The Ultimate Job Search Question

I just had my sixth interview while job hunting this go round. I must admit that there are times that I feel I have more experience hunting for a job than some of the interviewers have looking for an employee. Some questions are scary like, 'what is your greatest weakness?' An interviewee would have to have completely lost control of his faculties to answer this from the heart. Most candidates will handle this with a, ' my biggest weakness is that I care too much about my work'. It's not likely an honest answer but it flies well in the interview room.

The Ultimate question is 'what salary are you looking for in this position.' In these economic times Employers are tempted to ask this question and it really defies logic as to what it accomplishes. An employer should be in a better position to determine the appropriate salary than the prospect. It makes you wonder if the employer is looking for a 'blue light special'. The job should really pay 80k but if he can get 3 qualified candidates and the low bid is 60k then the company saves 20k on this position. The problem is that after 6 months of working for the low wage the new employee now has more experience and knows he is making 25% less than his fellow workers. He finds a new job and the company has to go through the hiring exercise all over again and begin training a new employee. In other words a 'blue light special' leads to instability.

Most books on interviewing techniques suggest turning this question back on the employer. Ask what is the salary range the company is offering. A person could simply state he is looking for the going rate. He could also state what his last rate was which would be a factual response. I have talked to one employer who stated that he won't hire someone who backs away from the salary question.

I believe that the appropriate course of action is for salary not to be discussed until the employer has made his selection. Then if a salary can't be agreed upon an employer can move to his second choice.