"What salary are you looking for" question

[officepa]

At an interview, when asked "what salary are you looking for" - can anyone suggest a good answer please?

Role is for a Senior PA.  I wouldn't want to go in too low and miss out but equally don't want to go in too high and price myself out.

They won't give a band of 'from' and 'to' figure either but have said they will pay for the right person.  Nobody is currently doing the role so starting from scratch.

Your suggestions would be appreciated. 

[gee4]

Cathy,

Throw it back to the panel and ask what bracket it falls into.  Surely the employer asked you for that info on the application form...no??

Has this job arisen from a recruitment agency or have you applied yourself?  You should be able to ascertain who you would be Senior PA to -

- CEO?
- Director?
- Manager?
- Team Lead?

It's all relevant and should fall into place once you have that info.  Bear in mind the CEO's PA will always be the top earner and sometimes can reap the benefits of a manager's salary.

[officepa]

Job is via an agency who have been told not to worry about the salary, they will pay for the right person.  Even if this question was on an application form, I would still have the same question as I do now - what would I have put down?

They must have some sort of band in mind but they want you to answer first - if I knew their band, I probably wouldn't be asking this question as I would have a guide as to what they have in mind.

I would not be prepared to use my current salary (agency rate) as a starting base as it is much lower than if I was employed by the company I currently work for.

The PA role is working with the CEO. 

I was in this position a few years back, named a salary at the high end of my personal band and got it. However, it could have gone wrong - how can you tell? 

Comparing similar jobs in a similar location is no guide really as they vary so much.

[Cathy S]

Hi Cathy

Have a snoop online - several of the large agencies do annual salary surveys.  Now okay they probably don't cover your region in detail but it gives you a starting point and you can extrapolate for the region you live in and the sector.

Then add a little to their basic salary - if they accept the figure you quote you have probably gone too low - go a little high and sell to the panel what you can do for their organisation - what value you add to their business.  If they like you the worst they will do is offer a lower salary.

Beware the myth that you can always get a performance based increase if you take a lower start point - it very rarely happens.

Good luck

Cathy

[officepa]

Thanks Cathy - very helpful.

Yes, I will sell to them what I can do for them to warrant a certain salary.  As you say, if they like you, the worst they could do is offer a little lower salary. 

[msmarieh]

Usually I give them the salary I want (as a range). If I am too high for them, than so be it. However, I usually do it in a similar fashion to what they do...

I am looking for (mid-high end of my range) but I may be willing to be flexible depending on the company benefits and the opportunities that the position presents.

[gee4]

If the role is PA to the CEO then negotiate your salary.  As Marie says, if it's too high they will tell you.

As a comparison, you are only temping at the moment and you can explain that you want back to the level you feel you should be at.  The panel should understand temp rates don't always match permanent salaries.

[Jackie G]

Cathy

It's really hard because the market is so low.  Check out what ads you can find on job sites (doubt you'll see much in the paper)

I would, however, try a mid 20k approach (unless you're in a major city) but even here in Edinburgh, it's pretty low just now.  Even I am not earning what I should be, and that's the role I have.

And really, if the agency is putting you forward, they should be offering you some kind of guidance as where to start...

[officepa]

Thanks Jackie and Marie, good points for me to work on.

I will let you all know how interview goes