A careers advisor has revealed exactly how to answer one of the hardest job interview questions you could be asked, and it could be an absolute game changer.
Now, there's no denying that job interviews are one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of adult life.
We all have to do them at some point in our lives, so we may as well try and ace them as much as we can.
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And Erin McGoff is here to help with that.
The careers advisor, who regularly posts advice to her 1.5 million followers on Instagram, has revealed how to answer one of 'the trickiest' questions that frequents most job interviews.
While job interviews host a whole range of difficult questions, perhaps the most tricky - and awkward - of them all is about salary expectations.
Because let's face it, who wants to admit out loud how much they want to be paid?
Anyway, Erin has revealed how we should tackle this uncomfortable question should it be raised in an interview scenario.
In the caption of her clip, Erin says: "Companies ask this to see how little you'll go for or if you're out of their price range," before acting out the wrong way to answer a salary-based question.
She warned people not to say that they 'don't know', or 'didn't mind', as a company may 'lowball' you if you're being too passive and compliant.
"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 said.
So, instead of actually saying what you'd like to be paid or just going along with the flow to please your potential employer, Erin said you should say: "Thank you so much for bringing that up. I would love to know the approved salary range for the position."
And if the interviewer responds with 'there isn't a set range' or 'it depends on the candidate', your response should be: "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 went on to add how important it is to stick to a salary range rather than reveal a specific figure, with her suggesting for you to also say to an interviewer: "I'm flexible on salary depending on other elements of the compensation package."
The careers expert also added a list of dos and don'ts, with her saying to avoid:
- Saying one number
- Telling them what you currently make
- Saying you 'hope' or 'wish' for
- Being unprepared
- Saying you'll take whatever
The best practices are:
- Avoid putting out a number first
- Ask for their approved range or 'salary band'
- Say you're flexible
Erin concluded by saying in the caption: "Keep it open, polite & professional... you got this."
Good luck out there!
Emily Puckering