Interviewing? Here’s How to Put Off Pay Discussion as Long as Possible
Lawyers interviewing for a job shouldn’t be too hasty when it comes to discussions about compensation.
The pay question should be put off as long as possible, preferably until the time an offer is made, according to legal search consultants Valerie Fontaine and Roberta Kass. “You want to gather as much information about the job as you can,” they explain in an article for Law.com. “You also want the potential employer to think you are much more interested in the opportunity itself, rather than the money.”
Job seekers should let the employer be the first to come up with a salary number, Fontaine and Kass say. Otherwise they risk coming up with a number that is lower than the employer is willing to pay, or that is so high that they price themselves out of a job.
When potential employers ask for salary information up front, job candidates can state their current pay, or their expected salary range in the new position. Those who think they are making more than they will be paid in the new job can state in their cover letters that they are willing to be flexible. And those who think they are presently underpaid can explain why they are worth more.
If the salary discussion comes up before an offer is made, there are several alternatives, according to Fontaine and Kass. They include:
• Try sidestepping the question, saying your interest right now is finding the right fit and you are sure you can come to an agreement when an offer is made.
• Suggest a salary range, rather than a specific number. Or throw the question back to the interviewer, saying, “Before I answer that, I’d like to make sure that I’m even in your ballpark. What is the salary range for this position?”
• Tell the interviewer you expect to be paid the same amount as lawyers in similar positions in the organization.