how to respond to salary expectations as attorney

by Dr. Dock Conroy 7 min read

State your expectations with a clear, calm voice. If you're feeling nervous, take a deep breath before answering. Maintain good posture by sitting up straight, and try to reduce fidgeting.

How to Discuss Compensation Expectations for Lawyer Jobs
  1. Don't Share Your Compensation Expectations First.
  2. Respond to Their Salary Expectations Question.
  3. Emphasize That Your Compensation Expectations Are Negotiable.
  4. When They Press for Your Salary Requirements, Stay Strong!

Full Answer

How to answer the salary expectations question in an interview?

Mar 30, 2018 · A final response is to simply give your hard floor, or what would be ideal but with some flexibility built in, whether that is a higher percentage of revenue generated by your client matters in exchange for a lower base salary, or vice versa, etc. This is usually the best response when you do, in fact, have a hard salary requirement.

How to answer “what are your compensation expectations?

For the World’s Largest Collection of Law Firm Interview Resources Click Here Question:I am a fourth year associate at a large New York firm who has recently been interviewing with smaller firms. At an interview earlier this week, I was asked about my “salary expectations.” I was not sure how to respond.

How do you answer what are your salary requirements?

Jun 29, 2021 · How to answer 'What are your salary expectations?' in an interview. Research the salary for the position. To give an accurate salary request that aligns with the market average in your industry, you must first know ... Factor in any expenses. If you’ll need to relocate or incur other expenses in ...

What is an example of salary expectation?

Jun 01, 2015 · Answer: I always advise that candidates forego the discussion of salary and benefits during an initial round of interviews, because you always want to focus on whether you are a good fit for the firm, practice group, etc., in terms of your background, experience, client base (if you are bringing portable business with you), and of course the very important …

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What is a good answer for salary expectation question?

By aiming higher, you can make sure that, even if they offer the lowest number, you'll still be making your target number. For example, if you want to make $45,000, don't say you're looking for a salary between $40,000 and $50,000. Instead, give a range of $45,000 to $50,000.Dec 8, 2021

What to write when it says salary expectations?

The best way to answer desired salary or salary expectations on a job application is to leave the field blank or write 'Negotiable' rather than providing a number. If the application won't accept non-numerical text, then enter “999,” or “000”.

How do you respond to salary expectations in an email?

Phrase your answer by citing, briefly, the points you think are salient to compensation expectations. Even better if you can frame it in a positive manner. For example: "Given the responsibilities of the position and the number of people I'd be managing, I think $XX is a fair figure.Nov 8, 2021

How do you answer desired salary on line?

How To Answer Desired Salary on an Online Application
  1. Option 1: Leave It Blank. Your first option for delaying the salary discussion is to leave it blank. ...
  2. Option 2: Write in “Negotiable” ...
  3. Option 3: Identify a Suitable Range. ...
  4. Option 1: Postpone the Conversation. ...
  5. Option 2: Ask Questions.
Apr 5, 2022

Does experience affect salary?

Experience. Your years of experience can also affect your salary requirements. If you have more experience, you are likely giving this role and the employer more value, which means you can request a higher salary requirement.

What can affect your salary?

Having a valuable skill set can also affect your salary requirements. For example, being proficient in several languages or having knowledge of complex software may mean you can ask for a higher salary.

Can employers ask for salary history?

Employers are legally allowed to ask for your salary requirements . However, in some states, there are certain restrictions about employers asking employees about their salary history. Salary history is the sum an employee earned in previous employment, while a salary requirement is what an employee hopes to earn in new employment.

Why do employers bring up salary requirements?

Salary requirements are usually brought up by employers because they need to budget for a new employee. Having an idea of what you expect in terms of salary is important for them to see if they can afford you.

What does it mean when your salary requirements are low?

The number of your salary requirements will give them a clearer idea of the level you are at professionally. If your salary requirements are low, employers may think you are not as experienced as the job requires.

Does cost of living affect salary?

The cost of living will affect your salary. If you live in a major metropolitan area, you may need to ask for a higher salary requirement than if you applied for the same position in a smaller city with a lower cost of living.

Does your salary increase each time you apply for a new role?

Your salary requirement may increase each time you apply for a new role. For instance, your salary requirement as an entry-level employee may be lower than your salary requirements when you have years of experience.

Why do companies ask about salary expectations?

There are a few different reasons why companies ask about salary expectations. First, they want to make sure that your expectations are within a range they can actually meet. If you give them a single, immovable number or a range in a bracket that they know they can’t agree to, they’ll be able to release you from the interview process, ...

Is it dangerous to guess at the salary range?

Guessing at the salary range is very dangerous! If you guess too high, you could disqualify yourself from consideration. If you guess to low, you are setting yourself up for a long period of being underpaid.

Why do employers ask about salary expectations?

When an employer asks about your salary expectations, it’s usually for three reasons: They have a budget. The interviewer wants to make sure your compensation expectations align with the amount they’ve calculated for the job. If they find most candidates are asking for a great deal more than anticipated, it might mean requesting a larger budget ...

What does it mean when you answer with a salary expectation on the low end?

Alternatively, answering with a salary expectation on the low end could indicate you’re at a lower experience level than the job requires. Your answer to this question can be the beginning of the salary negotiation process. As a result, you want to make sure you’re providing a well-researched response.

Is it stressful to talk about money?

While a question about your salary expectations is one of the more straightforward things employers ask during a job interview, it can be stressful to talk about money. You can manage this stress by preparing your answers to salary-related questions ahead of time. If you do research on average compensation for both the role ...

The best time to negotiate salary is when you are moving into a new job

There are several other opportunities to negotiate, like at your performance review, but starting a new job is like hitting the salary negotiation jackpot – this is when you can make the biggest jump in salary.

When do employers ask?

You can expect to be asked about your salary expectations at 4 different points in the hiring process:

How to respond if they keep pushing

In an ideal negotiation world, the employer would always give their number first. Sometimes, in the interest of preserving the relationship with your future employer, you need to give a direct answer.

Do NOT base your range on your previous salary

I often have clients who only want to ask for 5-10% more than what they’re currently earning.

What is your current salary?

This is another question employers may use to lowball you. Whatever you state, they will most likely only offer you 5-10% more. If you’re working with an amazing organization, they may actually be asking you so that they can offer you significantly more.

Be prepared

You don’t know when the salary negotiation question is going to pop up in the hiring process so you need to be prepared. And know that you may be asked more than once.

Will the job offer be retracted?

Sometimes people tend to worry that employers will retract a job offer if the candidate tries to negotiate. I have heard of this happening but this is incredibly rare.

1. Give a Salary Range

Responding to questions about salary with a single number limits your ability to make something work with the company, Crawford says. Her secret recipe for successful negotiations is to “come from a place of collaboration and service.” By giving a salary range, you show that you’re willing to be flexible and work with your prospective employer.

2. Flip the Question

You can also respond to “What are your salary expectations?” by simply asking what the company is looking to pay. “You could say something like, ‘That's a great question—it would be helpful if you could share what the range is for this role,’’’ Fink says.

3. Delay Answering

When you’re still learning the scope of a position and what benefits the company offers, you might prefer to delay answering questions about your salary expectations.

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