How to Answer ‘What are Your Salary Expectations?’

It can be difficult to know what to say when you’re asked about your salary expectations in job interviews. As long as you do your research and are well prepared to demonstrate the value you can bring to the organisation, you should be able to answer this question with confidence.

When preparing for your next pharma job interview, do your research on the average salaries in your discipline and location. If you’re already employed in a similar role, think about where your current salary lies within that too. This is important because if your current salary is well above the industry average, you don’t want to go into the interview saying you’ll be happy with an industry average salary unless you’re prepared to take a pay cut. 

Once you’ve done your research, highlight some key things from your brag file that you think demonstrate the value you can bring to the organisation, and the results you’re capable of achieving. These things together will help convince your interviewer that you’re worth the salary you’re putting forward.

When it comes to answering the question, consider giving your interviewer a range to work with to show that you’re flexible - but choose a range that is realistic both to you and your potential employer. Don’t be tempted to undersell yourself in hopes of getting the job, and instead be confident when demonstrating your value, using your research to solidify why you’re worth investing in.