I am working in an advertising agency as their graphic designer for quite a while now. I have not had any experience in giving interviews as this is my first job. My boss had paid a visit to my college and recruited me on the basis of the portfolio of my work. I am satisfied at my workplace but now I feel that there is no scope left for growth here. Even though I like the company and the people around, I need to focus on progressing professionally. I can’t stay stuck up at the same place in the same position for years. Therefore I have applied to a number of other companies already.
A well-known publishing house showed keen interest in hiring me and have called me for an interview. I am extremely nervous as this is the first interview I have ever encountered and don’t want to leave room for any mistakes. As I am looking for growth, salary plays the primary role in whether I will change the job or not. At the end of the day, everybody works for their paycheck. But I have often been told that it is disgraceful to ask the interviewer about the salary they are willing to offer. Is this true? If it is, how can I make sure that they will pay me more than my current salary? Apart from the salary, how must one ask about the perks the company offers to its employees? Please guide me so that I can crack the interview with the publishing house.
Bringing up the topic of salary can be tricky in an interview.
Answer:
Usually, many people are perplexed as to what they should do when they want to clear their doubts about the pay scale without sounding rude or money-minded. Currently, the average unemployment rate is around 8% which makes it necessary for the candidate to have sharp interview skills. A person prepares for an interview by practicing what kind of answers to be given to certain questions related to the field. A good candidate also does thorough research of the company and tries to put forward a dedicated and hard-working impression in front of the interviewer. There are times when the entire interview goes smoothly but towards the end of it, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. This is the real test.
Through this, the interviewer tries to get an idea about your motive behind joining the company and what are your expectations from them. If you directly ask him about the salary or other such financial benefits, it will leave a negative impression on him. He will feel that you are here only for the money and hence will leave the company as soon as you get a better opportunity. This is why HR experts advise us to avoid this question. During the interview, it is important for the candidate to gain the trust of the interviewer. You must prove to him that you will work dedicatedly to the company.
Generally, every interviewer clarifies the financial details before recruiting a person. Thus you don’t need to worry about that. So avoid asking about the salary instead talk about the growth prospects of the company. Maintain a confident composure while answering and you are good to go. Best of luck!