"How to Navigate the 'Expected Salary' (ETC) Question After Career Breaks and Rejoining the Workforce"

Introduction For professionals with a varied career journey— characterized by industry experience, strategic shifts, and re-entries after breaks—the “Expected Salary” (ETC) question in interviews can feel nuanced. Here's a guide on how to approach this question, using my journey as an example.

My Career Path I began my career as a game designer in 2006, with an initial salary of 1.8 LPA. Six months in, I was promoted to 2.2 LPA, and two years later, after my first job switch, I was making 2.6 LPA. Another switch within six months increased my salary to 4.5 LPA. By September 2009, I took a three-year break to focus on UPSC preparation, which I pursued wholeheartedly but ultimately didn’t succeed in.

Returning to the industry in 2012, I secured a role with a 5.5 LPA salary, followed by a promotion to 6.5 LPA in 2015. Over three and a half years, I grew in my role, and my salary rose to 10.4 LPA. My next switch led me to a product management role at 12 LPA, which I held until 2019. After a brief return in 2022 for two months, I’ve taken time to reassess my career goals.

How to Answer the 'Expected Salary' (ETC) Question When rejoining the workforce, especially after breaks or short stints, the Expected Salary question can be tackled in a way that highlights your value while remaining realistic about market standards.

Key Points to Address:

1. Experience-Based Justification Drawing from my experience across game design and product management roles, I can leverage my skill set to make an immediate impact. In a response, I’d outline my years in the field, my promotions, and my salary history to showcase consistent growth.

2. Market Research Demonstrating awareness of current industry trends is essential. I’d mention recent research on salaries in similar roles to support my salary expectation.

3. Flexibility While stating a desired range, I’d also express openness to discuss, emphasizing my interest in long-term alignment with the company over immediate compensation.

Suggested Response Example:

"With over a decade of experience in game design and product management, and considering my previous role compensated me at 12 LPA, my expected salary would be in the range of [mention range, e.g., 13-15 LPA]. This aligns with my skills, expertise, and the value I aim to contribute to your team. However, I am open to discussing this to ensure mutual alignment."

Conclusion Navigating the ETC question post-career break requires balancing past experience with present goals. By emphasizing flexibility, knowledge, and a results-driven approach, you can present an ETC expectation that demonstrates both confidence and adaptability.

Let me know your opinion on my situation and the best way for me to handle it.

Tags: #ExpectedSalary #JobInterviewTips #CareerBreak #GameDesign #ProductManagement #CareerGrowth