Salary is one of the important aspects of any resume or interview session. Salary is the way of compensating one's efforts and efficiency by way of money. However, including salary within resumes is considered inappropriate as per the professional resume format. Given below are certain benefits and disadvantages of including salaries within resume to help you decide if mentioning expected salary in resume is good or not.
Negative Impression
Mentioning salary puts up a negative impression on the employer. It unnecessarily diverts the employer's attention from the credentials of the applicant towards his salary expectations. The applicant comes across as someone who is very rigid and demanding about salaries. It is essential to convince the employer about your potential to perform work, prior to demanding the salary of your choice.
Over Expectations
An applicant may include salary within the resume. However, if it exceeds the level the employer is willing to pay, then the employer may directly reject the applicant only on the basis of his salary expectations. It is better to let the employer make your credentials the only basis of choosing you for the job. One can negotiate the salary at the time of the interview.
Ideal Resume Format
Ideally, the salary section should not be included in the resume format. A traditional resume format speaks about the qualities and abilities of the applicant. It is a way of communicating the suitability of the applicant towards the job opening. Once an applicant is short listed on the basis of this resume, and then comes the interview round where one can negotiate the salary. Hence, the employer does not expect to see these details on the resume.
Benefits of Discussing Salary during the Interview
The resume impresses the employer in calling you for the interview. Your personality, conduct and capabilities help you get the job. By this stage, the employer is impressed enough to get you on board quickly. Hence this would be the right time to negotiate the compensation with the recruiter. An employer may agree to pay your desired amount once you have proved your worth prior to making the demands.
Ways to Declare Salary
All those candidates who wish to include the salary section in the resume, here is a tip. Instead of quoting a price, conclude the section with a single statement, 'Flexible as per the discussions with recruiters' or 'Negotiable during Interview'. This displays the right attitude of the applicant that work satisfaction matters as much as the compensation does and there is no rigidity regarding salary expectations for the applicant.
Salary Amount
In case you do wish to write a specific amount in the salary section, finalize the amount after some research. Identify the amount being paid in the market for this position. Try to talk with your recruiters to get an idea about the compensation in advance. The amount you mention should be apt with your qualifications and experience while fitting within the pre-decided salary bracket of the employer.
For Example:
Considering the strong industry experience and core knowledge in field of finance, the salary range would be $50,000 to $60000 annually, negotiable on the basis of position, responsibilities and the terms and conditions of the organization as applicable.
Such a statement gives the recruiter an image that the applicant is flexible with the salary and gives equal consideration to designation and duties of the job profile.
To sum it up, mentioning the salary section in the resume is good only when you quote a price that suits your work profile and which the employer would agree to as well. Hence, consider the given pointers before making your decision to include the salary section.