[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/recruiters-ask-desired-salary-early#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/recruiters-ask-desired-salary-early","headline":"Why Recruiters Ask For Desired Salary Early On (And What to Do About It)","name":"Why Recruiters Ask For Desired Salary Early On (And What to Do About It)","description":"Why Recruiters Ask For Desired Salary Early On (And What to Do About It) You may have noticed on your job hunt that recruiters get down to business fast. In fact, you may be surprised that they are asking a candidate about their desired salary right off the bat. It may have even rubbed you…","datePublished":"2014-11-04","dateModified":"2020-12-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/author\/admin#Person","name":"Lisa Rangel","url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/author\/admin","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d232d4d94c36a87067529574d8bf976cdcbe10988a09d79e9fbc2b75ce6cb95a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d232d4d94c36a87067529574d8bf976cdcbe10988a09d79e9fbc2b75ce6cb95a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Chameleon Resumes, LLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chameleon_FullColor-1.png","url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chameleon_FullColor-1.png","width":1000,"height":442}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/desired-salary-e1414435157232.jpg","url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/desired-salary-e1414435157232.jpg","height":"237","width":"237"},"url":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/recruiters-ask-desired-salary-early","about":["Blog","Interview Preparation"],"wordCount":609,"keywords":["Chameleon Resume blog","desired salary","job interview","job search","lisa rangel","salary negotiation"],"articleBody":"Why Recruiters Ask For Desired Salary Early On (And What to Do About It)You may have noticed on your job hunt that recruiters get down to business fast. In fact, you may be surprised that they are asking a candidate about their desired salary right off the bat. It may have even rubbed you the wrong way.The truth is that this practice isn\u2019t going anywhere. Below you\u2019ll find out why and how to handle the desired salary question when it comes up.Why recruiters need to ask…Not all candidates have realistic expectations. In fact, experience tells recruiters that some candidates don\u2019t even live on the same planet when it comes to how much they want to be compensated.If this is the case then why bother with a candidate who clearly has totally unrealistic expectations? A recruiter\u2019s client may be willing to negotiate, but only within reason.You also have to consider it from the recruiter\u2019s perspective. If they don\u2019t ask a candidate about their salary, pass them along to their client and then it turns out their expectations are unrealistic then they have just wasted the employer\u2019s time. That employer will make sure heads roll if the recruiter didn\u2019t ask you upfront what the candidate\u2019s expectations were. Since recruiters get paid by the companies they recruit for they can\u2019t run that risk.Now, if you are an experienced candidate you should be paid at least market rate. If for whatever reason the proposed salary is below market rate then this is something you should explore during the interview.Why you shouldn\u2019t be offended…Whenever you\u2019ve needed a service from someone most people often ask about rates early on in the process. In fact, money is usually the top concern. At the end of the day there\u2019s no need to fall in love with a service provider who is way above your budget. Why should a salary be any different?Furthermore, how you react and respond to the question is part of the interview. In other words, if you act offended then that tells the recruiter about how you deal with things that don\u2019t go as planned.How to answer the desired salary question…If you are asked what you were making there\u2019s nothing else to do but to tell them the truth. Hold your head up high and drop the number without any excuses or apologies. It is what it is.If you are asked what salary you are looking for, answer with the range of salary or total compensation that you have been interviewing for\u2026Do not start with, \u201cI want\u2026\u201d or \u201cI am looking for\u2026\u201d Answer with, \u201cI am interviewing for positions in the ____ to ____ range.\u201d Answering in this manner does two things. First, it lets them know that you\u2019ve got other companies calling you for positions at that pay rate (which always works in your favor when it comes to negotiating). Second, this is a subtle way of letting them know that the market thinks you are worth it with an external source (others calling you to interview for positions paying that level you cite).If you haven\u2019t been called in for any interviews yet or you just started the job search, do some research and see what the going rate is for this position. Then answer with the range the same way confidently, based on your research and skill set. Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it.Be Well!LisaLisa Rangel – Executive Resume Writing ServicesChameleon Resumes(Post Updated: January 2020)"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Why Recruiters Ask For Desired Salary Early On (And What to Do About It)","item":"https:\/\/chameleonresumes.com\/recruiters-ask-desired-salary-early#breadcrumbitem"}]}]