Salary: How do You Talk About it in a Job Interview?

We all need to be paid for the work we do, but the subject of salary is sometimes taboo for candidates, especially in job interviews. However, the question of remuneration is an integral part of your future, including at the start of your career.

Salary: what are we talking about?

Gross, net salary, monetary or in-kind benefits. All these terms are important and mastering them well allows you to speak the same language as your recruiter.

Salary: a variety of amounts to distinguish

Your employment contract mentions a basic hourly wage or salary negotiated with your employer, which cannot be lower than the gross hourly minimum wage (or the legal minimum for your sector of activity). If you are hired on a work-study basis, on an apprenticeship contract or on a professionalization contract, the applicable minimum wage is different.

Beyond the salary: sometimes significant salary benefits!

This variable part of your compensation includes monetary or in-kind benefits. They can be offered freely by your company and can include:

Financial benefits: bonuses can compensate for your daily constraints (travel costs, risks, night work, on-call duty, etc.) or “reward” you (seniority bonus, profit sharing, profit sharing, shareholding plan, etc.).

Benefits in kind: they include the services that you receive free of charge or at a lower cost, such as a company car, a telephone, a computer, preferential rates for leisure activities (gym, ticket office, etc.)

What are your salary expectations?

This question is important, so it is better to prepare yourself for it properly.

Determine Your Salary Goal: What Are You Worth?

Several elements come into play to assess your compensation goal. First assess your current situation, your training, your skills to be developed and your current/previous salary. Then, look at the current job market focusing on the sector of activity you are targeting. See what the market rate is for a similar role in the same location.

When and how do you talk about salary during a job interview?

The subject remains taboo for many candidates, but daring to talk about compensation, even at the start of their career is important. It is also a way to reassure your recruiter about your knowledge of yourself, the market, and the targeted position.

However, several rules must be observed: Pick the right time to talk about it. The question is usually raised by the recruiter, or you can bring up the subject during your first telephone interview. But during your job interview, first take the time to understand the company’s expectations and defend your profile and your skills before coming to the salary.

Be confident of your salary expectations. There is no point minimizing your expectations to be selected, this would prove to be a handicap for the rest of your career. In addition to the base salary, salary benefits should also be a factor in your decision. A lower salary can be compensated by financial benefits (incentive, etc.) or in kind (vehicle, etc.), as well as by the working environment offered by the company (teleworking, flexible hours, atmosphere, plan training, etc.)