Comments on: The answer to the toughest interview question http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:26:55 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Should I Tell Recruiters What I Make? « Mint Resumes – Job Search, Career Info and Resume Writing http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-221650 Should I Tell Recruiters What I Make? « Mint Resumes – Job Search, Career Info and Resume Writing Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:56:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-221650 [...] What’s most important is to remember this rule – don’t name a number first.  Ever. [...] [...] What's most important is to remember this rule – don't name a number first.  Ever. [...]

]]> By: Maryellen http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-221474 Maryellen Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:08:17 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-221474 Prime - If they have asked for it twice, you will need to supply it - it is part of their process to acquire that information. If you lied about what it is, your integrity is on the line. If you did not lie - but just have not disclosed it yet, then just do it. The issue becomes "what are you hiding?" the human part of the process. It's as simple as this - you're at a party and meet someone new. "so, where you from?" "Around." "oh, you're a local?" "no, I moved around a lot." "Where'd you start out?" "I'd rather not say." o . . .k, whatever. This conversation is over, because the person is being so odd and secretive. They clearly don't care about engaging with the other person. It's a simple question with a simple answer. Previous salary is a simple hiring/business question - not unlike, are you currently employed? who was your last employer? Prime – If they have asked for it twice, you will need to supply it – it is part of their process to acquire that information. If you lied about what it is, your integrity is on the line. If you did not lie – but just have not disclosed it yet, then just do it. The issue becomes "what are you hiding?" the human part of the process.

It's as simple as this – you're at a party and meet someone new. "so, where you from?" "Around." "oh, you're a local?" "no, I moved around a lot." "Where'd you start out?" "I'd rather not say." o . . .k, whatever. This conversation is over, because the person is being so odd and secretive. They clearly don't care about engaging with the other person. It's a simple question with a simple answer. Previous salary is a simple hiring/business question – not unlike, are you currently employed? who was your last employer?

]]> By: prime http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-221304 prime Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:34:15 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-221304 Hi everyone. I already passed the interview and negotiation process with the hiring manager. I am now exchanging mails to the HR people and they insist to get my current salary which I already decline twice to provide. But the hiring manager advise me that their HR needed the figures to come up with their compensation offer. Do I need to provide my current salary? Please advise. Thanks. Hi everyone. I already passed the interview and negotiation process with the hiring manager. I am now exchanging mails to the HR people and they insist to get my current salary which I already decline twice to provide. But the hiring manager advise me that their HR needed the figures to come up with their compensation offer. Do I need to provide my current salary? Please advise. Thanks.

]]> By: Medisoft http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-216716 Medisoft Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:48:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-216716 This is very good information to know. It's hard sometimes to ask about salary without sounding greedy, but it's really what most are working for, right? This is very good information to know. It's hard sometimes to ask about salary without sounding greedy, but it's really what most are working for, right?

]]> By: Jimmy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-2/#comment-214857 Jimmy Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:22:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-214857 Lisa, Since you and the other HR pros out there are so pressed for time, why not save a lot of time and aggr for all parties concerned and simply post a salary range, or at least a starting salary. That way, jobseekers like me can decide at first glance whether or not to even bother applying in the first place. So if these people who don't state a salary annoy you so much...you know what the solution is (that, or find another line of work that's not so annoying). Lisa,
Since you and the other HR pros out there are so pressed for time, why not save a lot of time and aggr for all parties concerned and simply post a salary range, or at least a starting salary. That way, jobseekers like me can decide at first glance whether or not to even bother applying in the first place. So if these people who don't state a salary annoy you so much…you know what the solution is (that, or find another line of work that's not so annoying).

]]> By: Juan http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-214391 Juan Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:53:06 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-214391 Well, I'm a Latin American living in Canada, I was shocked in my first interview in Toronto when one of the first questions being asked by the interviewer (by phone) was "what are your salary expectations", when clearly I didn't have a clue. In my experience in Latin America salary negotiation comes later in the process, not in the first interview. In another interview when the same question was asked, I answeared a range, and the recruiter told me that I should value my experience and post-graduate education, and lectured me that I should ask for much more, which left me a feeling as if I was an insect. Saying a lower salary expectation that the company's range will discualify for the job, as being perceived as a second rate candidate. With that experience, I did some research as to find how much I am valued (payscale), and knowking my value it would then be my decision if I go for less or not. Well, I'm a Latin American living in Canada, I was shocked in my first interview in Toronto when one of the first questions being asked by the interviewer (by phone) was "what are your salary expectations", when clearly I didn't have a clue. In my experience in Latin America salary negotiation comes later in the process, not in the first interview. In another interview when the same question was asked, I answeared a range, and the recruiter told me that I should value my experience and post-graduate education, and lectured me that I should ask for much more, which left me a feeling as if I was an insect. Saying a lower salary expectation that the company's range will discualify for the job, as being perceived as a second rate candidate. With that experience, I did some research as to find how much I am valued (payscale), and knowking my value it would then be my decision if I go for less or not.

]]> By: Money talks « Musings of an Abstract Aucklander http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-214125 Money talks « Musings of an Abstract Aucklander Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:18:30 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-214125 [...] that you should never disclose how much you currently get paid to a potential new employer. Whoever names their number first in an interview loses the upper hand. And it also shows your lack of experience at negotiation. (I [...] [...] that you should never disclose how much you currently get paid to a potential new employer. Whoever names their number first in an interview loses the upper hand. And it also shows your lack of experience at negotiation. (I [...]

]]> By: orion http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-213384 orion Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:10:29 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-213384 Go to Glassdoor.com, find your current position, and give them a range between mid and top of that level. Higher in range, of course, if the new job will be paying higher than the old. As for what range you will end up in with the new job, ignore that for now. After a year or two you can start pushing for higher figures. Go to Glassdoor.com, find your current position, and give them a range between mid and top of that level. Higher in range, of course, if the new job will be paying higher than the old. As for what range you will end up in with the new job, ignore that for now. After a year or two you can start pushing for higher figures.

]]> By: Doug http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-210966 Doug Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:58:53 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-210966 Regarding the "Previous Salary" question... I'm thinking of being strait forward and simply stating that I'm not willing to disclose that information. Anything wrong with that? Regarding the "Previous Salary" question… I'm thinking of being strait forward and simply stating that I'm not willing to disclose that information. Anything wrong with that?

]]> By: Investments http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/comment-page-3/#comment-206722 Investments Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:50:31 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/19/the-answer-to-the-toughest-interview-question/#comment-206722 These are some great tips. It is hard not to fall in the "trap" and tell the person about to hire you what you expect. The best approach would be to let them talk first about what they are prepared to pay. Also, it is not hard to know about what the average company pays for a specific position. And yes if you cant agree on a salary there might be other things you can negotiate. These are some great tips. It is hard not to fall in the "trap" and tell the person about to hire you what you expect. The best approach would be to let them talk first about what they are prepared to pay. Also, it is not hard to know about what the average company pays for a specific position. And yes if you cant agree on a salary there might be other things you can negotiate.

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