What is Your Expected Rate of Pay?

[springgarden]

I was asked this question yesterday by a prospective employer.

I had applied online and left the place for pay blank.

Maybe because I just graduated last year that I do not know what to ask and be confident

that my pay is reasonable.

I usually leave it blank because I do not want to frighten employers away by asking too

much.

I responded to the "what is your expected rate of pay" question by telling them that I did

not know their pay rate.

The HR then replied and gave me what she said was the range for my area - $25 -$36

depending on level of experience.

I know 2 former classmates of mine who work at this facility and were started of at $30/hr

so I replied the HR with $30/hr.

Should I have said $36?

Is anyone like me who leave the salary/pay part blank? or do you fill it out?

How do you come up with a number?

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

How do you come up with a number?

1. Look up the average starting rate for the position in your area.

2. Put down something in that ballpark.

They are checking to see if you have a clue. If you skip step #1, they know you don't have a clue.

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

I'd put midrange. If you knew for a fact that two others with similar experience were hired on at 30 then that would be a great thing to put.

[RxOnly]

I'd have put $30 as well. Especially knowing people who have started at the same facility at the same rate, it's perfectly reasonable! Putting $36 might make someone in HR think "she expects top pay and we're looking for someone who will accept less" ...although you don't want to sell yourself short, with such a tight market you don't want to give them ANY reason not to hire you!

Plus, that's just a ballpark figure. It just gives HR an idea of what kind of offer you are looking for. The number could still vary at the end.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

I would put mid-range for the area. I moved several times without knowing the new grad (or more lately new hire) pay rate - but I had used 'negotiable' for my applications. It never worked against me. If you know what starting rates are, I can see why aiming for mid-range of the typical pay rates.

[Overland1, RN]

"I expect to be paid at least $80.00/hour and be provided a new Benz every year." That would probably not end well , although maybe an enterprising Hunan Resources clerk would view such as a positive aspiration. I recall my mother telling me about a young guy she knew as a teenager. They guy applied for a job at a local department store. When asked by the store manager (HR had not been invented back in the 1930's) about his goal, he replied, "your job." The guy was hired on the spot and became rather successful in the years that followed.

Disclaimer: The above is not intended as a recommendation, but rather an anecdotal account of one person's job interview. :)

[chorkle]

Overland--

Your post reminds me of a story about a fellow looking for work, in the 1930's. (Before my time, altho, not all that much.) Fellow spent several weeks looking at the local market, analyzing possibilities. Apparently, slackers were plentiful even then. He applied at a particular store. When asked his salary expectations, he replied, Nothing at all, for 30 days. After that, you tell me what I'm worth. He was hired, right then, & after 30 days, offered a significant salary.

Disclaimer: this was a story from a motivational speaker, and like all such stories, across all genres, could have been invented--i.e., has no substance in fact.