When to Talk About Money?

People often ask me "when should I bring up money in the interview?" A simple answer is, when it makes the most sense. There have been numerous books written on successsful interviewing strategies. Most will advise not to discuss money until the employer or interviewer bring up the subject. Unfortunately, many interviewers are not well versed in interview etiquette and often do not address the topic appropriately. A good rule to follow is, "don't address it in the first meeting but don' wait till the last meeting either. If the employer does not bring up the subject by the 2nd or 3rd meeting, ask the interviewer what the company has budgeted for this position? Assuming your compensation needs fall into the range budgeted, continue on with the interview process until an offer is made. If your required compensation is above the amount budgeted for the position, graciously inform the interviewer that your required compensation exceeds the amount budgeted by the company. At this point, let the interviewer respond. They may be willing to get creative to accomodate your compensation requirements.  The rule to remember is, "when discussing money, don't be too quick to give a number, but be confident in what you expect and be prepared to defend your value.  "Good luck and good hunting"