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This article shares “How to Answer Salary Expectations in Email” and provides five suggested templates to confidently reply to salary expectations via email.
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How to Answer Salary Expectations in Email (5 Effective Templates)
Job seekers, this one’s for you! Are you wondering how to answer salary expectations in email?
When a recruiter asks for your salary expectations over email, it can be tricky to know how to answer. Many people get anxious when asked about their salary expectations, especially early on in the hiring process. But don’t worry, this article provides tips on how to answer salary expectations in email and shares salary expectation email samples you can use or modify to reply to salary expectation requests.
By the end of this article you’ll have information to confidently and professionally respond to a recruiter’s email request for salary expectations without giving a specific dollar value. Yes, you read that right — you don’t need to respond with a dollar value.
If you’re ready to learn how to answer salary expectations in email so that you don’t leave money on the table then keep reading!
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Recruiter Asking for Salary Expectation
Recruiter Asking for Salary Expectation (When you can expect to be asked for salary expectations)
A recruiter may ask request your salary expectations over email:
- After seeing your resume
- After an initial phone screening
- After a first interview
- When prompted by a hiring manager you had an interview with
- When preparing to extend a job offer
In each of these cases, it’s important to be prepared with a well-crafted response that doesn’t give away information regarding what you’re willing to be paid, your salary history, or desired compensation.
A recruiter asking for salary expectation information in email is looking for specific information to help them do their job better, not to help you maximize your pay. When a recruiter asks for your salary expectations in email, it can be tempting to give a specific dollar amount. However, there are a couple of reasons why you want to avoid doing this.
First, there’s a chance that the number you share isn’t realistic for the market and scares off the recruiter and employer.
Second, sharing a specific number can result in lowballing yourself and informing the recruiter and company that you are willing to accept less pay than what they were prepared to offer you. Sharing a specific dollar value can result in leaving thousands of dollars on the table short-term and long-term as pay raises are determined from base pay.
Instead of giving a direct answer, there are ways you can respond to a recruiter’s request for your salary expectations via email that express your appreciation for the opportunity, your passion for the work, and professionally deflects giving a dollar value. Learning how to reply in this manner will set you up to successfully negotiate salary in email.
How to Answer Salary Expectations in Email
Answering salary expectations in email may feel nerve racking now but after you learn the steps below you’ll be armed with information to confidently respond to any salary expectation email.
How to Answer a Salary Expectations Request in Email (Steps)
Say “Thank you”
First, thank the employer for their interest in you and express your excitement about the opportunity.
Express interest beyond money
Communicate a detail about you that is authentic and will make you stand out to the recruiter and employer such as being passionate about your work or wanting to join a company with opportunities for long-term career growth.
Ask questions about the job’s duties
Let them know that you are happy to discuss salary expectations but would like more information about the position first
Ask for the job’s salary range
Place yourself in a good position to negotiate a job offer that reflects top dollar for your skills and experience by asking for the position’s salary range.
Emphasize interest and be gracious
End the email by reiterating your interest in the position and thanking the employer for their time.
Write an email that is easy to read
Write your email in a format that is brief, to the point, and easy to skim. You don’t want long paragraphs that feel overwhelming.
Check your email for errors
Proofread your email to check for, and correct, typos and grammar errors.
Do not change the subject line
When you are responding to an email the sender expects to see a reply to an email with the subject line they created. When you respond to a salary expectation email do not change the subject line as the sender may overlook your response because they are expecting to see a reply to their email.
By following the steps above, you can create a professional reply to an email request for salary expectations.
Now that you know how to answer salary expectations in email let’s dive into salary expectation email samples.
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Salary Expectation Email Sample (5 Effective Templates)
Salary Expectation Email Sample #1 (Bring up total rewards packages and ask for salary range)
Subject line: Do not change the subject line as you are responding to an email
Hi [Recruiter/Employer Name],
I’m very excited about the role and the potential of joining your company as its new [Job title]. Thank you for your interest.
Right now, I don’t have enough information to answer your question.
Every company has different compensation practices and offers different total rewards packages.
To begin to understand what your total reward package looks like, what is the salary range for the position?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
[Insert your name]
Salary Expectation Email Sample #2 (Share passion and ask for salary range)
Hi [Recruiter/Employer Name],
Thank you for getting in touch about the [Job title] role at [Company name].
This is a perfect opportunity for me because it combines my two passions of [Industry] and [Skill].
I am very interested in moving forward with this opportunity and appreciate your question.
At this time I don’t have enough information to have an informed exchange about salary but would like to start the conversation. What is the salary range for the position?
I appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards,
[Insert your name]
Salary Expectation Email Sample #3 (Share interest in long-term career opportunities and ask for salary range)
Subject line: Do not change the subject line as you are responding to an email
Hi [Recruiter/Employer Name],
I’m very excited by the idea of joining your company. Thank you for your interest and question.
I’m very passionate about my work as a [Job Title] and am currently looking to join a company I can grow with long-term.
Can you please tell me more about the career development and growth opportunities that are available as well as what the salary range for the position is?
I appreciate your time and consider and look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
[Insert your name]
Salary Expectation Email Sample #4 (Ask questions about the job’s duties and ask for salary range)
Subject line: Do not change the subject line as you are responding to an email
Hi [Recruiter/Employer Name],
I’m excited by the idea of joining [Company] and appreciate your interest in my qualifications.
The opportunity to become your new [Job title] is very intriguing and I would like to learn more about the position.
To help me get a better sense of the role and how I can contribute I have a few questions.
What does an average week look like? What type of projects would I get to work on? What is the salary range for the position?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
[Insert your name]
Salary Expectation Email Sample #5 (Express interest in equitable salary and ask for salary range)
Subject line: Do not change the subject line as you are responding to an email
Hi [Recruiter/Employer Name],
I am excited about the opportunity to join [Company] as your new [Job title] and would love to discuss salary once I have more information.
I am looking for compensation that reflects a fair market value salary for my skills and experience. What is the salary range for the position?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
[Insert your name]
When it comes to answering a recruiter’s request for salary expectations by email, it’s important to find a balance between being appreciative and professional while still expressing your passion for the type of work you do and your desire for a long-term career with the company.
The sample responses above will leave a recruiter/employer impressed with both your professionalism and attitude. They can also help you gain information to understand the company’s hiring budget and if a job opportunity is a good match for your salary goals.
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How to Answer Salary Expectations in Email (FAQs)
How to answer salary expectations in email (FAQs):
What is your salary expectation best reply
The best reply to a request for salary expectations:
- Expresses gratitude
- Professional
- Expresses interest in the job (not just money)
- Expresses a desire to grow a career (not just have a job)
- Asks questions to learn about the company
- Asks questions to learn about the role
- Asks questions to gather information about the job’s salary range
- Does not provide a specific dollar value
For example…
Hi [Recruiter/Employer Name],
I’m very excited about the role and the potential of joining [Company] as its new [Job title]. Thank you for your interest.
Right now, I don’t have enough information to answer your question. I’m looking for a company where I can meaningfully contribute my skills and will have opportunities for career growth.
To begin to understand what the company’s total rewards package looks like, what is the salary range for the position?
Your time and consideration is appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
[Insert your name]
How do you respond to salary expectations in an email
The best way to respond to salary expectations in email is to write an email that:
- Says “Thank you” for the opportunity
- Expresses interest beyond money
- Asks questions about the job’s duties
- Asks for the job’s salary range
- Emphasizes interest and is gracious
- Easy to read
- Free of spelling typos and grammatical mistakes
- Maintains the sender’s subject line
An email response to a salary expectations email request that contains the variables above will position you as: professional, someone who is interested in more than just money (a trait employers like), and help you gather information regarding what the company is paying in order to assess if the salary range is aligned with what you want to be paid.
How to include salary expectations in email
Unless you are making a counter offer you do not want to include salary expectations in email.
Including salary expectations in email without knowing what the salary range for the position is gives the company information to pay you less than they may have offered you.
By freely sharing salary expectations without knowing the company’s hiring budget you are setting a baseline for the company to lowball an offer.
Rather than include salary expectations in email you want to ask “What is the salary range for the position?” This question gives you insight into what the company is paying and allows you to determine if the pay aligns with your salary goals.
How to reply HR email for salary
HR is a position that is supposed to create uniform compensation and benefit packages for company employees in order to attract and retain good employees, prevent turnover, and prevent wage discrimination lawsuits.
A good HR person proactively shares a position’s salary range and does not ask for salary expectations.
If an HR person is asking you for salary expectations they are likely trying to see if what you want to be paid aligns with what they have budgeted. They may also be checking to see if they can offer you less than what they have budgeted in order to save money (a practice that is not aligned with the function of the role).
Here’s a suggested example of how you can reply to an email from HR about salary…
Subject Line: Do not change the subject line as you are responding to their email
Hello [Insert HR Person’s Name],
Thank you for your interest. I’m excited by the idea of joining [Insert company name] as its new [Job title].
I’m very passionate about [Insert topic that relates to the job] and being able to use and grow my skills.
I’d like to find a position where I can contribute my experiences in a meaningful way and be compensated a fair market value. What is the salary range for the position?
I appreciate your interest and time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
[Insert your name]
Questions? Leave a comment.
Did you know you don’t have to answer a salary expectation email request with a dollar value?
Is there a suggested email template that resonates with you?
I’d love your thoughts. Leave a comment.
Also, if you found value in this article please share it with your friends and family or on social media so others can learn how to answer salary expectations in email and avoid leaving money on the table. Thank you.
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