The debate surrounding the inclusion of a salary range in a job description is an ongoing one. Some argue that it should be a requisite part of posting a role, while others argue that it could cause internal conflicts or discourage top talent from applying.
Today’s employment market, however, is highly competitive. For businesses to attract high-quality candidates, they need to showcase the benefits that go along with becoming part of the team. From the perspective of a job seeker, job hunting is often a laborious process, and a transparent job description is more appealing than an ambiguous one. Of course, the decision of including a salary range is at the discretion of the recruiter. Nevertheless, there are clear benefits of doing so:
- Transparency builds trust: The foundation for any successful business relationship is transparency, and the hiring process is no exception to that rule. Being clear about the remuneration package upfront demonstrates a commitment to honesty and fairness, which makes the job role far more attractive to job seekers.
- Attract qualified candidates: A well-defined salary range in a job ad acts as a filter, attracting candidates whose expectations align with the position. Including salary information helps job seekers to quickly assess if the role matches their desired compensation level. Consequently, this eliminates the need for candidates to invest time and effort in pursuing opportunities that may not meet their financial expectations, allowing them to focus on positions that are the right fit.
- Save time and effort: When job adverts include salary information, it streamlines the recruitment process for both candidates and employers. For candidates, it eliminates the need for guessing or speculating about the potential compensation. Instead, they can make informed decisions about whether to pursue an opportunity or not. This means candidates can avoid wasting time on applications and interviews for positions that might not meet their salary requirements. For businesses, including the salary range up front means it’s more likely that applications will originate from suitable candidates. This means that it’s less likely that, further down the line time will be wasted interviewing those with higher salary expectations who wouldn’t be financially able to accept the role if offered.
- Reduce negotiation hurdles: If you don’t disclose the salary range up front, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll have to enter into a potentially lengthy negotiation period with potential candidates. This can be negated by being transparent about the salary range. Providing this information in the initial job posting sets expectations from the very earliest stages of the recruitment process.
- Enhance employer branding: In such a competitive job market, employer branding is becoming an increasingly important element in attracting top talent. Gone are the days when stating “a competitive salary” would suffice. Nowadays, high-quality candidates are looking for roles in companies that prioritise the financial and mental wellbeing of their team members. Part of this means offering a fair salary. Including a salary range in the job advert demonstrates that a company cares about its employees and is committed to compensating them fairly.
In a recent poll that we did, it was found that 66% who voted said that they would not apply for a role with no defined salary whilst 21% said that they might apply and only 13% said that they would apply.
