How much do you think this job should pay?
This question is merely another way for the interviewer to ask about your desired pay for this role. Be honest about what you are hoping to make, but you should also avoid asking for too little, or for too much. Using an online salary calculating tool, like the ones from Glassdoor or Indeed, will help you to determine the average ask for your position. You can also use your current salary as part of the basis for your ask.
"I am currently earning 15/hour plus travel benefits and a robust health care plan. I am up for a raise to 17/hour in the next couple of months. My ideal salary is 17-19/hour plus health and travel benefits, which I believe is a fair ask for this role."
"I am newer to my career, so I performed some research on the topic, hoping to gain an understanding of the average pay for service staff on a cruise line. The ranges I saw were 14-18/hour depending on experience. Is this in line with what Norwegian Cruise Line offers for this role?"
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Plus or minus 2,200.
Stephanie's Feedback
Questions about compensation are always a bit tricky. You don't want to undersell yourself and potentially leave money on the table, but you also don't want to risk asking for too much and be screened out of the interview process as a result, especially early in an interview process. I always suggest a confident but vague response such as, "My salary expectations are in line with the industry average, and I hope to join a company where I can continue to grow." If you're really pressed on a number I suggest providing a range rather than a specific number (example: 20-25/hour or 50,000-60,000 annually) as that provides a bit of wiggle room for negotiation. Do your research, using Glassdoor and Salary.com to learn more about what similar roles are actually going for, so you know what your target should be.
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