How do I bring salary up in an interview (if the interviewer doesn't bring it up first?)

If it’s a first interview, the general rule is not not bring it up. It’s a more appropriate question for a second interview. However, if you are really needing the information you could always ask what the salary range for the position is.

I would by no means ever tell an interviewer that you need to have a certain amount of money to take a job. Keep that information to yourself. If you bring that up it will sound like you are just looking for the money, not the job. If you have a great interview and then get a job offer from it and if the pay isn’t what you need then you can tell them that is a why you wouldn’t be accepting the job offer.

Good Luck!

Thanks Hollywood, that’s a really good idea.

I had a bad experience with my last job, in which my boss never mentioned pay, and I was so desperate for a job that I never asked, until I got my first pay check and found out I made minimum wage. I just don’t want that to happen again.

I think the idea of not asking until the second interview is passe. Hd is exactly right on how: “Can you give me the salary range for the job?” Just be prepared if you raise the issue for the interviewer to ask you what your salary requirement it. If that happens, you can just say, “Oh, the salary rrange that you mentioned is fine. It’s in the ballpark.”

Do not ask about pay in the interview. Hollywood is right. You only talk about pay once you have an offer and then you ALWAYS say you need time to think and ask for more. The best thing to do is to try to sleuth the pay scale before you even have your interview, but not from the people who would be hiring you. Do you know anyone who works there? You could also ask the HR person and maybe not even give your name, just remember to be VERY professional!

Since I have never had a second interview in my life, I would ask during the first one. During an interview, I feel that I am interviewing the employer as well as they are me. I look at it more as a meeting to determine if the job and I are compatible. I do a little research ahead of time by calling and asking what a similar postion pays. (I don’t give my name when I make this call.) If the hiring manager doesn’t bring up pay, I ask at the end when he asks if I have any questions.

@ scamp—It’s really considered unprofessional to ask! It might be worthwhile to look at http://careerbuilder.com, http://monster.com etc. They are bound to have advice.

@emilyrose That may be true, but I’ve never had a problem doing this. I would rather be judged as unprofessional and know what to expect before accepting the job, than be surprised at payday like monsoon was. My opinion is if you don’t discuss the pay, you could also look desperate, as if you would take whatever they decide to give you. A confident person knows what they want, and what they will not settle for. I discussed whatwould accept during my interview in May. ( I recently changed jobs) My manager said that because I did that, I got $2.00 more per hour than the other person with similar experience.

But, that’s is my personal experience, and I wouldn’t want to steer monsoon in the wrong direction. Whatever you choose to do, I wish you luck!

Also, the links emilyrose gave are a great resource for job hunters, so check them out!

@emilyrose I disagree that it is considered unprofessional to ask. If the candidate is unwilling to accept the maximum I am offering for the job, I would rather not waste their time or mine going further in the hiring process. While negotiation should wait until an offer is tendered, asking the pay scale for the job is not a problem.

just say show me the money.

My dad taught me a good negotiating phrase once. After they have told you the salary they were thinking (and assuming it’s lower than you would like), you can say, “And do you have any flexibility with that?”

I like it because it’s professional and tactful yet still implies you were not satisfied with the first figure and would like to see what they can do for you. It’s worked for me more than once.

My sister, incidentally the greatest one in the world, actually told the interview panel essentially that “She was certain that there were no other applicants for the position as qualified, experienced, and dedicated as she was, and that if the company expected the kind of returns she would bring, they should logically be prepared to invest significantly in her salary…” and then named her terms.
Not only did she get it, but she heads the company’s West Coast operation now.