What’s your desired salary? It’s a question that will sweat out even the most confident applicant. The question will eventually pop up at one stage or the other during the recruitment process. What you need to do is be strategic about it. If you lowball the number, you will have to settle for less. If you go for the high, you might not be considered anymore. So how do you answer this? Let’s find out.  What is Desired Salary?  A desired salary is pretty much self-explanatory. It refers to the amount you expect in exchange for your service. A desired salary is useful both for the employer and the potential employee. It allows the employer to understand the expectations of the potential recruit and assess whether it fits within their budget or not.  On the other hand, a potential candidate can determine a desired salary based on their experience and skills for a position. However, it is important to research the market rate for similar positions and be prepared to negotiate to reach a mutually satisfactory salary package. Read more: How to Make a Video Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide How to Determine the Appropriate Desired Salary  From the perspective of Bangladesh, the concept of desired salary holds little value in most hiring cases. Unless you are applying for a highly technical position or a mid-career switch, the negotiations hardly work in favor of a candidate. Still, there are several ways to determine the appropriate salary. Here’s how.  Understand the Industry Standards  Research what the industry standard is for the role you’re applying to. Consider location, required skills, and level of experience in this regard. Bdjobs, Chakri, and CareerJet can be good starting points for the research.  Match Your Skills and Experience Be realistic about where you are skills and experience-wise. For example, if you apply for a position requiring 2-3 years of experience as a fresher, chances are you won’t even make it to the preliminary screening let alone salary negotiations.  Read more: Empower Your Tech Career in 2024: Master These In-Demand Skills for Success The best approach would be to again research what other companies are paying for your skills and experience level to get an estimate.  Factor in the Benefits  Many organizations offer benefits and perks like commute allowance, mobile allowance, rent subsidy, and high bonuses. Consider all the benefits you will be getting before estimating a number.  Consider Future Growth Potential  Another thing to consider is the future growth potential of the company. In the case of a company with a robust growth and promotion structure, an initial low salary can be offset by long-term career earnings.  Read more: What to Wear for a Job Interview