How to Answer “What Are Your Salary Expectations?”, by Harvard Business Review on YouTube. 9 min 43 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 43 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Before the interview, check typical pay for the same role and city on salary sites, in job ads and with people who work in the field. Write down a range you would genuinely accept.
Expect the question to come up early, often in the first screening call. Have your answer ready so you are not improvising a number under pressure.
Remember why they ask. The employer wants to know whether your expectations fit the budget and whether it is worth continuing. Treat it as a normal question.
Try redirecting first. Say you would rather learn more about the role and its responsibilities before talking numbers, then ask what range is budgeted for the position.
If they push for a number, give a range rather than a single figure. Base it on your research and keep your target near the lower end of the range.
Say the range is flexible and depends on the full package, including bonus, pension, holiday and remote work. This keeps the conversation open.
Ask when you can expect to hear about next steps, thank the interviewer, and send a short follow-up email the same day.
Tips and common mistakes
Never name a number first if you can politely ask for their budgeted range instead.
Do not quote pay from a different city or industry; check local figures for the exact role and level.
Practise your answer out loud twice so the range sounds natural, not rehearsed.
Avoid saying you are flexible with no range at all, as it can make you look unprepared.
Questions
What if I have no idea what the salary should be?
Use salary comparison sites, job ads for similar roles and your network to build a range. Then pick a figure you would genuinely accept.
Should I give a number in the first interview?
If you can, ask for the employer's budgeted range first. If they insist, give a researched range rather than one figure.
Can I refuse to answer the question?
You can politely redirect once, but refusing outright can hurt your chances. Keep a researched range ready as a fallback.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
