Page 59 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want

earning £40,000 a year, but I’m getting married at the end of
the year and we’re thinking of moving into a new house, so
money is really important to me now because I’m trying to build
a future for myself and my partner,’ that is a perfectly accept-
able position. You are saying that up until now money had

not really been a significant issue, but an event has happened
to make it more important. Maybe you have now got young
children and would like to send them to private school. Again

that provides a specific reason for wanting a higher salary:
‘I’m now at a stage in my life where I want to be in an environ-
ment where I can progress financially as well as from a career
perspective.’
As an employer I actually respect that. Because what that

really tells me is that you are driven, that you have a goal, that
you are prepared to work hard, that you are prepared to make
sacrifices because there is an event in your life that is very

important to you.
If money is the issue you need to be ready to communicate
that desire in a manner that makes it sound balanced, plausible
and reasonable, rather than just saying, ‘I’m on £36,000 a year
now, and I’m applying because this job o≠ers £45,000.’ That

comment would put me o≠, because what I will immediately be
thinking is that if you are prepared to leave your last employer
because somebody has o≠ered you a bit more money, then it is

highly likely that should you come to my company, if somebody
else o≠ers you a bit more money twelve months later, you are
probably going to move again. And with that in my mind the
chances are that I am not going to select you.

47 passion