One of the most unfair questions you can be asked during a job interview is: what salary were you expecting? Not only is this question potentially unethical, but it also violates one of the cardinal rules of negotiation, which states that whoever speaks first, loses.

Of course, it makes sense that an employer would ask this question: they are trying to get top talent at a discounted price. That’s why it’s quite likely you might find yourself in this exact scenario speaking to an employer you want to work for. If that’s the case, what do you do? The good news is that you have a few advantageous strategies you can employ without blowing your shot at landing the job.

1. Tell them about your current salary.

While I don’t really recommend taking this approach, the easiest answer you can give someone when you’re asked what you want to make is to tell them your current salary level. You could then frame your answer by telling them that you hope to make more than that figure if you were to make a change. Don’t forget to include bonuses and any stock options when you give this answer. In this scenario, you are truly putting a lot of trust in the employer to do right by you. But then again, you don’t have to take the job if they go cheap.

2. Name your number.

Another strategy you can take is to take whatever you currently make and build in a healthy raise-; like 25% higher-; when you answer the question and then see what happens. There’s no harm in saying you want to make $125,000. By doing this, you will have come up with a number that you’re happy with and that would be worth moving jobs for. This is how generations of people have typically negotiated their pay. The risk here, of course, is that you might be underselling what the company might actually be willing to pay for the position. Read more here>>http://www.successdigestonline.com/how-to-respond-when-asked-what-salary-were-you-expecting/

If you have an idea what the company pays for the role, just say it.
if you don't have an idea, just state your price.

Sezua:
If you have an idea what the company pays for the role, just say it.

if you don't have an idea, just state your price.

Well said!