Hack for answering 'trickiest job interview question ever' according to expert

01 February 2024 , 14:44

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There's a difficult interview question you could come up against - but how can you answer it well? (Stock Image) (Image: Getty Images)

Job interviews are daunting even for the most confident people, but one expert has shared there's a subtle trick that could help you worm your way out of answering a really uncomfortable question.

Careers advisor Erin McGoff, who posts online under the handle @advicewitherin, explained "how to answer one of the trickiest interview questions." And it comes as no surprirse that the dreaded moment is where you discuss the salary expectations you have for the new role.

Although it's often something you have to write down in an application, sometimes, a prospective employer may ask you face-to-face how much remuneration you expect - and it can be unnerving because you don't know what answer to give for the best.

The awkward question is: "What are your salary expectations?" In the caption, Erin explained: "Companies ask this to see how little you'll go for or if you're out of their price range". She says you need to be careful when you're responding, as you could accidentally talk yourself out of a higher salary.

She warned people not to say that they didn't know, or didn't mind, because as a result of being passive, the company may "lowball" you. Erin encouraged people to not answer this question "directly", because it's "tricky."

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"If you say too low of a number, you risk them lowballing you, and if you say too high a number, you can risk them writing you off as too expensive", she shared.

Instead, she encouraged people to say: "Thank you so much for bringing that up. I would love to know the approved salary range for the position." Erin explained the interviewer may say there isn't a set range and it would depend on the candidate, so to respond, you could say: "Got it. Well, my salary range is flexible but I'd like to learn more about the specifics of the role before giving out a solid number."

Erin shared they might push for a range, but you can just respond by explaining the salary range of other similar roles you've applied to, so they have a ballpark figure to work with. You can also add: "I'm flexible on salary depending on other elements of the compensation package."

In the comments, people praised Erin for her tip, with one writing: "Recruiter here, excellent job", and someone else saying: "Love this!"

Another said they'd tried this method, however, and it didn't work for them, sharing: "I used this method and it doesn't really work even though it's a good way of answering the question. When you give them a range they will never pay you anything above the starting point of your range you've mentioned. If you say 65 to 90. They will always pay you 65 or maybe even 60 no matter what."

Danielle Kate Wroe