Job / salary question

northhillsbride · June 2014

So, I was wondering about this last night as I might be interviewing for a job outside of my current company. If I'm asked what my current salary is - do you say the number or a range? Also, do you just tell them the salary number or the "total" number - the one that your company values at with all of the "perks" of insurance benefits, 401K matching, bonuses, etc....?

amyjoy18 · June 2014

I think this is a tough question, especially for you if the new job and old job are in different locations. The numbers can be so skewed. I've found that I don't usually get asked what my current salary is, but on the few occasions that I did, I was young and didn't even think about the total benefits package. I would probably answer with the benefits package number, but clarify that the number you're providing includes salary and benefits.

Meghan&Rich · June 2014

You should answer with your Total Comp number, but that should only include base salary + incentive/bonus. That number should only be what your actual earnings are...you should not include benefits, 401k matching, etc. Those numbers are basically just what you are costing the company in benefits, and shouldn't be considered salary when communicating to prospective employers. You could say something along the lines of: my salary/bonus is this, in addition to a benefits package that inlcludes a 401k match.

AmandaJLewis · June 2014

Yea, don't let your current company's brainwashing of your "total compesnation" chart trick you

Good luck!

northhillsbride · June 2014

Amy - good point (different regions)! I'm still learning things down here; thankfully this position is at my friend's company and with her team, so she has given me all of the inside information. I even had to ask if suits for interviews are par for the course down here!

Meghan - I was hoping you would weigh in. I didn't think it through that whole way, but what you say makes absolute sense and I know you're right.

Amanda - right? It's just getting harder to stomach things here bc of all of the layoffs and overall cuts our division is seeing. When I weigh out the pros and cons of my position, being able to be remote weighs like 5x more than most other pros, but when there is no room for me to grow in this position, and the hc benefits costing more each year with raises being capped at 1.5% at the most (at least for my team), I ust can't keep up with the cost of living rising, too. I need to make more $ and get into the "hot" industry right now, which is oil & gas. This job opportunity would be my "in" as no one else is looking at me bc of my industry background being different from that and all of my experience is out of state. The guy I'm interviewing with is new to this company, too, and just moved back here from a few year stint in Pgh, so that's on my side!

egpitt22 · June 2014

Good luck, Clare!!

northhillsbride · June 2014

Thanks, Emmy - I appreciate it!

mcmfan · June 2014

Good luck. Personally I try to never talk about salary especially until someone offers me one and then I negotiate from there. The key is to get them to name numbers first so that you are in a position to negotiate. And I also never talk salary (in specifics) with anyone that is not authroized to offer me a job and a salary. When asked I say something like, "I was well compensated for the work that I delivered in my last position. I realize that you want to make sure that my salary expectations are in line with what you can offer. Perhaps you could share the salary range for the position."

mareski · June 2014

mareski · June 2014

mcmfan said:

When asked I says something like, "I was well compensated for the work that I delivered in my last position. I realize that you want to make sure that my salary expectations are in line with what you can offer. Perhaps you could share the salary range for the position."

Love this idea. I am in the same boat with a job search at the moment.

Job / salary question

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