offer as the best candidate and then after comparing Health Care costs, bonus? etc, Then determine what you must have to take the job. If the discussion of salary comes up from the employer, then say what you need to accept. Focus the interview on why your are the most qualified and how hiring you will help your boss be more successful. The employer must want you to be willing to negotiate. Tom

Answer 7

There are so many factors involved in negotiating hte best salary and even then you will not be sure if that is the best. However, to make the issue simple, the first and foremost important factor in negotiating the best salary is your current situation. Itis if you have a job and how much do you like your current job. If you really want out of hte current job then it will be a trade off to go on for hte nex tone and forget about teh high salary idea. The worse is if you currently do not have a job and badly want the job.
So the take home message: You can only negotiate a btter salary as if you really want the job and the best fit for the job, there is no one else who i sbetter than you and then you are welling to take the risk loosing it in negotiation. It is always easier to negotiate salary with full pocket. I hope I made my point

Answer 8

I hate to be the Devil's Advocate here, but one should have realistic expectations about their work situation. If a company actually believes that hiring someone with a certain level of skill and expertise for less pay than is currently available is an acceptable practice, I doubt that company will be realistic about other practices, too. There are cases where a company/employer will actually pay MORE to hire someone with the skills and expertise they're looking for, and this situation will benefit both parties.

If you explain that you can't work for this potential employer unless the pay is better, I figure only two things will happen. First, they decide that the investment is worth the return, and raise the salary accordingly. Second, they don't hire you, and you're no worse off than before you interviewed for the job. They'll be the ones who will lose, not you, after all.

Answer 9

Don't start your negotiations at a first interview. "Slightly lower" salary may be offset by tremendously better and less expensive benefits. For example, my place of business paid half of my kids' college education -anyplace they wanted to go. They give me 12% of my salary to invest in my 403b, and that's whether or not I choose to participate. My health benefits are insanely inexpensive, and when I retire, I will not have to pay any more than I do now. You have to look ahead and see what your needs will be down the road. Believe me, you could make more money, but if you won't put it away for retirement, you'll lose in the end.
Sure, you should negotiate - but wait until you have an offer. As an HR professional, I do not want money to be the first topic of conversation during the first interview.

Answer 10

What most people don't realize is that THEY are more responsible for their salary increases than their employers. If I hire someone, and they dazzle me right away, I am usually EAGER to give them more money, because I see the person as an asset and an investment. But, I still do reviews based on my companies review policies. This is necessary so that there is no favoritism shown.

The best advice I can offer is find out clearly what the companies salary review policy is. Ask how and when they do reviews, and if they are based on performance, or cost-of-living increase. These are all acceptable questions. If you do bring up salary, try and do it candidly, and assure the interviewer that you are well aware that your performance, and ability to make the company money by doing a good job, are foremost in your mind.

Answer 11

different criteria for how people get paid, and when they get raises. With some jobs, especially large corporations, govts, or schools, salaries are part of the annual budgets or union contracts, and can't be negotiated. Smaller businesses usually have more flexibility.

What most people don't realize is that THEY are more responsible for their salary increases than their employers. If I hire someone, and they dazzle me right away, I am usually EAGER to give them more money, because I see the person as an asset and an investment. But, I still do reviews based on my companies review policies. This is necessary so that there is no favoritism shown.