# "What Are Your Salary Expectations?" How to Answer in 2025 Without Giving a Number First


# "What Are Your Salary Expectations?" How to Answer in 2025 Without Giving a Number First

**TL;DR:** The “salary expectation” question from a recruiter isn't a trap; it's a test of your professional savvy. The golden rule for 2025 is to **defer, not declare**. Your goal in early conversations is to pivot from a number to the value you bring, ensuring you negotiate from a position of maximum leverage *after* they want to hire you. This guide will give you the exact scripts and strategy to do just that, calmly and confidently.

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When a recruiter asks about your salary expectations, it can feel like a high-stakes moment. Most candidates default to one of three common, yet flawed, approaches that can jeopardize their earning potential.

*   **The Lowballer:** Terrified of being screened out, you give a number lower than you're worth. *Result:* You anchor the entire negotiation low, potentially leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table over your career.
*   **The Overeager High-Roller:** You throw out an ambitious number based on hearsay or generic online data. *Result:* If it's misaligned with the company's budget for the role, you risk getting instantly disqualified before you've even had a chance to prove your value.
*   **The Awkward Dodger:** You try to dodge the question but sound evasive and unprepared. "Uh, I'm flexible..." or "I'd need to know more..." without a confident follow-up. *Result:* You appear unconfident and less professional, damaging the recruiter's perception of you.

There's a fourth, far superior way: **The Strategic Postponement.** This involves gracefully acknowledging the question, expressing excitement for the role, and professionally redirecting the conversation back to value and fit, all while building rapport.

### The Right Tools for a High-Stakes Conversation

So, how do you master this Strategic Postponement? Let's compare the tools at your disposal for this critical task.

| Feature / Goal | Traditional Method (Guessing & Fretting) | Generic AI (e.g., ChatGPT) | **OfferGoose AI Interview Coach** |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Crafting the Perfect Script**| Reading blog posts, feeling unnatural. | Provides generic, robotic scripts. | **Helps you co-create personalized, natural-sounding scripts based on your industry, role, and experience level.** |
| **Practicing Confident Delivery**| Talking to a mirror, no feedback. | Can't listen or judge your tone. | **Simulates a real recruiter conversation. You practice speaking your script aloud, and the AI gives instant feedback on your tone, pacing, and confidence.** |
| **Handling Persistent Follow-ups**| You freeze when they press you again. | Cannot simulate a real back-and-forth. | **The AI is trained to ask follow-up questions like, "I really need a range to move forward." It builds your muscle memory to handle pressure gracefully.** |
| **Building a Data-Backed Range (For Later)** | Using outdated, broad salary sites. | Cites generic, non-specific data. | **While OfferGoose focuses on *how* to say it, this practice prepares you to confidently state "based on market data for this specific role level..." when the time is right.** |
| **Outcome** | Anxiety and a high risk of error. | A good script, but poor delivery. | **A confident, practiced, and professional response that protects your leverage and impresses the recruiter.** |

### Your Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Salary Question

Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to using OfferGoose to perfect your response.

#### Step 1: Prepare Your Defer & Pivot Script

Start with this battle-tested script. The goal is to acknowledge their question while deferring your answer and focusing on mutual fit.

> *"That's a great question. Right now, I'm focused on finding the role that's the best fit for my skills and where I can make the biggest impact. Based on the job description, this position seems like an excellent match. Could we first explore if I'm the right candidate for you? I'm confident that if we both find there's a strong fit, we can agree on a compensation package that's fair and competitive."*

#### Step 2: Practice Delivery with the OfferGoose AI

A script is useless without confident delivery. Launch a mock interview session in OfferGoose to pressure-test your response.

*   Select a "Recruiter Screen" or "HR Interview" module.
*   When the AI asks about your salary expectations, deliver the script from Step 1.
*   The OfferGoose AI will analyze your response not just for keywords, but for *how* you say it. It will assess if you are hesitating, speaking too fast, or if your tone sounds apologetic instead of assertive.

#### Step 3: Prepare for the Rebuttal

A good recruiter might push back politely. You need to be ready with a second layer that demonstrates you're prepared but stays in control.

> *"I understand you need to ensure we're in a similar ballpark. From my initial research, the market rate for a role with this level of responsibility in this location seems to be in the range of [mention a *very* broad, well-researched market range, not your personal expectation, if you absolutely must]. However, my primary focus is truly on the total opportunity here—the team, the projects, and the growth potential. I'm sure we can land on a specific number once we've confirmed this is the right fit for us both."*

Practice this follow-up in OfferGoose to ensure you can deliver it without getting flustered. The platform’s feedback will pinpoint exactly where you need to improve to maintain control of the conversation.

### Answering Your Top Concerns

**Q: What if the recruiter insists on a number or they can't proceed?**
**A:** This is rare, but if it happens, it's a sign of a rigid process. You can use the rebuttal script from Step 3. The key is to frame your answer around the *market rate for the role*, not your personal desired salary. This shows you're informed but keeps the focus on the role's value, not your personal financial needs.

**Q: Is it ever okay to give a number first?**
**A:** The only time it's relatively safe is late in the process, after they've clearly decided you are their top candidate. At this point, you have maximum leverage. Even then, it's best to state your expectations as a well-researched *range* and anchor it with a phrase like, "based on my conversations and market data for this level of role..."

**Q: Will I be screened out for not giving a number?**
**A:** Unlikely. A good recruiter is looking for strong candidates. A professional, confident deferral is often seen as a sign of a savvy, experienced professional. It shows you know your value and understand the negotiation process. In contrast, giving a premature, poorly researched number is far riskier.

### Conclusion: From Anxiety to Advantage

The salary expectation question is your first, best opportunity to set the tone for your entire negotiation. Don't leave it to chance. By replacing guesswork with a proven strategy and replacing anxiety with AI-powered practice, you can walk into any interview calm, confident, and in control.

Ready to stop guessing and start practicing? Sign up for OfferGoose today and master the art of the interview, from the first screen to the final offer. Your future salary will thank you.

**Start your free trial at https://offergoose.com/**