As you have probably surmised from my lengthy absence on this blog, the recruitment market has really picked up this year….
In an earlier post I mentioned I would give some advice on how to work with your recruiter. I recently read the article below where a candidate suggested withholding salary information from both your recruiter and the potential employer. ?I strongly disagree with this advice.
Salary negotiations are one of the main reasons to work with a recruiter. ?
You should be as honest as possible with your recruiter about your current remuneration package and your expectations. ?The recruiter in turn should adopt the most appropriate strategy depending on the client?s budget and negotiating style. ?Candidates assume clients are always able to stretch their packages to secure the best talent. ?Frankly, this is not the case. ?If an employer won?t pay more than 1 million, and you won?t except less than 1.3 million for example, then it would be better not to pursue the role and waste everybody?s time.
It is the recruiters? role to help both parties arrive at the correct number and you should trust in them to do their job. ?You should clearly therefore only work with recruiters that you do trust and are comfortable being honest with.
One thing I do agree with is that you should avoid giving a direct answer to an employer about your salary expectations if possible. ?You should ask your recruiter how to handle such a question before you have an interview and your recruiter should have already told their client not to ask the question in the first place.
I hope this is useful and will hopefully be able to blog more regularly from now on.
http://news.efinancialcareers.hk/newsandviews_item/newsItemId-32044?om_rid=DZzXZ3&om_mid=_BNr6X6B8acX9L6
The Candidate: When should I mention money during my job search?
The Candidate http://news.eFinancialCareers.hk/newsSearch/type-newsandviews-author-The_Candidate.htm
What is the best time to discuss your salary expectations during the hiring process?
When recruiters contact you about your interest in a role, they inevitably have two questions: What is your current salary? What is your expected salary?
I believe this is a requirement they have to fulfill for the hiring company. It may not be productive for the recruiter to spend time with a candidate who wants a package that is not within the bank?s limits.
The big compensation question
From a candidate?s perspective, however, is it really a good idea to spell out your compensation expectations even before you get an interview, or should you wait until later in the process? Does it spoil your chances if your expectations are too great?
I have discussed this with a few fellow job seekers and the general opinion is that you may get rejected automatically, if your hopes are high compared with the role.
Looking at salary surveys from recruitment firms, the compensation outlook for 2011 seems positive. These reports suggest we are in a candidate-driven job market and will therefore be able to negotiate decent pay rises.
The salary hype isn?t right
However, I believe not everyone shares this opinion. A few months ago a recruiter asked if I would consider accepting a below-par increment in order to secure a good role. If the market outlook is as great as the surveys indicate, such a compromise should not be necessary.
I had another similar experience during an interview. When the hiring manager asked me what my salary expectations were, I replied that I wanted a market-average increase of 10 to 15 per cent. She seemed to think this was too high because she asked me if I would take the job if the offer were lower.
Here how to cope
I discussed this with a career counselor and she advised that I should never discuss salary expectations until I reach the end of the interview process, or until after I receive an offer. If the interviewer asks about salary expectations at an initial stage, these are two of her suggested answers:
? ?I?m interested in the opportunity and I would like you to make me your the best offer.?
? ?Salary is only one factor and not the most important. I?m more interested in growth opportunities, company culture, etc.?
Basically, you avoid giving a direct answer.
If the recruiter or hiring manager knows what you are currently earning, they should have an idea of what you are expecting. The emphasis you place on money depends on your priorities; a new job with better prospects, or just better compensation. Figure out what is most important to you and let that drive your strategy.