You’re sitting in a job interview and everything has been going great. You’re feeling really good about how you’ve responded to all the questions so far. Then, the hiring manager asks, “How much money do you currently make?” or “How much salary do you expect?” Your heart races and you begin to sweat. How should you answer?
你正在參加一場工作面試，而且事事都進行得順順利利。到目前爲止，你對於剛纔回答的所有問題感覺很不錯。接着，這位招聘經理問道，“你當前的工資是多少?”或者“你期望的薪資是多少?”你的心跳加速，並開始出汗。你應該如何作答?
As a recent mentee discovered, the salary question can be a difficult topic to discuss if you haven’t already thought tHRough potential responses. “James” (name changed) felt he had been close to being hired during several job interviews. Then the inevitable salary question came up and the hiring managers asked what James was making in his current position. He told the truth and, in both cases, the hiring managers responded that James’ current salary was more than what the position would pay.
正如近期一位學員所發現的，如果沒有對對方可能的反應進行過充分思考的話，有關薪資的問題是一個很難討論的話題。“詹姆斯”(化名)感覺他在幾次面試中差一點就被錄用。於是免不了就會談到有關薪資的問題，這些招聘經理問詹姆斯目前的工作能掙多少錢。在這個問題上他都會實話實說，但有兩次面試，這些招聘經理表示，在招聘的這個職位，薪水比詹姆斯目前的要低。
“What’s the best way to respond to the question of how much are you making in your current position?” James asked me. “I let both hiring managers know I’m flexible with salary, but it seemed like once they heard what I’m currently making, they kind of switched off and didn’t consider me as a viable candidate anymore.”
“怎麼樣才能最好地回答目前我掙多少錢這個問題?”詹姆斯問我，“我每次都向招聘經理表示，在薪酬問題上是有商量的，但好像他們一聽說我目前的薪資，就‘槍斃’了我，不再將我作爲合適的候選人。”
For job seekers, I tend to think of the salary question in terms of a poker game with the goal being to get the hiring manager (or HR rep) to lay down their poker cards on the table first. That’s because, as James found out, once you share a specific salary number, you might just have priced yourself too high (or too low) for the position.
對於求職者而言，我喜歡把回答薪資問題比喻成玩撲克牌，它的目標就是讓招聘方先亮出底牌。其原因在於，正如詹姆斯察覺到的，一旦你暴露了具體的薪資數目，你就會陷入要價太高(或者太低)的境地。
Here are tips to prepare for the salary question/discussion during job interviews:
以下這些小技巧也許能爲你準備面試時回答薪酬問題和進行對話提供一些幫助：
Tip #1: Arm yourself with salary information.
技巧一：用薪資信息武裝自己。
Before you go to the job interview, spend adequate time conducting research to find out average salaries and salary ranges for similar jobs in your area, industry and geography. Websites for salary research include: , , , , , and .
在參加工作面試之前，預先做足功課，瞭解清楚那些與你的工作領域、行業和地域相似的崗位，薪資的平均數及上下浮動範圍究竟是多少。在薪酬問題上有助參考的網站包括：, , , , , and 。
Tip #2: Deflect the salary question if it’s asked early in the job interview.
技巧二：在面試期間，如果薪資問題被過早的問到，那麼要儘量轉移話題。
It will do you no good to tell the hiring manager how much you currently make or a desired salary range if you haven’t at least made it to the end of the interview to see if you and the hiring manager believe you’re a good fit. Let her/him know you’d like to better understand the job responsibilities and requirements and how well you meet those needs before discussing the salary topic.
如果在面試結束之前，還未能瞭解到你和這位招聘經理是否都認爲你是一個合適的人選，告訴這位招聘經理你當前的工資水平或者期待的薪資範圍對你沒有任何好處。在討論薪資問題之前，讓他或她知道你希望更多地瞭解這位工作的職責和要求以及你將如何滿足這些需求。
Tip #3: Be prepared to provide a salary range.
技巧三：準備提供一個大致的薪水範圍。
This can be handled in a few different ways. You could provide the salary range you’ve researched, as in, “Based on my research, similar positions in this geography and industry are currently paying between $x and $y. Is this also the range for which you’ve budgeted for this position?” Or, you could share the salary range you desire, such as, “Based on the job requirements we discussed and my knowledge, skills and experience, I would expect the salary range of the position to be between $x and $y.”