He won't hesitate to inquire about a company's merger or acquisition plans or its strategy in building brand reputation.
But there's one thing he often lacks courage to ask: his own salary.
“I'm afraid that bringing up this topic might offend the recruiter and damage my chance of getting an offer,” he said. “So I'm shy and reluctant to talk about it.”
Li, a student at Hebei University of Economics & Business is not the only one who feels this way. According to a latest survey by , a major recruiting portal, more than 30 percent of job interviewees find it hard to raise the salary issue.
As a result, many end up in jobs without knowing exactly their pay and conditions.
Examples abound about those who learn too late that they lag behind their peers on a starting salary.
“Job candidates need a realistic picture of their paycheck from their future employer. It is in their best interests,” said senior consultant Chen Xi from .“They have a duty to obtain that information before they sign any contract.”
Career experts say that job seekers should not be hesitant or shy inquiring about the pay. However, they still have to do it in a “proper and tactful way.”
Raising the pay issue too soon may turn away an employer or reduce one's competitiveness.
“The sensitive topic is normally not touched upon in the first one or two rounds of interviews,” Chen pointed out. “At this stage, your priority is to prove your value to the company.”
Once a company develops a genuine interest in a job candidate, they'll send HR personnel to negotiate the details, either in the format of a last round interview or a private talk about a contract.
What if the company has not addressed the issue directly? Chen suggests that students seize the chance when asked “Do you have any more questions about our company?” Or “Anything else you want to know about us?”， and bring up the topic naturally.
Most recruiters will not be offended by a candidate's straightforward but polite manner.