Salary Requirements in a Cover Letter

Your cover letter for a job application is the first and foremost document that reaches your 'to be employer'. Therefore, as a job seeker, it becomes necessary for you to pen down some of your essential information and give the employer an overview of what you are and what you exactly intend to do in the organization? One such important information to be mentioned correctly in the cover letter is the salary requirement.

Certainly, apart from educational qualifications, experience and knowledge, salary requirements of a candidate is the point, an employer looks for! Normally, salary requirements should not be written in the cover letter. However, it is always better to include it if the employers ask to do so and not mentioning it might lead to rejection of your job application, no matter how intelligent and qualified you are for the position! Read more on letter writing.

Mentioning the exact salary requirements in a cover letter might be simple for the experienced ones. However, many young and first time job applicants are confronted with the question, how to put salary requirements in a cover letter? So here's a response to their query.

Tips for Addressing Salary Requirements in a Cover Letter

As said earlier, mentioning sensible and proper salary requirements is very necessary, while posting a cover letter. The below discussed tips would help in this regard.

Determining your Salary Requirement
Of course, money is such a thing, with which we would never be satisfied and we would like to quote a very high amount! However, this is the corporate world. Therefore think wisely and logically before quoting your salary requirement. At the outset, conduct a market research and know the current salary ranges for the position you've applied. If you have enough knowledge regarding the level of duties and responsibilities involved in it, then consider them as well, think about the size of the organization; whether it is a small scale firm or a multinational? Think over your qualification and experience; whether your assets are worth your salary requirements or are you just quoting it blindly? Remember, your application might get rejected if the employer finds your salary requirements too high or unreasonable! So make sure, you think about all the above said things.

Putting it on the Letter
Now, when you have decided your salary requirements, put it in the form of a range. Mention a specific range of your salary requirement, which is neither too high for the employer nor too low for yourself. Put something which apparently looks acceptable to both the parties. State your quote properly. Do not hesitate, if you think you are eligible for the post!

Be Flexible
This is another point to be understood. Being too firm or adamant on your salary point, might disappoint the employer. He might be willing to recruit you, but if you stick to your point and if he finds it unreasonable, he'll be helpless and might lose interest in your application. Therefore, to avoid such a situation, mention that the salary range is negotiable and you are ready to discuss it in the personal interview. Read more on salary negotiation.

State your High Expectations from the Organization
Display your trust in the organization. I know it is a bit early to show your trust in the company, as you haven't even met your employer! But, your trust in the organization in this early stage would prove useful. Include statements that convey your high expectations from the employer and also that the salaries offered by the organization are fair and reasonable.

On reading all these tips, you must have become confident enough to quote the right salary requirements, considering all the aforementioned factors and also mentioning other essential details. But take a look at the sample letter given below, which quotes the salary requirements by considering all the above said tips.

Sample of a Cover Letter with Salary Requirement

Your name Your address Date Contact Details Employer's name/ Organization's name Employer's address Dear (Employer's name) With reference to your advertisement, dated (mention the advertisement date), posted in (mention source's name), I would like to apply for the post of (mention post name) in (mention organization's name). I hold a long experience of almost (mention the years/months of experience), in (mention the duties and responsibilities you've handled in the course of your experience). I have (mention your soft skills). Apart from a being a reputed name in the global market, I have known (mention organization name) as a good pay master, offering fair salaries to its employees. So in response to your request, my salary requirements according to the job details provided by you are, (mention the salary range). However, the salary is negotiable and I am open to a discussion with you in this regard. If I'm given a chance to work in the organization, I would utilize my potential to the fullest and contribute superlatively to the organization's success and growth. Looking forward to your reply. Yours Sincerely Your name Your signature

So, how to include salary requirements in a cover letter? I hope, with the tips discussed above and the sample letter, you know it better and you could do it yourself the next time. If you have a better idea over quoting your salary requirements, you can implement it in your cover letter. However, make sure that you consider everything, research properly and only then make a statement. Wishing you a great career!!!