This question trips up more candidates than almost any other in Pakistani job interviews — answer too low and you leave money on the table; too high and you risk being screened out before showing your full value.
Do Your Research First
Before any interview where this might come up, check our salary pages for your specific role, experience level, and city — walking into this question with real data changes the entire dynamic of the conversation.
Consider Deflecting Early in the Process
If asked very early (before you've learned much about the role), it's reasonable to say something like: "I'd like to learn more about the role's full scope before discussing numbers — could you share the budgeted range for this position?" This sometimes gets the employer to name a figure first, which is generally advantageous for you.
If You Need to Give a Number
Provide a researched range rather than a single figure — for example, "Based on my experience and current market rates, I'm looking at a range of [X] to [Y]" — anchored to real data, not a guess. This gives room for negotiation while still setting clear expectations.
Avoid Common Mistakes
- Naming a figure significantly below market rate out of fear of losing the opportunity
- Being vague ("I'm flexible / whatever you think is fair") which can result in a lower offer than you'd have gotten with a specific, researched answer
- Anchoring only to your current salary rather than your market value in the new role
After Receiving an Offer
Even if your stated range is met exactly, it's still reasonable to negotiate further if your research supports it — see our salary negotiation guide for next steps.