What are your salary expectations?
"I make XXX,XXX a year with my current employer, with a X,000 bonus at year's end. Understanding there is quite a shortage in the workforce right now, they've offered me more if I choose to stay. Also, it seems fair to mention I have pretty good health insurance benefits through work. Traveling to this location would also be quite a commute, and with gas prices where they are, this could put a dent in my earnings. Due to the distance, it would cost about 150 a week for gas costs alone. That's nearly ten thousand a year in gas.
If you don't mind, before I throw out a number, I have some questions. Do you offer health insurance benefits? Do you have any commuter benefits? Is there a remote work option available for this position? Do you offer yearly bonuses? What is the budgeted range that you can offer for this position? Are there any other perks worth mentioning?"
There are many unspoken rules surrounding the etiquette of addressing salary and benefits in an interview. When the interviewer brings it up directly, covering this topic is appropriate. However, as with any part of preparing for an interview, every aspect requires performing adequate research in advance. Research your experience level and the job market to find a realistic figure. Before suggesting a number, use this opportunity to ask questions about what they offer in health benefits, bonuses or incentives, commuter perks, retirement packages, stock options, and PTO. Anything that reduces the expenses associated with your cost of living can be considered pay. Taking into consideration where they're meeting, exceeding, or wanting in this regard, you can adjust your number accordingly, use your current earnings as a baseline, and consider the job market to determine your current professional worth while allowing for a range of flexibility.
