The Salary Standoff

Candidates and recruiters I'm sure you've encountered this, you're at the end of the screening call, your employment background has been covered, your notice is not an issue then the question is asked. "What are you looking for in terms of salary?" Then the silence...

So as a candidate I would suggest to put it back on the recruiter straight away, and ask what range are they willing to pay for this role. As a general note most roles will have a salary range they are comfortable to pay (dependent on the skills an individual has). Some candidates might be stronger in an interview and the organization will pay at the higher end. Some candidates may need some extra development so a salary will be suggested at the lower level.

For recruiters if you are getting hesitancy on a candidate answering the salary question then offer a range you are looking to pay dependent on the skills demonstrated at interview and then go through the benefits you can offer in terms of an overall package. You can then ask the question if this salary range and overall package would be agreeable to the candidate. It may not but the candidate may open up more to give a clearer idea on their own salary expectations or even an overview of their current salary.

Conclusion:

The salary conversation is only a small part in the screening round. Culture, responsibilities of the role and career development opportunities are very important. A lot of hard work has been done to build rapport and trust during the screening process and with the advice above it should help keep both parties up to date and keen moving forward.

Happy Hiring!