what to put in "desired salary" box when selection is required?

[janice_c67]

So I am applying for an RN position in Texas, and it is required to make a selection in the desired salary box... I am a new grad from California and I don't know what to ask for. the choices are 30-35k, 35-40k, 40-45k, 45-50k etc. (and higher/lower, but those are fairly within reason I think) what would be a good choice? I don't want to low ball and end up getting like $7/hr, but I don't want to ask for more than what they make in the area because then they might just laugh and throw my app in the shredder.

[Orange Tree]

I'm a new grad in texas and cleared $45 this year with no special anything.....

Anything less than $40,000 is just crazy. I can't think of anywhere in texas that pays less than that, although I admit that I don't know everything.

[handyrn]

Can you make an annonymous call to the hiring manager/hr department and ask them what their starting salary is? That should help you know what to choose.

[herowneulogy, BSN, RN]

I always type "negotiable" or "open to discussion" in the section that is asking about the amount of salary desired.

If the application does not allow me to type these words, I will type "$0.00 per hour" as my dollar amount. Of course I wouldn't work for $0.00 hourly, but this might get the recruiter to discuss the pay issue with me.

EXACTLY ;p

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I used to put "negotiable" but I don't anymore. I put what I think I should get paid. I just found that this works better for me. If the hospital doesn't want to pay that amount, they don't get back to me or they say they aren't interested. This way, nobody's time is wasted. HR departments are notorious for wasting your time and I got sick of the whole dancing around the salary issue. I think as women, we don't advocate for ourselves like men do. So, I decided to become more "manly". Guess what, it works.

Granted, I have a job right now. I am looking elsewhere, but you can afford to have bigger stones when you don't have much to lose. I have gotten interviews with the above method and jobs as well.

[caliotter3]

I used to put "negotiable" but I don't anymore. I put what I think I should get paid. I just found that this works better for me. If the hospital doesn't want to pay that amount, they don't get back to me or they say they aren't interested. This way, nobody's time is wasted. HR departments are notorious for wasting your time and I got sick of the whole dancing around the salary issue. I think as women, we don't advocate for ourselves like men do. So, I decided to become more "manly". Guess what, it works.

Granted, I have a job right now. I am looking elsewhere, but you can afford to have bigger stones when you don't have much to lose. I have gotten interviews with the above method and jobs as well.

I have also started writing what I want. At least it conveys the message that I didn't just fall off the cabbage wagon.

[Irishlass79]

I would never put $0 dollars, I believe I am of value. Any time you are interviewing for a job they expect to negotiate the salary as well as how long of a preceptorship, 401K's, parking, etc. They are asking you a question and you should put $40-45 thousand recognizing you are a graduate nurse. It is obsurd to put anything else. I would put any application that says $0 in the shredder. It is a simple question that they want a straight answer, so check the box. When you have the interview or when you get the job offer is when you negotiate salary.

[RNfaster]

If you are required to select a preset range and it is your first nursing job, find out the hospital's pay scale for the position. Call the HR department and ask. Put in that range. I wouldn't just pick a number without some investigation --you might go too low or too high. Both with consequences.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

If you want me to work for you, you are going to have to pay me . . . ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!