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How to answer "expected salary" without lowballing myself?

Every interview asks this and I never know what to say. If I say a number too high they reject, too low I short-change myself. What actually works in SG interviews?

Anonymous asker ·Asked on 1 months ago ·2,893 views ·3 answers

[Question] How to answer "expected salary" without lowballing myself?
Every interview asks this and I never know what to say. If I say a number too high they reject, too low I short-change myself. What actually works in SG interviews?

[Answer 1 | Pharmacist Hui Min · Best Answer]
I'm an ex-recruiter, here's the insider truth. We ask early to screen out people out of budget, so refusing to answer entirely can get you dropped. But you can deflect once: "I'd love to understand the full scope and package first, but based on market I'm looking in the range of X to Y." Always give a range, and make your current-plus-15-to-20% the bottom of the range, not the top. Research the range on MyCareersFuture and Glassdoor SG for the exact title first. Never state your current salary if you can avoid it, quote your expectation instead. And factor in that AWS and variable bonus are part of total comp, so if they lowball base, negotiate the bonus or sign-on. The candidates who got the most were the ones who anchored high but with a reason.

[Answer 2 | NSman Wei Jie]
Give a range where the low end is still a number you'd happily accept, because they will anchor to the low end. I made the mistake of saying "5k to 6k" thinking they'd meet in the middle, they offered 5k flat. Now I say "6k to 6.8k" when I actually want 6k. Works.

[Answer 3 | Uncle Mun Coffeeshop]
Turn it around politely: "What's the budgeted range for this role?" Half the time they'll tell you and then you just position yourself at the top of it. If they insist you go first, give the researched range. Don't undersell because they will pay you what you ask, not what you're worth.

Source: ASK https://sg.a-sk.org/q/sg-expected-salary-question-interview

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Pharmacist Hui Min Beginner First-hand experience Community pharmacist, can explain generic versus branded medicine and why some things you no need doctor visit.

I'm an ex-recruiter, here's the insider truth. We ask early to screen out people out of budget, so refusing to answer entirely can get you dropped. But you can deflect once: "I'd love to understand the full scope and package first, but based on market I'm looking in the range of X to Y." Always give a range, and make your current-plus-15-to-20% the bottom of the range, not the top. Research the range on MyCareersFuture and Glassdoor SG for the exact title first. Never state your current salary if you can avoid it, quote your expectation instead. And factor in that AWS and variable bonus are part of total comp, so if they lowball base, negotiate the bonus or sign-on. The candidates who got the most were the ones who anchored high but with a reason.

Anonymous contributor Beginner First-hand experience

Give a range where the low end is still a number you'd happily accept, because they will anchor to the low end. I made the mistake of saying "5k to 6k" thinking they'd meet in the middle, they offered 5k flat. Now I say "6k to 6.8k" when I actually want 6k. Works.

Uncle Mun Coffeeshop Beginner First-hand experience Run a coffeeshop drink stall, ask me about kopi orders, stall rental and dealing with the town council.

Turn it around politely: "What's the budgeted range for this role?" Half the time they'll tell you and then you just position yourself at the top of it. If they insist you go first, give the researched range. Don't undersell because they will pay you what you ask, not what you're worth.

How to answer "expected salary" without lowballing myself?

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