Ex-Google RECRUITER EXPLAINS: How to Answer 'What Are Your Salary Expectations?' AND How Comp Works

In this video, I'll help you answer the tricky question about your salary expectations during a job interview. I'll explain how companies decide what to pay, including headcount and job leveling. You'll learn about the different parts of your pay package, such as fixed and variable compensation. Finally, I'll give you strategies to answer the salary question effectively, ensuring you maximize your pay without risking the job offer. By the end, you'll feel confident and ready to handle this important part of your job interview.

I've worked as a technical recruiter for top companies like Google, Lyft, Uber, TikTok, and The New York Times, and I've reviewed hundreds of thousands of resumes. I'll show you how to avoid common mistakes and so you can land interview and your dream job.
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00:00 Introduction
00:27 Why Recruiters Ask About Salary Expectations
00:54 How Companies Determine Salaries
01:28 Headcount Planning
01:56 Understanding Levels and Pay Bands
03:06 Two Reasons Recruiters Ask About Salary Expectations
04:05 Fixed Compensation
04:40 Variable Compensation
05:14 Types of Bonuses
05:49 Equity Compensation
06:18 Bonus Tip: Benefits Package
06:49 Researching Company Pay
07:23 Strategy 1:
08:30 Strategy 2:
09:35 Strategy 3:
10:08 Recap
10:45 Closing
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CONNECT WITH ME:

[keithvallencourt]

You'll never convince me that the question isn't meant to snooker candidates into lowballing themselves. Honest companies tell you what the position pays.

[Gulpathfinder]

I recently did an experiment to see if recruiters are honest. I currently make $x. I connected with recruiters for very similar jobs to what I’m currently doing. When they asked for my expected salary, I would give them about 70% of $x without factoring in any of the other benefits … rsu, 10% 401k match, etc. I would then ask if 70% of $x is within their salary range.

Guess what happened? About half the recruiters would snap-answer “Yes! That is within our budgeted range.”

The honest ones were willing to tell me that my number was very low relative to my role and responsibilities.

[u_u_u_]

The fastest interview I had started with a clear budget for a position. Employer clearly said how much they offered, then team lead interviewd me and we've been working for 6 years. That was a zero bullshit employment and my best experience so far.

[ensu]

In Lithuania law mandates to state salary range which is offered for that position, which solves many of the problems people are talking about in the comments

[civilapalyan]

Another reason is to delay the answer as much as possible is that recruiters use your salary expectation to rule you out.

[mukymuk]

I like it when employers ask this question up front. It saves a lot of time when you're too far apart on the figure. Bottom line is that you have to know what your time is worth and be ok with it.

[dweblinveltz]

It's not a trick question, but it is a lousy one. I really detest this cat-and-mouse game. When I'm asked that by recruiters, I usually immediately say, "I don't know" or "I can't say at this moment" then follow it up with pointing out the salary mentioned in the listing (assuming there is one). I push back against it and usually the recruiter will just go ahead and tell me the range, to which I can say yes or no. But why not just start with that and save us both the headache?

[alejandro]

The win-win situation is that companies disclose how much they are willing to pay. Period.

The rest is all excuses to lowball candidates and then companies save more budget.

Nobody should be pressured to disclose an ideal salary range early in the process. People don't choose a job only for the salary, BUT recruiters can reject candidates if other candidates give a lower number.

[carlospitcher]

Salaries should be public. That way anyone can know what to aim for.
Having salaries hidden or private only benefits companies, not workers.

[boydr]

Companies Do Not Promote internally unless you are
1. Administrative staff and
2. If and only if someone in administration has been fired or left to another job for better pay.
Otherwise Promotions and Raises are a thing of the past.
How to get a respectable wage increase in 2024?
ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR A BETTER JOB.
Either for better pay or other factors.

[RaymondrdOBC]

when that question is asked, I ask what are the salary ranges and bonus structure for this job? also what benefits will I have access to? That gives me an idea on how the management is structured in how they respond. it allows me to redirect the expectations of what the actual truth is with a follow up

[wach]

Good overall recommendations in line with other advice I’ve seen.

But I call BS on the premise.

If it wasn’t a trick question they would have volunteered their range and initiated an open conversation about different types of compensation they offer and inquired what you value.

[squiddymute]

why is this rocket science ? just announce how much you pay for the position in the first place and interview people against that, if they ace they interview give them the money if not make them an offer for less.

[alper_mulayim]

problem is recruiters trying to maximize the profit of project. They are losing the talented candidates. If you are thinking about your candidate work colleague is an excel row. You need to remember you are an another row for another decision maker.

[VietnamShorts]

I am a hiring manager, and it is mostly like in that video. I also always ask for salary range in a response for a expected salary question.

[lexiconu]

Good video that doubles as an explanation for job evaluation and benchmarking.

They could just give the pay band and not do this hoop jumping 😅

[FatherGapon-gwyo]

If you have to ask, you can’t afford me.

[geeksjourney]

I found two easy ways to address this: only apply for jobs that clearly show salary range in the job listing so you already know what the position will pay. Absent that, if it’s a job I’m interested in and the recruiter asks what my expected compensation is, I simple say, “do you have an approved salary range for this position?” There is always an approved budget for how much a company will pay, and Ive never talked to a recruiter who didn’t know this and wasn’t willing to give an answer. Really saves a lot of time.

[NathanSmutz]

I had heard that new engineers consistently get hired at a higher wage than current ones.
The lore is that engineers mostly get raises by changing jobs.

[SA-cloud]

Thanks Farah, great video. It's Saturday morning I had my coffee while watching this, happy that sometimes, you happen across things just as you need them! ❤