Questions on Talking About Salary Requirements in a Cover Letter

How Do I State My Salary Requirements Tastefully in a Cover Letter?

by Debbe
(Staunton, VA, USA)

The company I am applying to is asking for my salary requirements to be added to my cover letter. How do I do this tastefully?

ANSWER: Hi there Debbe... Just because they ask for it, doesn't mean you have to give it to them. What you don't want to do is either give them a reason not to hire you OR to lock you into too low a salary.

I would just say something like, "Salary requirements are negotiable, but should reflect both the going market rate and what I bring to the table."

What you need to know, though, is your walkaway level. Of course, most of us WANT to be paid as much as possible, but the truth is that salary is only one of the factors to be considered when accepting a job offer. Others are benefits, working conditions, the job itself and the people you'll be working with/for.

You don't have to reveal that walkaway figure though. If you do, then the employer may be tempted to offer only that much and no more. Know what your future job is worth in the market and what value you bring to the job and the employer. Proceed with confidence, but no arrogance, and you should make out just fine!

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How Do I Respond to Salary Questions on My Resume?

by Bobby Cook
(Ashville, AL USA)

I'm wondering how to answer salary desired question on a resume. Can you help?

ANSWER: Bobby, I moved this question here, as it is never appropriate to state salary requirements on a resume. But employers do sometimes ask you to state your salary requirements as part of applying for a job.

I think it's best to avoid giving real specific answers to this question, but you can state a general range, with the qualifying statement, that "Salary requirements are negotiable, based on other aspects of the job."

The place to say this is in your cover letter. Basically, you want to communicate that, while salary is an important consideration, it is not the ONLY one.

To your success,
Kathi

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Is It Ever Appropriate to List Salary Requirements in the Cover Letter?

by Courtney
(New York)

I am interested in assistance with my cover letter. I am a Social Worker and I received my Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University in 2006, followed by my New York State Social Work License in 2007.

I live on Long Island (about 60 minutes from New York City) and I will soon be relocating to New York City to find more employment opportunities. Due to the fact my living expenses and rent will increase in the city, I am looking to make a higher salary than I am currently making.

In the social work field, the salary (even with a License and a Masters Degree) is rather low. I am wondering if it is appropriate to list my salary requirements in my cover letter even if it is not asked for.

My reason for this is that I don't want to apply for jobs in the city and travel an hour to get to the interview only to find out that the agency is offering a measly $30,000.

How can I work around this situation?

ANSWER: Yes, I think in this case, it could be appropriate to talk about salary requirements in the cover letter, though it should be emphasized that this is definitely an exception to the rule.

It makes sense that you don't want to waste either your time or the interviewer's time by traveling to an interview for a job you would never consider taking.

As long as you are completely open about your motivation and tactful about the money, I think you can get away with it.

Comment back here afterward, if you will, and let us know how it goes!