Asia Pacific Salary Guide 2023

Several factors can influence your salary, including your job function, experience, education level, skill sets, and location.

The demand for your job in the market, the company’s budget and compensation policies, and any collective bargaining agreements can all influence your salary. Additionally, the state of the economy and the industry you work in can also impact on your salary.

Positions that play a critical role in propelling the company’s revenue growth tend to offer a higher earning potential than those that do not involve sales. Additionally, roles requiring specialised skills or extensive experience often have a higher salary than entry-level positions.

Another factor that is taken into consideration is location. Job opportunities in major metropolitan areas offer a more lucrative compensation package than in suburban regions. And finally, the size and financial stability of the company also play a role. Established companies with a solid financial footing tend to offer higher salaries than smaller businesses or startups with less capital.

If you are a hiring manager or employer, and want to ask a job candidate about their salary expectations, it’s important to approach the topic in a professional and respectful manner.

Here are some tips for asking a candidate about their salary expectations:

Provide some context for the question. Explain why you are asking about salary expectations, and how the information will be used.

For example, you might say something like, “As part of the hiring process, we need to ensure that the salary for this position is in line with the budget and compensation policies for the company. Can you tell me what your salary expectations are for this role?”

When asking a candidate about their salary expectations, it's important to be clear and direct in your question. Avoid vague or open-ended questions, and instead ask a specific question about the candidate's desired salary range for the position.

For example, you could say, “What is your desired salary range for this position?” This will provide the candidate with a clear and specific question to answer, and will help facilitate a productive conversation about salary expectations.

It is generally best to wait until the end of the initial job interview, and possibly even until after a second or third interview, before discussing salary expectations.

This allows the hiring manager and the candidate to get to know each other, discuss the job responsibilities and expectations, and determine whether there is a good fit between the candidate's skills and experience and the requirements of the position.

You could also get candidates to write down their expected salary range in the initial application form. This means that candidates can provide their expected salary range upfront, and you can shortlist those who fall within your budget.

Overall, the specific timing of when to discuss salary expectations depends on the individual circumstances of the job interview and the preferences of the hiring manager and the candidate.

Before you begin the negotiation process, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the market value for the position you're hiring for.

Knowing what similar positions are paying in your industry will help ensure that you're offering a competitive salary. Once you have an idea of the going rate, you can start to negotiate with your potential employee.

It's also important to be clear about your budget and what you're willing to pay for the role. If the salary request is significantly higher than what you're prepared to offer, be honest and explain your budget constraints.

You may be able to negotiate other aspects of the job, such as vacation days or flexible work-from-home arrangements, to make up for a lower salary.

The most important thing is to be respectful and professional throughout the negotiation process. Remember that your ultimate goal is to build a great, long-term working relationship with the candidate, so aim to avoid any confrontational language or behaviour.

If you can reach an agreement that both sides are happy with, then you've successfully negotiated a salary for your new employee.