A job interview can be intimidating to a fresher, but the best way to overcome the feeling is by preparing yourself for the HR interview questions such as “Tell me something about yourself”, “Describe yourself in one sentence”, or How to introduce yourself in an interview etc.
One such common HR interview question is “How much salary do you expect?” This question will be popping up throughout your career, but remember that with experience your answers will also change to this question.
If you are a fresher preparing for your first job interview, you have come to the right blog!
We will take you through tips and what is your salary expectation sample answer for freshers.
Let’s begin!
Why do interviewers ask "How much salary do you expect?"
“How much salary do you expect?” is a frequently asked HR interview question which you will come across during every job interview throughout your career. This basic question is asked by HRs for two reasons majorly,
- To see if the company can afford to hire you
- To check if you are aware of your self-value and value for your work
Thus, preparing an answer to “How much salary do you expect?” beforehand can help you highlight that not only are you flexible with the salary aspect but also have a grasp over your worth.
Tips to consider while answering "How much salary do you expect?"
Here are a few tips that can help you ace the HR interview question “How much salary do you expect?”
Highlight your flexibility
To begin with, every company has a set range of salary for particular designations based on the years of experience. Also, in some cases, job satisfaction takes greater precedence over salary.
So when you are preparing your answer for the HR interview question “How much salary do you expect?” keep in mind to sound flexible. As a fresher, you would want to pose a balance between work experience and salary.
Here’s what you can say when asked “How much salary do you expect?”
“I would like to know more about the job first because if the job is right, I’m sure we can come to an agreement on the monetary aspect.”
You could offer a range
When answering “How much salary do you expect?” is to provide a range instead of a fixed number as it will help you to remain flexible yet provide a clear answer about your expectation.
Here’s a small tip to consider when you’re providing a salary range, keep the bottom line of your stated salary range slightly higher than the salary range you’re assuming the company will propose.
You could say something like the following,
"I know I am just starting off my professional career, however, my personal salary expectation is around 25-30K in-hand."
You could flip the question
In case you feel clueless about the salary range to cite when asked “How much salary do you expect?”, you can always flip the question and let the recruiter answer how much they are willing to offer a fresher for your job profile.
This will give you clarity on the salary being offered and help in the negotiation process. You could answer it like this,
"That is a great question, it would be helpful if you could share your estimate for this role."
You might have to negotiate
As a fresher, you might feel shy from negotiating your salary as you don’t want to risk losing the job offer. However, there might be several factors for you to consider that require a slightly higher amount than what is being offered.
For example, if you are applying for a job away from your hometown and the cost of living in that city is expensive, you could highlight these points to negotiate a higher salary when asked “How much salary do you expect?”
Consider your current salary before providing a number
Now a factor to consider is people with work experience of 1-2 years fall under the fresher category. So when asked “How much salary do you expect?” keep in mind your current salary and then ask for a decent hike when switching jobs.
Highlight your skills
You can highlight the skills you have picked up if you have prior work experience even as an intern. You can highlight your skills as a way to present yourself as the best candidate for the job role.
Have a diplomatic approach
When starting off your career, the initial years are majorly about finding the right job role. If you opt for this approach to the question “How much salary do you expect?”, here’s what you can say.
“Salary is important. However, at my stage, I am more interested in finding the right position and work than the salary.”
What is your salary expectation sample answer for fresher
Here are a few sample answers to the HR interview question “How much salary do you expect?”
Sample #1:
“I understand that salary is an important aspect, but given the fact that I am just starting off and have a great deal to learn, I am more interested in the work that is being offered. Could you kindly tell me more about the work, the benefits and training that are being offered?”
Sample #2:
“Well it is a great question, could you share what you offer to someone of my job profile whose starting off? Thank you for sharing… I was hoping to receive something around 25-30 in hand since I have to relocate and the cost of lodging and other expenses are pretty high in the city.”
Sample #3:
“I currently receive an in-hand of 25K and was hoping an in-hand of 30K-32K with this switch. Over the last year, I have been working on learning the basics of the job but I was feeling stagnant and I am looking forward to learning more to help me strive better in this field.”
To conclude, you can follow these tips to ace your answer to “How much salary do you expect?”
Also, you can take inspiration from our what is your salary expectation sample answer for fresher to come up with your own unique answer.
In addition to preparing for the 56 HR interview questions, you should follow the interview dress code and be on time.
All the Best!
