Question:

In their job posting ads, some employers ask for salary requirements. How do I tell them what my salary requirements are?

First Answer:

I’d be wary about classified ads that don’t provide a great deal of information and list salary requirements as necessary to apply. This usually means that either there isn't a real job, and the company is just "fishing" to see what kinds of skills can be "bought" at certain salaries, or; the company is so small that they cannot process lots of applications and are using a salary cutoff point to automatically knock the higher-priced candidates and lessen the amount of resumes they have to review.

The cardinal rule is: the first person who states a salary, loses. Don't let that be you. NEVER state a salary requirement in your resume, your cover letter, on the , or during interview process until you are at the stage where you are sure that you're a final candidate. Even then, divert the issue of salary until the company has made an opening bid. If you have done your advance homework, you will have a good idea of what the position for which you're being considered is paying. If you are asked: "how much are you looking for?" you should focus on the fact that you think the job is a great opportunity and you would be an asset to the company.

If pressed for an answer, let a prospective employer know you’ve done your homework and you're very aware of what adequate compensation should. If you don't get the salary offer you expected, then it's time to negotiate, be candid, and ask them to raise the financial compensation to what you consider an acceptable level for your skills and services.

Some "experts" will suggest that if you really want the job but the salary isn't acceptable, you should accept the job and ask that your salary be reviewed in six months. I personally believe that you shouldn’t accept a job if you’re not generally satisfied with the OVERALL package of opportunity, salary, and benefits–you may not get what is “promised” in the future. The benefits should be added ON TOP of whatever you are offered as a base pay is, not factored into it. My E-book You Are The Product - How to Sell Yourself to Employers has an entire section on negotiating employment which helps you get what you want and leave everyone feeling good about it. You might find it helpful, too.

-- Alison Blackman Dunham, life & career expert, columnist, personal public relations consultant, half of THE ADVICE SISTERS®, and the author of the ASK ALISON career advice column.

Second Answer:

Here's what I wrote about this subject in my book, Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates:

You will sometimes encounter ads that ask you to send your salary requirement or salary history. The employer is trying to find out if the company can afford you or, conversely, if your current salary indicates a much lower-level employee than the company plans to hire. In the case of the salary history, the prospective employer is trying to determine how often the candidate been promoted, to what levels, and how much of a raise accompanied each promotion.

If salary is the most important issue to you, you may feel comfortable complying with requests for salary requirements or histories. After all, if the company is not willing to pay you what you feel you are worth, you probably wouldn't be happy working there. The only snag is that you could sell yourself short. The company could have been willing to pay more than your stated requirement.

As a new graduate, when asked to supply a salary requirement or history you can:

1. Ignore the request, which is obviously risky.
2. Acknowledge the request but say you are uncomfortable discussing salary in a cover letter and would prefer to do so in a face-to-face meeting. Assure the employer that salary will not be a problem.
3. Acknowledge the request and say your salary requirement is negotiable. Research shows that most candidates who choose options 1, 2, or 3 do not automatically get screened out - even if the ad states that candidates who fail to provide salary information won't be considered. If your qualifications are a good fit, and you write a brilliant cover letter, most employers won't put you in the reject pile because you ignored the salary request.
4. Provide your salary request BUT only after you have done enough research to know what you are worth in the marketplace. Give a very broad range and make sure you will be more than comfortable with the salary at the bottom end of the range.

-- Katharine Hansen, former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for the Web site, Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and prepares job-search correspondence as chief writer for Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters.

Third Answer:

This hot potato has been passed around with no conclusive "best way" solution having been found. It is my belief the question is best addressed in the cover letter rather than as a separate page or within the resume.

There is a school of thought that says ignore the request. This will likely get you dropped from consideration as this request is often used to qualify applicants. It is I feel a shortsighted approach by the employer as it may disqualify many valuable candidates from consideration. Then again, this may well be the reason to in making the request.

Another possibility is to acknowledge the question but evade answering it by saying something for example:

"My recent contributions to my employers reflect the contributions made in the context of my position. I feel certain your salary policies are in keeping with competitive industry levels and will be fair and equitable." This response may get you screened out as well.

Another thought is to acknowledge the request and provide a suitable salary range. Indicate a statement that salary is not your principle focus; this example may help:

"My compensation is in the mid-$30,000 range with expectations of earnings in line with industry levels and commensurate with experience and knowledge expectations."

Finally, simply state your current earnings and let it go at that.

As I said in opening there is just no good or best answer to this question. Ideally, the salary discussion will be addressed in the interview where you will be able to assess how much you want the position under discussion, gauge the reaction of the interviewer while giving yourself an opening to adjust your position if needed.

-- Robert C. Resch, Career Center, Triton College.

Fourth Answer:

To determine what you are worth in the marketplace, an excellent tool is our Salary Wizard.

-- Steven Rothberg, President and Founder of CollegeRecruiter.com.

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