Tonya writes:
I was browsing your site and really finding the information useful.
My quick question is, do you have a sample cover letter on your site
that includes how to ask for a certain salary. The job asks that
applicants submit their salary requirement? Can you help me?
A template of this?
The Career Doctor responds:
Asking for salary requirements help employers screen out job-seekers — both the lazy job-seekers who don’t bother to conduct any research and the over- and under-qualified job-seekers.
Your goal as the job-seeker is to uncover — as close as possible — the salary range for the position you are applying for. You can find this information (or a close proximity) either through a contact within the company or from industry salary sources.
If the salary range seems acceptable to you — and you are qualified for the position — then you have it a lot easier. If the salary range is not acceptable, but you still want the job for other reasons, then you may need to approach the situation differently.
But, regardless, you have a couple of options in dealing with a salary requirement request. Just remember never to put down a specific number — give yourself some negotiating room if you make it to that point in the process. So, here are some options when dealing with a request:
- provide your salary requirement (narrow range)
- ask for a wide salary range
- state that you expect competitive or fair compensation
- express your salary flexibility
- ignore the salary request (riskiest strategy)
Here’s a sample paragraph I would put in my cover letter: Per your request, an acceptable salary range for this job, based on the description and my research, is $45,000-$50,000, not including benefits or supplements. My requirement is flexible and negotiable, depending on such factors as additional benefits, faster salary reviews, and increased advancement opportunities.
Read this article on Quintessential Careers:
Responding
to Requests for Salary Requirements or Salary Histories: Strategies and Suggestions.
Here’s a Sample Cover Letter in Response to Salary Requirement Request.
