To those with an interview coming up, When the interviewer asks, "What salary are you hoping for?" most Koreans answer, "I'll follow the company's internal guidelines." It's my salary, so leaving it up to the company feels like a loss, doesn't it? A foreign student asked me the exact same thing. ## Why Do They Answer That Way? Many Korean companies have a salary table set by rank and years of service. That's called the "internal regulations" (내규). A new hire usually starts at the very bottom row of that table. So in many cases, it's hard for the interviewer to raise the pay on their own. That's why this phrase is closer to a greeting that says, "I'll trust and follow that table." Also, if you don't know the company's situation, the number you name may be too high or too low. The company has more information, so you think whoever speaks first is at a disadvantage. ## How to avoid losing out anyway First, look at the "compensation" field in the job posting. If it says "per internal policy," it means they'll pay according to the pay scale. If it says "to be discussed after the interview," it means there's room to negotiate. If it's something you can negotiate, try saying this. "I'd like to discuss this based on my experience and the duties of the role. Could you tell me the usual range for this position?" If you really have to give a number, it's safer to check postings for the same job on a job site and answer with a range rather than a single figure. The amounts change every year, so be sure to check for yourself. ## In closing "We'll follow the company policy" is often not giving up but Korean-style politeness. Still, read the job posting first, then decide whether or not to say something. I'm rooting for you!