9 to 5
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
current salary & history
in 9 to 5
This question annoys me to no end from potential employers. IT'S NONE OF YOUR F***ING BUSINESS!! It has nothing to do with this job and what you think a fair offer is!
So who has lied? I wonder if it's better to lie or just say it's confidential and ask them what the position range is. I am not a proponent of lying but I am just so annoyed with this very personal question that I wouldn't feel badly about it.
If they pushed for an answer and/or proof I'd simply walk away and be disgusted with that company anyway. But I'm not desperate for a new job so maybe that makes a difference.
Re: current salary & history
The problem with lying is that if you write down that you make $45,000 and they really only have it in the budget to pay the new hire $40,000, they may assume you wouldn't want to take a $5,000 pay cut and throw you out of the running.
And if you lied and you actually only make $38,000, then you just screwed yourself.
I disagree. THe problem with lying is that if they call your previous employer to confirm then you will be caught and it will cost you the job.
Just write down your salary. If you want a higher salary then you'll have to justify why once the job is offered to you.
I fail to see how it's none of their business. They can afford to pay you, say, $40K. You're currently making $50K. They then know there's no way you'd take the job, so they can stop wasting everyone's time. If you're currently making $30-40K, perhaps you can talk.
There are so many people who post here that they're desperate to find out what a position's salary is, becuase "I don't want to waste anyone's time if it's too low". Yet they get upset if a company wants to flip that around and know what you're making.
I would never, ever lie to a prospective employer. It will come back to haunt you in one way or another.
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We just disagree. I think the employer knows the range for the position is xx-xx. So tell me the range and I'll tell you if that's workable for me. My current salary has no bearing because 1) maybe I'm willing to make less for this position and 2) maybe I'm not willing to make less.
If they know I make $5 now and they know their range is up to $10 why would they offer me more than $5-6?
Well let's try this from another perspective. My company is one that, when they know what you are currently making/previously made, they will offer more than what you currently make (if they want to hire you, that is). In addition, if say, you got pretty nice benefits at your currently job, and ours don't entirely match up, they will work that into your salary as well. Of course, none of this is possible if you do not wish to be forthcoming with your salary. This is not one of those illegal interview questions that they aren't allowed to ask. This is something they have every right to ask and should you decide that you do not wish to disclose this information, you could be missing out on a great opportunity.
Given the amount of people out there looking for a job and the number of jobs available, it makes absolutely no sense to refuse to provide the information companies are looking for. Let's hope you do keep your job for a while.
I have never lied about this, but I've been tempted to....I understand why they ask this question to an extent, but it has never worked in my favor. I just pride myself in being an ethical person and I've always been scared that somehow the potential employer would find out that I had lied.
However, I've recently had 3 friends that lied and it worked drastically in their favor. One is making $15k more than she originally was and the other 2 are making about $5k more. I, on the other hand, am still making the same amount as I was before I had a masters degree and two professional designations. Why? Because both employers that offered me a job (including the one I accepted the job from) offered me EXACTLY what I was making with my previous employer. We moved so I didn't really have a choice about switching jobs, but it really sucks....I was about to get a promotion with my old employer because of my masters degree, CPA & CFE licenses.
That being said, I truly believe that honesty is the best policy and hard work usually pays off.
Oh heck yes this. When I was looking for a job it drove mebatshit when I would see things like "those without salary information will not be considered" yet they had no interest in discussing what they had budgeted for the position. I just wanted the employers to admit they wanted to pay migrant worker wages for this new attorney position and be done with it.
I think you sound rather silly, and like you don't have much experience with professional-level job hunting. Being asked to disclose your current salary is standard, and almost all companies ask for this information. It is not illegal or inappropriate for them to do so. This is part of the information they are going to confirm with a background check anyway before hiring you.
By all means, refuse to answer the question if you like (even though it is a "required" field on most employment applications if/when you get to the interview stage), but be prepared for the opportunities to go no further.
Companies are not going to take you seriously if you refuse to give them this information - you are not special/unique (especially in this economy - jobs are competitive) and the rest of the "pool" is happily giving them all of the information they are requesting.
I would strongly suggest that you just get over it and realize that this is a standard question that you are always going to be asked - this is nothing new, nor is it anything out of the ordinary. Saying that a company that asks for this information "doesn't have good hiring practices" sounds incredibly naive and ill-informed.
You think I'm silly and would strongly suggest I just get over it? Is this how you debate with your husband? Poor guy.
I have yet to see a valid reason why my current salary is relevant. You can't tell me it will have no bearing whatsoever on what you offer me. Please, I just don't buy it. My current requirement is relevant and your range is relevant but that's it (along with my background and experience of course).
P.S. I'm employed at a company where I never had to disclose my salary history; they never asked.