The Job Interview Is NOT The Time To Talk Money Heres Why

The Job Interview Is notlage The Time To Talk Money Heres Why Congratulationsyouve just landed a job bewerbungsgesprch and the chance to show your prospective employer why youre the best candidate for the job. There is plenty of great advice about what to wear, how to prepare yourself, and even how to follow-up after your interview. But what about the topic of compensation?Lets face it, most of us work because we need to pay the bills and money is what most of us report as the number one factor we consider before taking a new job. So when it comes to an interview, is it ever appropriate to talk about pay?We know its tempting to ask about compensation, but here are five reasons to skip the money talk until a job offer is on the table1. It Makes You Look InexperiencedSeasoned job-seekers know that money and compensation come up at the end of an interview process when a job offer is being made. Asking about money before you even know if youre right for the position can make you look in experienced, or worse, unprofessional. It may not seem logical to wait, but the truth is that other candidates wont ask about compensation until the end, and this is not the way you want to standout. You want to be remembered for your personal and professional strengthsnot for asking the faux pas question.2. Its A DistractionEvery minute of an interview is a chance to impress someone and make a genuine connection with them. Asking about salary tends to reinforce the distance between you and the person interviewing you. click to tweet It also takes away from the time that you could be learning about your prospective employers needs, goals, and ideas for the position. Using your interview time to talk about compensation is akin to talking about your personal issues. Theres a time for thatbut its not now.3. It Suggests Youre Motivated By The Wrong ThingsOf course, we all need to make a living. But asking about money in your first interview is a bit like asking about someones salary on your first date. Its off-putting because nobody wants to hear that money is the main thing you care abouteven if its true. You are there to assess whether youre a good fit for the roleand they are doing the same on their end. The money a part of that fit question but it comes later, not first.4. Your InterviewerMay bedrngnis Know The AnswerTypically, the first person who interviews you does not have control (or at least, sole control) over decisions regarding compensation. There may be a pre-set salary range set by a hiring manager who you havent met, and any changes to compensation may need to be cleared with HR or another senior manager. Sometimes interviews are held without very strict compensation guidelines at all. Whatever the case, dont assume that the person youre speaking to knows what compensation is on offer for your role. If its determined by someone towards the end of an interview process for a role, why jump the gun by bringing it up now?5. Its AwkwardIts always hard t o talk about money, which is not to say that its not important. But bringing it up too early makes this already sensitive conversation even tenser. Awkward is a two-way street. Its not just awkward for you to bring it up, its awkward for someone to respond to questions about money So do your interviewer a favor and make their job as easy as possible.In sum, theres a reason that talking about money is taboo during an interview feels taboo. Its not a great topic to broach so early in the job-seeking process, so trust your gut here and avoid talking about money until youve received that job offerA version of this article originally appeared on Career Contessa.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women. Join us by reviewing your employer