Job Interview Pay Question

[Ginger]

I'm looking for new work and I got my first call back yesterday. It's not for a position very high on my list, but it makes this a good time to pose a tedious question. Lots of potential employers want to know what you make/made at other jobs; I have read, and agree, that this really isn't a fair question to ask even though it seems to be a pretty standard policy. It gives them a leg up right away on you, making it much easier to offer you a substandard wage. The same thing I read (which I'd post if I could dig it up again) said this is essentially the sme thing as asking the prospective employer for a list of salaries paid to people who have held the position in the past.

Wages are a gauge of productivity, but I feel that this is the reason I built a resume.

How would you, or have you, dealt with this situation. My call back has asked me to fill out an employment application which has previous employer contact fields along with salary information requests. It has been suggested that I complete the salary section with "confidential" or "will discuss with hiring manager" but what should I do in an interview?

[Mike]

i have stated what i wanted to be making, and in the single case, it was matched and beat.

it is a bullshit question that deserves an equally bullshit response. they have no right to know what you're currently making so you're justified in telling them what you want IMO.

[white_2kgt]

I wouldn't discuss it with them, just tell them your salary expectations. Problem solved.

[Apoc]

I think you have no obligation to disclose what you were making. If they bring it up, ask what the range for the position is (which is a legitimate question) and then answer with respect to the range. If they don't answer the range question or press you on giving an exact number I'd say you're not comfortable discussing it and move on (both in the interview and the job search).
If you feel absolutely obligated to discuss it I would do so with respect to industry standard. You can look it up on something like salary.com and tell them which quartile you're in. This way there's some wiggle room and what you actually make is open to interpretation.

The only time I'd actually give them a number is if I got an offer and wanted to use it for leverage to negotiate a higher starting salary.

[WRXtranceformed]

Hrm, I've never thought of it that way. I assumed that a new employer would ask you how much you made so that they could be competitive in their offer for you. At least that's what our company does. If you've worked for another company, that experience and your previous salary give you a base to work off of for your new salary in your new position. Someone who made say $80,000 at their old job should not be offered $50,000 in their new position...I can't think of many people who would accept that.

You can't always expect your new salary to match that of your previous employment, but it should be close... especially if that company is competing for you with other companies. That's what a coworker of mine did, he was able to increase his base salary simply by telling our HR hiring department (and proving) that another company was offering him way more than their original offer.

[WRXtranceformed]

The only time I'd actually give them a number is if I got an offer and wanted to use it for leverage to negotiate a higher starting salary.

Yeah exactly. If you're legitimately going to be an asset to any company you work for, you can use it to your advantage.

[Sijray21]

also consider the bonus options and schedule as well. I know people who took a huge paycut to come to the company i work for now because the bonus' are much higher than with other places - which would thus increase your overall annual income.

i agree with not disclosing what you currently make and telling them what you are trying to make - asking questions with the range of the position you are being interviewed for. As said before the only time i'd give them a floor is when i have already recieved an offer.

[JackoliciousLegs]

There are two ways to go about this imo. First is the easy way. You just avoid the question casually and say that you're so interested in the job that you'll think about salary later. I did this a couple of times. The other way is to name your price. Not necessarily what you are making but what you want. If they ask what you are making, respond with I want to be making xxx amount.

Ok, so the advantage of number 1 is that you give them the upper AND you prove to them that you want the job... That you are excited about the work and salary is just a perk of you being able to do what you love. This will make them appreciate your attitude and will give you a clear advantage over someone who they just interviewed that asked for 10k more than they want to spend. The other advantage is, if you're getting paid less after you're hired, you're less likely to be let go... even if you're slightly less productive. When it comes down to money, it comes down to money. If a company needs to skimp, the people at the top go first. Laying off one person who makes 80k is easier than laying off two that make 45k.

The advantage to number 2 is that you are in control. You make them know that you KNOW what you want and if they want you... you'll get it. Disadvantage is, if they see someone equally excited about the job as you but who didn't make a big deal about salary, you know who would win.

I think overall, it really depends on how bad you NEED the job. When I left school for example, I really wanted to move to Chicago. I bargained hard for jobs in NoVa and ended up taking the lowest pay w/o bargaining to move to Chicago. It's up to you. Decisions decisions.

[JackoliciousLegs]

Someone who made say $80,000 at their old job should not be offered $50,000 in their new position...I can't think of many people who would accept that.

That happens a lot actually. I mean, that's particularly large, but I know several people that took pay cuts to work at my company. Bonus', comp packages, etc... plus the work being more interesting all play into that. I think it becomes more frequent as you get older.

[.RJ]

Someone who made say $80,000 at their old job should not be offered $50,000 in their new position

Well, if they are horribly underpaid in their current position, and are looking to really get somewhere that is paying what they are worth - then it makes disclosing your current salary a catch-22. I dont discuss what I'm making with a prospective employer, only what my expectations are.

[Ginger]

I really appreciate all the responses.

During an interview I'll politely ask to discuss salary at the offer. Right now I'm dealing with a pen & paper Job Application which clearly has a salary history request. What would you write? I'd be comfortable writing all my salaries except my current pay because the company I work for now is notorious for paying below the market rate and I don't want to catch myself in that trap somewhere else.

[ScottyB]

leave your current pay blank. it might work to you advantage as they may ask you, at which point you could tell them your expectations.

[.RJ]

Andrew, just leave it blank. If they are interested in bringing you on, they'll bring it up in the interview - filling it in isnt going to make or break getting a foot in the door, and they've got a range to work with DOE.

[WRXtranceformed]

Someone who made say $80,000 at their old job should not be offered $50,000 in their new position...I can't think of many people who would accept that.

That happens a lot actually. I mean, that's particularly large, but I know several people that took pay cuts to work at my company. Bonus', comp packages, etc... plus the work being more interesting all play into that. I think it becomes more frequent as you get older.

I'm not accounting for bonuses, because that's just what they are, a bonus. I made as much money as most project managers in my old position as a supervisor, simply because I was working at our highest volume community and my bonus was about 1/4 of my annual salary. Others working at slower communities weren't so lucky.

If the bonuses are guaranteed and consistent in your new position, then that of course throws everything I said out the window and factors into how much you're expecting to make.

I too know people who have taken huge paycuts to come to our company. A coworker of mine gave up a position as a level 3 manager at Enterprise (lowest he made $150k / year) to come to us. That job unfortunately tore his marriage apart, so that's why he left. You probably wouldn't see me take that big of a pay cut though to move to another company.

[Evan]

I usually just tell them a $3k-5k range that Im expecting. Realize that most of the time they are going to initially offer you the lowest number.
Avoiding the question just annoys them, you have to answer it sooner or later and the sooner you answer, the more likely you will stay in the hunt. The old etiquite of discussing only at the offer doesnt apply anymore. Answer confidently about what you are looking for and dont feel bad or shy about it.
Dont worry too much about pricing yourself out of a job. They will still throw you a lowball offer if they dont want to pay you what you are asking (or are trying to call your bluff) Sapient did that and I had to bargain just to get the same $$ that I was making at my then-current job.

[Feersty]

I make $6,000 more at my current job than the one I was laid off from.

[WRXtranceformed]

I bent my Wookie!

[JackoliciousLegs]

I make $6,000 more at my current job than the one I was laid off from.

Last weekend, my penis was 12" instead of 9"...

[Feersty]

I make $6,000 more at my current job than the one I was laid off from.

Last weekend, my penis was 12" instead of 9"...

Yes, I know $6,000 is chump change to you. Get off me.

[Ginger]

Rob, he was pointing out that there was no reason to make the statement in the first place. Were it coupled with some kind of suggestion it would have helped, but, uhm, it wasn't.