Interview Question

[IHateStupidCustomers]

Hello
Got a question for you guys...

I'm interviewing for an assistant manager's position at a specialty clothing shop (basically they sell really expensive stuff like Juicy Couture). It's technically part time, 25-30 hours a week. I really need full time, but if they pay me enough I'm going for it. I looked up average salaries and they fall around $35,000-$40,000 a year (I haven't really worked in management before). According to the internet, anyways. Basically, my question is, would it be too much to ask for around $20,000 a year or so?? I don't want to look like an idiot for asking for a ridiculous salary (if I even get the chance to talk about or negotiate the pay, that is.)

Thanks for the input...sorry if it's a dumb question!

[Aethian]

I had a real good response till I noticed you said this was part time. I would ask first if this was a hourly or salery position. Depending on that answer then I would get into numbers. Because if it's hourly you really don't have a say.

[Kiwi]

Don't be the first to offer up a number EVER
Have a range figured out in your head of the hourly and salary wage you will need
What do you have to make at 25 hours a week versus 40 hours

Go into the interview with those numbers sorted out, if they ask you for a number or for what you made at your last job dont cave! Tell them that your last job had different responsibilites and was in a different market so you want to negotiate based on this job.

[IHateStupidCustomers]

Thanks for the replies so far

Yeah, I've never asked about pay first at any interview. That's why I'm going in a little nervous because I really don't know what to expect! lol.

My plan so far is to try to make a really awesome impression at the interview, and if they offer me too little is to ask for the night to think about it and talk to my husband (which I would do anyways, regardless of pay) and call her back and say how much I'd love the job, but I really need $xx per hour or whatever. And maybe they'll take me up on it, and if not, I'm not really losing a whole lot because I can only go so low on pay. All considering they even offer me the job, of course

[wagegoth]

Don't bring up salary in the first interview. If you are called back, usually the company will ask what you're looking for, or give you an idea of the minimum.

[Akasa]

The only time I ever discussed salary at an interview was when they were going to hire me on the spot.(And were excited about the prospect of my working there.)