Adebukola Ajetunmobi · 8 October 2026 · 2 min read
You can have a great interview and still lose the opportunity because of one answer you didn't prepare for. Salary expectations are one of those questions you should never answer without doing your research.
The candidate was confident.
The conversation was smooth.
Everything looked promising.
Then the employer asked:
“What is your salary expectation?”
The candidate asked:
“Will the salary be paid in dollars?”
The employer explained that the company was based in Nigeria, so the salary would be in naira.
His response?
₦4 million per month! 😲
The atmosphere changed immediately.
It was a junior role supporting a senior engineer, and that figure was far beyond what the employer expected for the position.
From that moment, the employer was no longer interested.
Later, the candidate reached out again and reduced his expectation to about ₦1 million+, but the first impression had already been made.
This is why salary expectations should never be a guess.
Before your next interview:
✔️ Research the market range for the role.
✔️ Understand the seniority level.
✔️ Consider the company's location and structure.
✔️ Look at your experience and skill level.
✔️ Know what similar roles are paying.
And remember, asking for a good salary is not wrong.
The goal is to make sure your expectation is realistic for the role you're applying for.
You don't want to undersell yourself.
But you also don't want to lose an opportunity because you gave a figure without understanding the market.
Preparation protects opportunities.
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