How to Answer “What is Your Desired Salary?” in South Africa – Tips for Successful Negotiation

One of the uncomfortable topics during a job interview in South Africa is the salary expectation discussion. You don’t want to say a higher amount in case this may be one of the reasons you were cut off, at the same time you don’t wanna be too low and stab yourself in the foot when you could have settled for a better amount. The best way to do this is to do a thorough research of the local market, be knowledgeable in negotiations skills and have the ability to handle pushback. The following tips will help you successfully answer the “what is your desired salary?” in South Africa:

Research the Market Salary Range in South Africa

Find out how much the job you are being paid for usually pays in South Africa, and if possible research the payment range for the company you have applied for under the role you will be taking. The following websites will help you discover South African sources;

• Payscale South Africa: here you will get a free salary comparisons in South Africa based on job title, skills, experience and education
• Glassdoor South Africa: This is where you will find reviews of current or previous employees sharing experience of how it’s like working for the company alongside the salary reviews
• CareerJunction: they provide jobseekers with reliable insights on salary trends and online labor supply and demand trends.

Bear in mind that there are few factors that will affect the salary range such as your skills, experience, qualifications and the job’s location. Roles in major cities are likely to offer higher salaries compared to smaller towns, this might be because of the cost of living.

How do you Answer the “Desired Salary” Question in South Africa?

During an interview in South Africa when it comes to the question “what is your desired salary” choose to give a range from the lowest you can go to the highest. This gives room for negotiation and gives an employer a chance to pick a number within their budget. For example;

Make sure your lower range is the minimum amount you are willing to accept, to avoid feeling cheated and underpaid if they choose that amount.

How to Handle Pushback on Your Salary Expectations

Incases where you have named salary range that is higher than the company budget and the interviewer notifies you, here are a few tips to respond professional without panic;

• Ask for a Budgeted Range: here is an example on how to understand their limitations for the role “I’m open to learning the other opportunities for growth and development in the company and any other benefits you may offer since salary is one factor. If I may ask, what is the company’s budget range for this role? ”
• Highlight your value: Point out the unique skills and value you bring in joining the company. For example, “I am confident that i will bring great value to your team looking at my skills in (specific unique skill) and my experience in( specific accomplishment) which proves grounds for my salary expectation ”

This approach gives you the flexibility to negotiate for common ground while also justifying your salary expectations highlighting your skills and experience.

Effective Negotiation Tips for Job Offers in South Africa

During an interview in South Africa, the best way to negotiate your desired salary is being able to find a common ground between your salary expectations and the employer’s budget. Following tips will help you with an effective negotiation;

Prepare to discuss Non-salary benefits

In cases where the employer’s budget is lower than your expected desired salary, consider negotiating other benefits like additional vacation days, flexible work environment or professional development opportunities like the company taking you for further studies. Some South African countries may offer transport allowance which is a good benefit for daily commuters to work.

Highlight the Role’s impact

Employees are likely to be open for negotiation when presented with the direct value you would bring to the team. Discuss how your unique skills would be a great asset to the company’s success. Talk about your success in your previous roles where you solved a problem, increased sales or came up with a system that worked better for the company.

Be open to leave room for negotiation in future

If the employer is adamant about the proposed company budget, negotiate for a salary review after a certain period like in 3 to 6 months. This also shows that you are confident in the value you bring to the company and you are sure the employer will be impressed with your performance. It also works when joining a smaller company with limited resources and willing to grow with it.

Discovering the Company’s Salary Range in a Professional Manner

To avoid disappointment or going over budget with your salary expectation in South Africa, find out how the employer’s salary expectation is before revealing your own. Here are a few professional tips to help you

Make sure you Enquire before the desired salary question comes

• As either a recruiter or HR representative it’s possible to provide the employer’’s salary budget range for the role you have applied for. For example ‘’If it’s possible, can you help align my salary expectations with the employer by giving me an idea of how much they are willing to pay for this role?”

Find clues in Local Job Sites

• Most of the job listings often reveal their salary range, in cases where the job you are applying for does not include that, do a research on how much other companies pay for the similar roles. There are local job sites like PNet, Indeed South Africa where you can find similar jobs that have listed their salary ranger.

Wait Until the offer stage

• Not everyone is confident enough to bring up salary expectations during the first interview. You can wait until the employer presents an offer and use that as a basis for a negotiation.

Conclusion

In most interviews in South Africa you will be asked “what is your desired salaryänd you need all the preparation to answer this professionally and be open for negotiation and handle pushback. Before going for an interview, sit down and research about the company you might join, look for reviews on sites like Glassdoor and career junction to have an idea of your possible new role’s salary range. Be prepared to reach a common ground on salary expectations with your employer and make sure to highlight the value you bring to the company to justify your desired salary. In cases where the salary is non-negotiable, be prepared to negotiate other compensations like additional vacation days or future salary reviews based on your performance. With the right strategy and the tips mentioned above you can leave that interview room happy with what you are offered.