Is it appropiate to email a potential employer asking what they are paying before applying for job?

Question

I am actively looking for a new job, but don't really want to waste time filling out applications and going on interviews for a postion that is not going to pay what I want. When is it appropiate to ask what the salary is?

Answer 1

yes it is. Ask for the range in pay

Trust me I'm in HR... I'd rather have you know than be surprised later on. I'm not into wasting time.

Answer 2

No, you should not ask for a salary range before the employer has stated that they are interested in considering you for a position. It is a very aggressive move and may put someone off on even considering you. The better route to take is to submit your resume and cover letter to an employer if you are interested in a position. Include with the two documents a salary history of what you have been making, or if you don't want to do that then include a sentence in your cover letter stating the salary range that you are requesting. That way they don't waste their time in contacting you or considering you further if you are out of their range.

Answer 3

I agree with the others. Answer truthfully: "Yes." Be prepared with a truthful response if asked what happened. Another answer here has a good suggestion--along the lines of: "It just wasn't a good match." You don't want to bad-mouth the other employer. But turn it into a positive: "I knew it wouldn't work out and I felt it was better for both of us if I acted promptly, rather than being a bad fit for the company." Then be prepared to explain why the same problem won't arise with your new potential employer. Hope that helps.

Answer 4

You should contact the company's HR office and ask for the range of salary the job is offering. Don't wait until the end of your interview to just find out it doesn't pay what you want. Not only does it waste your time, but it wastes the company's time as well.

Answer 5

Never have salary information be the first question you ask. It appears that your only interest in the company is your own personal gain. That may be true, but I can guarantee you that you'll never get an interview that way. First, get the interview, find out what the job is about, and see if you even want it. Yes, it may be a waste of time, but that's the only way to find out if you want a job.

Answer 6

What kind of job are you applying for?

Generally though, it is usually not appropriate to bring up salary or wages are until the second interview.

If you do feel the need to ask about it earlier than that (and I don't recommend it), don't do it at the beginning of the conversation and be sure to ask good questions about the job, the tasks, the company, etc. so you seem genuinely interested in the job and the company.

Answer 7

No. it is tacky.
What you can do is to only consider positions that you know pay within your "range". For example if you are currently a assistant store manager at a national boutique store, you know that similqar positions at similar companies will pay in the same range.
You may, in replying to an ad, say, or state in a cover letter, what your salary range expectations are. That allows the employer to determine whether or not to grant you an interview.

Answer 8

Instead of emailing, I would give them a call. This is hard for people to write down, but if you talk to them you may be able to get a sense for the range. Just explain what you told us, an employer should be able to understand that. If not then you may not want to work there anyway.

Answer 9

Only if it's a minimum wage type job. That's why there are INTERVIEWS. They evaluate you, you evaluate them, then a pay scale is discussed. Then, you negotiate!

Answer 10

I would just tell them you just was inquiring about the pay scale. I would ask asap! Why put it off any waste your time and theirs!