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15 Toughest Interview Questions (and Answers!)
Tania Khadder | Excelle
7. What salary are you looking for?

Bad answer:
“In my last job I earned $35,000 – so, now I’m looking for $40,000”
If you can avoid it, don’t give an exact number. The first person to name a price in a salary negotiation loses. Instead, re-iterate your commitment to the job itself. If you have to, give a broad range based on research you’ve conducted on that particular role, in your particular city.
Good answer:
“I’m more interested in the role itself than the pay. That said, I’d expect to be paid the appropriate range for this role, based on my five years of experience. I also think a fair salary would bear in mind the high cost of living here in New York City.”
“In my last job I earned $35,000 – so, now I’m looking for $40,000”
If you can avoid it, don’t give an exact number. The first person to name a price in a salary negotiation loses. Instead, re-iterate your commitment to the job itself. If you have to, give a broad range based on research you’ve conducted on that particular role, in your particular city.
Good answer:
“I’m more interested in the role itself than the pay. That said, I’d expect to be paid the appropriate range for this role, based on my five years of experience. I also think a fair salary would bear in mind the high cost of living here in New York City.”


CareerLady
14 days ago
4 comments
Hmm...Most of them I see where I did good, but I always cop out on the question about getting along with co-workers. I don't want to make myself sound like a jerk or bossy, so I try to play down the situation and make myself sound like an angel...lol...I learned that doesn't work. Thanks editor!
artseo
18 days ago
2 comments
I always give the bad answers..:)
Torrent
RedHorse7
18 days ago
24 comments
No wonder I never get a second interview. I've been giving some of the "bad" answers. :-(
RedHorse7
18 days ago
24 comments
Editor, thanks for the tip. I've been wondering about that myself. :-)
lil5firecracker5
21 days ago
4 comments
just took the time to write my answer to all 15 of these questions. now to study them. interview for high paying internship in the morning.
editor
about 1 month ago
6 comments
emfarleigh, you can email the article to yourself by clicking on the Share button at the very bottom.
emfarleigh
about 1 month ago
6 comments
I wish there was a way to save articles so you can go back to them with out searching through the site. This is very helpful.
Tobaldwin
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Very resourceful!
cclendenen1
about 1 month ago
6 comments
I really enjoyed the info myself, now I see where I possibly screwed up some interviews with not answering in the right direction
MarMorgan
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Thanks for the awesome tips, much appreciated!
DonnaDuncan
about 1 month ago
4 comments
Those are some great tips, thanks!
JToliver
2 months ago
4 comments
These are really great interview tips. I'm going to need all the advice I can get. Thanks for posting!
Dez
2 months ago
4 comments
This article was very helpful to me. This is my last semester in college, so there will be quite a few interviews in my future. To be honest while reading this article the answers i was thinking of were some of the bad answers. I am glad i read this article before going to the job fairs and interviews and making a fool of myself.
rayoola80
2 months ago
12 comments
i have learnt a lot on this article and i must add here that they are applicable even where i live,i mean nigeria.thank you very much its really an eye opener.
ereign472
2 months ago
20 comments
The illustrations (photos) held my interest and added extra power to this article. Well done!