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Best strategy is to give them a number in a foreign currency like rupees. If it’s way off from what they will pay just say oh I didn’t check the exchange rate today or I’m really bad at math.
Dodge.
I always ask them to provide the budget for the role. Then from there I can give them the expectations on base and bonus. But makes sure I am aligned with where they are.
That’s pretty cool perk, tho!
Turn the question around on them and ask them what their budget is.
This! Never be the first to throw out a number. I recommend looking at a salary negotiation guide—there are plenty of good ones online.
Chief
The past two offers I accepted I inadvertently lowballed myself both times. I genuinely would have accepted the lower amount I suggested, but both times HR was like “well we actually are offering X so we’ll go with that” and didn’t hold it against me.
Sounds exhausting. 😔
I say either:
I am interviewing for roles between x and x
Or if the salary range is posted:
What does a candidate at the bottom of the range look like and what does a candidate at the top of the range look like
Dodge. Say negotiable for the right fit.
Always state what you need plus 10% more. If they can’t meet that, don’t move
I just tell them that I need to know more about the position.
I always gave a wide range and said it depends on total benefits package and the work I would be doing (similar to needing to learn more about the position). Which was true for me. I cared much more about work life balance, unlimited PTO etc. than the salary. The person who hired me seems to have intuited that and got herself an experienced attorney for not that much money, so everyone is happy.
I always just ask: “is there a range available?” They give me the range and I generally then say “I think it really depends on learning more about the position, so I can’t saw what I need. Plus there’s a lot of other points at play, such as bonus, relocation fee, stock grants. That being said, I don’t expect any difficulties considering this range.”
I applied for a GC role with a small company, but they had two offices. One was local to me and the other was in Alaska. I liked the idea of being able to WFH and sleep in my own bed other than 3-6 times per year when I would get to explore the 49th state.
When HR asked my salary expectations, I said there would be a couple of details I would have to consider, but I was sure we could come to agreement on a reasonable number.
The outgoing GC was retiring, and he was involved in finding his replacement. I think my interview with him went well. I also think my call with the CEO went well.
A day or two later, I called HR to see what next steps I might need to take, and where they were regarding a final decision. The HR rep said everyone liked me and thought I would be a good replacement, but I was too expensive for their budget. Keep in mind, I had not mentioned any specific number in any of our discussions. I asked what the budget was, and it turned out to be within a salary range I could live with. I said I would be happy to accept their number. HR was very excited to hear that and said that information would be relayed to the GC and the CEO, but by that point they had already made an offer to someone else.
That’s crazy. But sounds like standard HR mess up’s. Somebody probably jotted down a number that they pulled from thin air.
I provide a range for base salary and say of course it’s based on total comp. The bottom of the range is $10-15k above my actual low.
Ask for their salary range. By way of persuasive authority NYS has the pay transparency act.