Is there a way to respond to questions about my preferred pay?
Dear Debra:
May I ask you a question about pay? I only separated from the Air Force in March where my pay was more than $5,000/month. At my most recent job my wage was $24/hr. Some job applications ask what my preferred pay is as well as my past pay. I want to be honest, but since I am still in transition between careers and fields I am not expecting to make $75,000 a year or anything in a new position. But I do not want to undervalue myself either. Is there a way to answer all of these questions without undervaluing myself or making the company think I will ask for too high a wage or salary?
Thank you,
Donald
Hi Donald:
Before providing anyone with this level of detail regarding past pay or future expectations, you need to understand the position for which you are applying. What is the position valued at in the market, given level of experience and geography? This will help you make a determination as to what your expectations should be. There are places online: Salary.com as well as Glassdoor.com where you can do research. You can also visit careersonestop.com and do a search there to get some salary information. The better questions are: Are you interested in the role? Does it fulfill your short and medium-term goals? There is no way to know this until you do a bit of research and also pursue the interview process. While you want to be considered for opportunities that you feel are aligned with your goals, you also don't want to be underpaid. If a position is not paying what you want / expect / need, it is likely the wrong position for you anyhow.
The bottom line is that research will help you understand how to set your expectations. As far as what you were earning previously, this should not (in my professional opinion) come into play. You should be evaluated on what you can bring to the role. You can share with a potential hiring manager something of your "story" as it relates to your work in the Air Force and subsequent position in your cover letter. In any case, I would convert the hourly pay to an annual wage.
I hope this helps!
Deb