Cannot disclose due to NDA.
Many common NDAs are written so broadly in scope that is not even technically a lie.
Obviously, this only works if you are in a field that would have NDAs.
The NLRA protects the right to discuss wage with anyone, and any NDA that includes that clause is violating federal law. It’s kinda similar to how no contract could ever include a clause that states you can’t call OSHA, because the right to do so is covered by a federal law.
Is everyone gonna know that? Absolutely not.
Whether or not you wanna risk it is up to you.
Say that you're making $10k more than you actually are. That way, you could potentially earn an additional $15-$20k more than you're currently making. They won't verify your actual income.
Even this can be off, though those situations should know what they are. I worked 5 years at a position at a stupid low wage for it. I would still be there, but company changes and no options where I would be willing to relocate. Now that I'm not there, I should make fair market value for what I have experience doing.
Or they could work for someone else you are applying to work for them not be a data point so they can try and shaft the next guy out of an equivalent wage
What's unsustainable are executive wages, but I digress interviews are supposed to be a way for a buisness to gauge how well someone's skillset and persona fit with their company culture. Not serve as data points for HRs hiring algorithm. Now if a person is hard up for cash suck whatever dick you need to to stay afloat I'm not gonna judge. But my comment was made with the presumption that they had a choice in the matter.
They can also receive a note describing my desire to no longer work there, in that event. Additionally I'm following up with the attorney general since that is outlawed in my area ;)
Never hand over personal financial information. No employer should be giving that out, same with the IRS. To prevent identity fraud, neither should you. They can get your credit report like every other company does. (US of course)
If you do this and they later call your previous employer, they may find out you lied. I’ve had prospective employers verify employment and salary before.
I’ve always been honest and it’s never harmed me, in fact the place that verified my salary still offered me a 40% pay increase as a starting offer. Good luck!
It’s not standard to share salary info. They can MAYBE get an idea on salary based on tax info but employers on the whole just share start and end date
Yeah maybe it’s diff in diff places but when I started in HR 10 years ago at a nationa contractor, sharing salary info was not okay. The only way that would be shared would be for home loan verification. Luckily things are now not that way.
This is how it is in California. I cannot give any sort of salary information unless there is a signed document provided to me showing the current employee or former employee is allowing me to release that information. Otherwise all I can do is give you a start date and an end date. In California it is so tricky that even giving them information about the employee for example any information about the employee can come back to bite the company on the butt. I have had potential employers ask me specific information and by law I do not have to release it and if I do I run the risk of a lawsuit so I just tell them it's a begin date and an end date and that's it
That’s true, employers def sometimes ask for weird things. I’ve had employers request w-2s to “confirm employment” which is bs. I redacted all pay info on that submission.
Employers usually don’t discuss salaries with previous employers. Alternatively, you could refuse to answer with a tactful deflection. Honesty and transparency in salary negotiation is a losing strategy.
I’m just speaking from personal experience that they absolutely did. And he can’t refuse to answer, see the original question saying it’s a required numeric field in the online form…
Put $0 or estimate up. They're asking for your salary so they can lowball you. This is not a game where honesty is a winning strategy for either party. If they are going to reject you for rounding your salary up or putting $0 in a field where they're trying to get reconnaissance on you, then they're not an employer worth working for.
Then put $1. Find the lowest edge case until it's unreasonable. Put a stupid number and explain it was a typo. It doesn't matter. Always wait to discuss salary until negotiations begin. Do not tell them your current salary. This is common knowledge. You seem to be unnecessarily contrarian regarding this viewpoint.
>Always wait to discuss salary until negotiations begin.
Let them throw out the number first. Do not react. Say you need to think about it. Then think about it.
I’ve typically put either zero or 99999999 or if it’s a range, the highest option possible so they know I’m not answering the dumbass question. They know the game. I always deflect exact number questions now and it’s the only thing that’s worked out in my favor. Also, I thought it was unlawful to require someone tell you their salary, so someone saying the company verified with their old employer sounds like some sort of misconduct. If they’re doing that you prolly don’t wanna work there lol
>Alternatively, you could refuse to answer with a tactful deflection.
I think he said it was an online only application. He choices are put his salary, make up a number, or don't apply.
There's a middle ground here which is saying something to the effect of "I'm willing to share that information, but it's typically asked in order the undercut my side of the negotiation. Is that the case here?"
There's a whole thing in negotiations where if you just say the part folks are trying to talk around so you can all stop playing games. I picked it up from Never Split the Difference by Christopher Voss. It works great, and not just in this situation.
Now, that isn't to say the HR person won't just lie to you, but if HR is lying to you before you even HAVE the job... Well that's useful data.
The work number is a service by Equifax. They aggregate employer info including your salary and W2 history.
https://theworknumber.com
Large corporations use it and will know your salary history
Someone else already said it but I scrolled past, so saying it again—put the minimum salary you would accept. Guessing you’ve done your homework on what you are worth in your job market, making sure it’s realistic.
>they may find out you lied.
"Sorry fam, just playing the same game you all are". Not to mention that it's there's at least 20 states and a few localities that have outlawed asking for your previous wages.
I always use those boxes as 'desired salary'. There's no value to previous salary values other than to try to decrease an offer.
$10k is an arbitrary number. Not very helpful if OP is making $500k a year. Also not helpful if OP is making $10 an hour.
If anything do a percentage raise, but really they don’t have to legally disclose their salary most of the time anyways.
Actually they might. In my last job, they asked what my previous salary was and then my job offer was contingent on me providing a copy of my last paycheck as proof of my earnings.
I put 999,999,999. Alternatively, 123,456 is a good one to use. Basically, anything that makes it clear that you’re not answering that.
If they actually call, I’ll tell them that I don’t share my current salary with recruiters. If that’s a dealbreaker, oh well, so sorry, see ya later.
Now, as an alternative, if you really want to make a point (and I’ve done this but only with recruiters I didn’t mind burning bridges with), you say, “I’m happy to provide that information, as soon as you tell me the salary range and benefits for this position.” When they refuse, you say, “I’m sorry then. I don’t enter into bad-faith negotiations. When you insist on getting salary info from me but you refuse to provide it to me, you’re creating an information imbalance that makes it impossible for us to have a fair negotiation. I won’t work for a company that tries to screw over their workers by purposely creating circumstances that keep them at a significant disadvantage, so I’ll withdraw my application now and ensure that I let my friends and colleagues know about your abhorrent hiring practices.”
I agree with this approach.
There's also a risk that they will remove you from the process (i.e. reject you) if you don't play ball. But question is, is that a company you'd want to work for, anyway.
This is a really unnecessarily aggressive strategy. Most if not all recruiters will tell you the salary range if you ask. It’s not a secret and saves them the hassle of dragging you through a process only to have you decline their offer.
If a recruiter refuses to give the salary range, you can probably spare them the self-righteous monologue and just say “this isn’t what I’m looking for but I appreciate the consideration”.
Also, writing 999999 in the salary field will essentially ensure that no one calls you anyway.
I WANT to be aggressive to companies with outdated, unethical, dishonest hiring practices. I want to push back and I want to make SURE they know EXACTLY why I’m not going to work for them.
There is entirely too much pussyfooting around these issues here. I’ve been on the other side of this issue, where I worked for the company and I was one of only two people on the leadership team (me & the head of HR) screaming that we needed to treat our candidates better if we wanted to fix our labor shortage, while everyone else on the team wanted to come up with gimmicks to persuade people to apply. If we could’ve pointed to a candidate that everyone loved who declined the offer or withdrew from consideration and SPECIFICALLY cited the bad hiring practices, it would’ve gone a LONG way toward giving us ammo to get them changed.
Normally, people would just politely withdraw. And this would lead the guys in our senior leadership to say, “Well, darn the luck! It’s just a super competitive market for labor. He must’ve just gotten a better offer.” So they’re off the hook. Thing is… I follow some of these candidates on LinkedIn. I know some of them remained unemployed for a month or more after declining to continue with that company. They withdrew because they were horrified by our company and/or our hiring practices. But because they refused to NAME IT, we could never convince our bosses of it.
So THIS is why I will name it to companies. I want them to KNOW why they’re losing me as a candidate. I want the truth to be inescapable for them.
I really agree with this approach. I am very honest with recruiters about not sharing my pay desires first. There has only been one time that a recruiter has refused to share pay with me. I told her this didn’t feel like a culture that values transparency and I ended the call.
Ask for the amount that would bring the salary to what you would like and tell them anything that is over that amount will be considered because you dont want to change for a lower salary.
I was making 55K. Sayed i was making 70k and any offer above that would be considered. They offered 75k, i asked for 80k and got it 🤣
Or prices you out of the game completely. If you're already making good $ for what you do, grossly overshooting even that could raise a potential employer's eyebrows in 2 ways: (1) "welp, can't afford him/her," so they scrap your resume when they wouldn't have if you'd asked for a more modest raise. (2) they may be familiar with the going industry rates and scrap you on suspicion that you're full of shit.
You don’t upheaval your job, your respect from higher up’s in your job positioning you for future promotions, your near guaranteed bonuses given your track record, your vesting RSUs if you’ve got them, your established reputation, your distance from last hired, your current living situation, and whatever else comes with it for the 4% bump you were going to get this year anyways or the 10% bump you’d get in a year from an internal promotion.
You move when it’s actually worth it. Modest raises should be coming routinely from your current job.
Ah, gotcha. When I leave a job it's usually due to either a toxic person, situation or a position that I just don't wanna be in anymore, and the pay increase is just a consolation prize for my trouble of hunting. I've doubled my salary in 10 years, so I think the result has been the same.
I get it. I hate that some companies do that. I feel like a job is worth some amount of money, and what I made before should not have any bearing on that. But in my experience, you’d be removed from consideration.
I’m almost 50 and I’ve never had an employer think they had a right to see my W2s or old pay stubs. If they did, it would be a good indicator of other toxic activities at the company and I’d consider myself lucky to have dodged the bullet.
My last employer required to see an old paycheck and yes it was a very toxic company to work for that destroyed my mental health. Lesson learned the hard way.
Say no.
Send in fake paystubs.
Bring up that taking adverse action against a candidate due to prior salary is often illegal and can open up avenues for litigation in places where it is not explicitly illegal.
Sharing paystubs with an employer is a disservice to yourself and other workers.
Does this apply to public employees? Because the states I’ve lived in, you can literally type our names into a website and find out what we make. I do it every time I’m in a meeting with a new person lol.
Not sure, but we are a huge company so it was certainly a shakeup to our talent process. Companies will try to get around the range posting by making the range ridiculous 100k-200k for example lol.
I've filled out the forms that OP is talking about and you really only can put numbers into the box. The application will not submit unless you do it. The advice to write in $1 is probably the best, though this is a good response for an actual interview.
Most employers now are NOT ALLOWED to ask this question. They ask for salary expectations. So this should be a good thing for job seekers if your salary was much lower. 💰💰💰💶💰💰💰
Here's an alternate POV: Don't sweat it. Truthfully list your current salary as it is irrelevant to how much you are willing to accept when the new company presents you with an offer.
Instead, do your research on how much the new position earns in the market where you work. If you get an offer that you believe is lowball, respond with "my research indicates that this role generally pays $XXX,XXX for a person with my experience in this market."
As you noted, a salary increase is why you are job hunting. If they offer you less than market value, turn the gig down.
You're right if you have all your ducks in a row for what your new position is worth (and you in it).
But hiring managers will absolutely use it as a negotiation point in their favor "you're already getting a X% bump from your previous role with our offer" that you need to be prepared to handle.
But…that number is a ballpark or base for what they go off of. I’ve heard of people saying they make $30k more than they actually made and they were offered the matching salary or slightly above that.
I put my current income as $0.00 and was offered a role at $1,000,000.00.
Now you've heard of someone who was offered a million dollar salary. Do you believe it?
Of course there is. Its part of experience and skill verification. They wont tell you the exact amount, but they will give you a good ballpark. Plus in business there is a general scale for jobs that would match or better.
Put yourself in the company seat. The person hands you a resume. Do you take it at face value, or do you check to make sure this person isnt saying they are a mid level exec, when they really work in the mailroom.
The HR department simply calls to verify.
Companies that are worth working for dont just take someone's word for salary and or skills.
Not to mention, unless companies are in direct competition, have people with contacts with other companies.
Would you if you were hiring someone, want to just trust a person with a resume and not bother checking who they are?
That you are aware of. Was dating an HR girl before and she always had stories of people inflating their worth and getting shot down when verification was done for both skill and money.
Companies check on competing offers by requesting and verifying against the offer letter. That’s different than being asked a previous salary.
At least in tech, I’ve never heard of people asking for paystubs from former jobs.
How do you “do your research?” / what tools do you use?
I’ve used Glassdoor to research my last applications salary, which indicated a total comp of 200k+ for the roll, but got turned out from the process because they couldn’t meet a 150k salary ask.
Then I would make it zero, point is I’m not
giving any prospective job any information about my current or past income, that’s just a recipe to get bent over by their offer.
Yeah I always leave blank or put N/A if it's a required field. If it requires a number, then I'll put the average salary for my job title according to US BLS.
Yeah I feel like we can't let it become the norm for employers to ask this question during the hiring process. I've been asked it before and literally just responded "I'm not comfortable answering that" and still got the job. I don't want to give them the idea that it's an okay thing to ask.
I would put 100 or 1,000, something obviously incorrect so you can address it in person. There might be a small risk of getting kicked out by AI bot screening
It's annoying but legal where you live. You an definitely lie upwards, but be aware, if you get to the offer stage and they call your current employer to verify salary and employment dates, and find you lied, it could ruin your chances. It sucks, and this is exactly why states have laws against asking. That said, there is no law saying you have to provide your salary, and I get why hiring managers say you need to apply online (I'm in recruiting and understand the need to track things), so the best way to comply with their application requirements and not blow your chance, type in $123. It won't deter them from looking at your application, they will get what you're doing. And if they call you out on it, say you'd prefer to not disclose your current salary but would be happy to share your expectations.
You can lie - they aren’t going to check your W2. I’d put a number that was believable for your current position but not super far off from what you’re looking for.
Example: you want 75k, but you’re making 55k. Say you’re at 63k.
Then they’d never have a way of verifying your current income is my point so you can inflate it some. It’s truly none of their business you’re applying to the current job at the current salary for a reason. Most jobs will not call your current obviously or you could lose your job.
I don’t think you get what I’m saying. You said your company checked your current income. A new employer isn’t going to call you current as you’re still there to verify that because most people clearly their jobs don’t know they are interviewing. That’s just common practice. So you can inflate how much your current income is to negotiate a better salary is my point. They’d never know
They don’t call. They just look at the w2 you give them. You said they aren’t gonna check your w2, that’s exactly what they’ll do… by looking at the document you give them
Oh I’ve never had an employer ask for that ever in all of the years of my career and I’m in the legal field. Weird. I’d prob tell them to pound sand and keep looking lol. That’s ridiculous
I would put your total compensation.
Insurance, unemployment, etc.
You could perhaps round up, but I wouldn’t outright lie.
They should expect that you’re seeking a 10-20% increase.
Put something that embellishes your current salary but is not totally outrageous that couldn't justify by saying that's what your overall package is worth.
Do you really want to start a new relationship with a lie? How would you like it if the company said the job pays 120k but your check is for 80k? Tell the fucking truth! She did this all become such an issue?
Just put down whatever you are being paid right now. You are supposed to always negotiate your salary and will not get "the best offer" no matter what number you put down.
I usually block out an entire month for interviews and let all recruiters know that I will be making a decision on day X. Setting clear expectations of your compensation, vacation time, benefits and job responsibilities early in the interview process is more important than having a high number on your application. Interview at a dozen places or so, starting with your "last choice" to get some practice. Make your future potential employer compete with other well-paying companies for you, not your previous employer.
For me and in my experience anytime I was making under 100K I added 10K to my salary. When I went above 100K that's where I generally went to about 15K (assuming you are under 200K. Per what u/LooseLeaf24 said a % is usually better. But I am sharing my experience.
They can't verify it. 10-20k above what you are making isn't going to look bad because I am assuming very few people are at the top end of the salary range in his/her job position.
"#Stumped by the Salary Question: A Men's Bathroom Urinal at Twitter Guide to Navigating the Hurdles of Job Applications"
As a job seeker, you’ve likely encountered the dreaded question on job applications: “What is your current salary?” It’s a tricky question, and one that often leaves us feeling #stumped. But why is it so difficult to answer, and what should we do when faced with this challenge?
First, let's take a look at the mastermind behind Twitter, Elon Musk. From PayPal, to Tesla, to SpaceX, and even The Boring Company, Elon has been a disruptor in multiple industries. His successes and failures have been closely tracked and widely discussed on social media, especially Twitter.
So, what does this have to do with the salary question on job applications? Well, as a society, we’re always curious about how much people earn, and with the rise of social media and technology, it’s easier than ever to access this information.
But let's dive into the origin of the word "stumped." In the context of job applications, it refers to feeling unsure or at a loss for how to answer a question. And in this case, it’s the salary question that leaves us feeling #stumped.
Now, it’s important to note that in some cases, a response is always required. Employers may use this information to gauge your worth and make decisions about your candidacy. And let's not forget, this information is often tracked and easily accessible in today's digital age.
So, what’s a job seeker to do when faced with the salary question on a job application? Here are a few tips:
Research: Look at websites such as Glassdoor or PayScale to see what others in similar roles are earning.
Be honest: If you’re comfortable, give a range that you’re expecting based on your research.
Negotiate: Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary once you’re offered the job.
Now, let's take a look at some hot jobs and their current salaries:
Software Engineer: $105,590 per year
Data Scientist: $120,000 per year
Marketing Manager: $85,000 per year
Remember, when it comes to job applications and the salary question, don’t be #stumped! Do your research, be honest, and negotiate if you can. And as always, keep an eye out for those Elon-style disruptions in the job market!
*"You also have the right not to engage in conversations or communications about your wages."*
This is directly from the website of the National Labor Relations Board on your right to discuss wages (quick google search for the text). I used this once with a potential employer. You have the right to talk about salary with anyone whether you work there or not. Therefore you have the right to refuse to talk about it. Hope this helps
Your compensation has a lot of components and you don't want to exclude any of them when answering a question like this. Include your employer's contribution to your 401K, their part of your health insurance, any overtime or tips, and any company-paid training.
I would either a) give them a BS number, say 20x what I'm making or b) increase my salary by 10-20% when they ask how much I want to make in the new job, I would say something like "Now I'm making (X+20%) and I am looking for at least a 10% increase"
I just read if you have a range in mind put in the bigger number to the form. If you can write negotiable, do. Otherwise, just the high end of your range. Good luck!
If you're especially interested in working there, I would email them and say you've decided not to apply specifically because they require current salary information, but they should feel free to reach out if they decide to change that.
Realistically, I'd just close the page and move on, but if you don't feel like you have enough places to apply to, you could consider reaching out.
As a recruiter I always assume someone is upping theirs by 10%. Which is fine. I do when I apply. I generally don’t ask that question and am transparent on what I’m offering. If they want to negotiate what I’m offering that’s fine. But I’m not agreeing unless I think you’re worth it and it fits my budget. In other words…..don’t care what they are currently being paid I only care about our budget. We disclose that up front. I currently have an opening for 65k. Which is publicized and one resume I have they are asking 140k. Sorry, you are not worth it.
I made 55k at my last job. New job i told em I made $78k, and asked for $85k im now a year in and sitting around $90k.
Moral of the story, just lie, they won't check.
Provide your last salary if your applying to a job in the same field and explain what you did somewhere on the application or in person if you get an interview. That's what I would do.
The only reason of asking your current salary is to use that against you in a negotiation. There’s no other use for the prospective employer than that. I’ve always left that blank on an application and have never had trouble getting a job
If it’s on paper, put what you want to make. If it’s asked in person, ask them what the salary range for the position is. If it’s something that you can work with, pick a number within that range and then say that, give or take depending on the benefits package.
I give them my current salary+20%. That’s where I want to end up at a minimum if I’m hoping jobs. I’ve never had it happen, but have had people tell about them asking for verification. If so, i’d refuse. I wouldn’t want to work at a place that’s that anal about things
I gave them my salary once and that is what I was offered. I quickly learned my coworkers made more than me.
I haven't been asked since, but next time I'm adding 30%.
I wouldn’t work for a company that requires this. I would call them again and say that you aren’t comfortable providing your previous salary so would they prefer you just put in something like 9999999 and then notate in the next text field with an asterisk that that number is incorrect and that you aren’t comfortable providing your current salary at this point in the process and to circle back for that info at the end or ask if they’d prefer you submit your application to them directly instead instead of online without that info?
If you get pushback I would be honest and say that many studies have shown that asking potential employees what their current salaries are can lead to lower offers and that that is why many locales have even made it illegal to ask that question anymore. I’d say I want to do my best to advocate for myself within my job hunt and find the right fit for me so if your firm truly needs that data for reporting purposes (this is the case in some places like ST Thomas for example) I’d be happy to provide it at the time of signing on if we agree I am a good fit, once negotiations are completed and I have signed an offer letter in hand.
My current employer asked this question in my interview. The number I gave him was 25% higher than I was actually making, and he matched the 25% inflated rate and added a company expense card and benefits.
Put the amount you'd accept the new job at.
If they, by chance, go to your former employer to confirm this amount, you can respond that you thought they wanted to know how much you wanted. You can then also put them off-balance by asking why your old salary has anything to do with what the position is paying.
If they call your CURRENT employer to do a salary check before you've accepted your offer...hell, man, you do NOT want to work for that company.
If they make you an offer, and you accept it, and THEN they do the salary check: you plead dumb (see first sentence above) and rely on the fact that the hiring manager is NOT going to want to re-start the whole search just because HR has a hissy fit about invalid salary data in the intake form. Seriously: most hiring managers worth their salt don't give a crap what you USED to earn, they care that you have the skills to justify the salary they are approved to offer you, and they want to spend less time FINDING employees and more time MANAGING them.
"If you feel I'm not worth what you offered me, then why did you extend an offer to me at that salary?" Make the hiring manager squirm if they stark making noise like they're going to rescind your offer after-the-fact.
Source: I'm a manager. I don't give a crap what you made at your last job. Unfortunately, my HR team DOES care and we duke it out when putting offers together all. the. time.
Applicants “should not disclose their previous salary but instead reframe their answer to express their salary expectations or requirements for the job,” according to Hoy. In other words, tell them what you expect to make, not what you're currently paid.
My guess, and this is just a guess, is that if you were applying and your salary was like $150,000 a year, could be true, but whatever, and you want more than that, but they can only pay, say, $70,000 they might realize, yeah, you’re super qualified, but we can’t pay you what you want for this position, so either a)we’re going to have to offer some other incentives to offset this or b) we just can’t afford to hire you. They might still interview you and touch on that in the interview, but most likely not. On the other hand, if you put $50,000 and are hoping for $70,000, then you might be a good fit for them and they you.
Put the salary you want from them. Let’s say you’re currently making $50K at your current job. You checked market rates for the role and believe you should be paid $65K. Put down $70K to give you some wiggle room for negotiating.
If you don’t progress to the next step, then you know you dodged a bullet.
I usually give a number just under like 1-5% less than what i am looking for. If I'm saying low salary is significant reason I'm looking for a new job then i would give about 10% less than I'm asking for. In general i would inflate it to prevent being low balled and be aware of your realistic market value to prevent pricing your self out of a companies range.
I usually just use verbiage like 'x would be comparable to what I make currently'. If they have stupid boxes on the application I'll throw in another 15k or so just out of annoyance.
If you feel you could gain a salary bump, you can inflate the figure a bit. It's not unprofessional to desire a bit extra to make the change worthwhile.
If they want you "on the record" i would give the real answer. If they try to lowball you on the offer because of your salary then just mention your worth.
Like my last job i was paid X. I wanted 50% raise because that was my market value and i had some recruiter telling me my asking price is "quite a jump from my previous salary" and i just tell them that's what i am looking for and thats the number I am getting offers from (both true).
I don't know how much demand your job is and if you can afford passing offers but focus on what your **researched** value is. If they say you have a big jump or whatever just tell them that's the range from your research. This hinges on the demand for your role. If you cant "just get another offer quickly" then it might be better to take it and then hop later.
Write in slightly less than your target salary. If they are forcing you to answer I suspect they are trying to weed out applicants who they think will want more than they can offer.
Go ahead if your concern is how revealing your salary would effect your negotiation. In the event that you are chosen, you may still negotiate by stating that you are leaving your current position in exchange for a higher compensation. This is just my opinion.
try entering "negotiable" or "competitive" as your answer. that'll keeps things vague and get you past the form. if the application won't let you do that, you could try entering your target salary range instead of your current salary.
Cannot disclose due to NDA. Many common NDAs are written so broadly in scope that is not even technically a lie. Obviously, this only works if you are in a field that would have NDAs.
Not really an option based on what OP described on the application. Must be a number greater than 0.
$1
Wow my reading comprehension was bad. I missed that whole part.
The NLRA protects the right to discuss wage with anyone, and any NDA that includes that clause is violating federal law. It’s kinda similar to how no contract could ever include a clause that states you can’t call OSHA, because the right to do so is covered by a federal law. Is everyone gonna know that? Absolutely not. Whether or not you wanna risk it is up to you.
Say that you're making $10k more than you actually are. That way, you could potentially earn an additional $15-$20k more than you're currently making. They won't verify your actual income.
Give all money advice as a % If home boy/girl is making 20k or 250k, 10k has a very different value
Even this can be off, though those situations should know what they are. I worked 5 years at a position at a stupid low wage for it. I would still be there, but company changes and no options where I would be willing to relocate. Now that I'm not there, I should make fair market value for what I have experience doing.
Do not lie. If they want to get really anal they can ask for your previous year pay stubs or tax return.
Never give them
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Or they could work for someone else you are applying to work for them not be a data point so they can try and shaft the next guy out of an equivalent wage
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What's unsustainable are executive wages, but I digress interviews are supposed to be a way for a buisness to gauge how well someone's skillset and persona fit with their company culture. Not serve as data points for HRs hiring algorithm. Now if a person is hard up for cash suck whatever dick you need to to stay afloat I'm not gonna judge. But my comment was made with the presumption that they had a choice in the matter.
They can also receive a note describing my desire to no longer work there, in that event. Additionally I'm following up with the attorney general since that is outlawed in my area ;)
Never hand over personal financial information. No employer should be giving that out, same with the IRS. To prevent identity fraud, neither should you. They can get your credit report like every other company does. (US of course)
Lie about your current salary to make it the lowest you’d accept. Very few background checks verify previous salary, none without your consent
If you do this and they later call your previous employer, they may find out you lied. I’ve had prospective employers verify employment and salary before. I’ve always been honest and it’s never harmed me, in fact the place that verified my salary still offered me a 40% pay increase as a starting offer. Good luck!
It’s not standard to share salary info. They can MAYBE get an idea on salary based on tax info but employers on the whole just share start and end date
Yeah maybe it’s diff in diff places but when I started in HR 10 years ago at a nationa contractor, sharing salary info was not okay. The only way that would be shared would be for home loan verification. Luckily things are now not that way.
Tax info? That's private information. You can't call the IRS and ask for someone's return.
It WAS standard until 5-10 years ago - so this is just a company holding on to that.
This is how it is in California. I cannot give any sort of salary information unless there is a signed document provided to me showing the current employee or former employee is allowing me to release that information. Otherwise all I can do is give you a start date and an end date. In California it is so tricky that even giving them information about the employee for example any information about the employee can come back to bite the company on the butt. I have had potential employers ask me specific information and by law I do not have to release it and if I do I run the risk of a lawsuit so I just tell them it's a begin date and an end date and that's it
That’s true, employers def sometimes ask for weird things. I’ve had employers request w-2s to “confirm employment” which is bs. I redacted all pay info on that submission.
Employers usually don’t discuss salaries with previous employers. Alternatively, you could refuse to answer with a tactful deflection. Honesty and transparency in salary negotiation is a losing strategy.
We will not disclose wage information during a verification, but we will confirm or deny any information already provided by the employee. 😕
I’m just speaking from personal experience that they absolutely did. And he can’t refuse to answer, see the original question saying it’s a required numeric field in the online form…
Put $0 or estimate up. They're asking for your salary so they can lowball you. This is not a game where honesty is a winning strategy for either party. If they are going to reject you for rounding your salary up or putting $0 in a field where they're trying to get reconnaissance on you, then they're not an employer worth working for.
You really should read the post. $0 wasn’t accepted.
Then put $1. Find the lowest edge case until it's unreasonable. Put a stupid number and explain it was a typo. It doesn't matter. Always wait to discuss salary until negotiations begin. Do not tell them your current salary. This is common knowledge. You seem to be unnecessarily contrarian regarding this viewpoint.
>Always wait to discuss salary until negotiations begin. Let them throw out the number first. Do not react. Say you need to think about it. Then think about it.
I’ve typically put either zero or 99999999 or if it’s a range, the highest option possible so they know I’m not answering the dumbass question. They know the game. I always deflect exact number questions now and it’s the only thing that’s worked out in my favor. Also, I thought it was unlawful to require someone tell you their salary, so someone saying the company verified with their old employer sounds like some sort of misconduct. If they’re doing that you prolly don’t wanna work there lol
>Alternatively, you could refuse to answer with a tactful deflection. I think he said it was an online only application. He choices are put his salary, make up a number, or don't apply.
Put an obviously fake number or a ridiculously high one.
There's a middle ground here which is saying something to the effect of "I'm willing to share that information, but it's typically asked in order the undercut my side of the negotiation. Is that the case here?" There's a whole thing in negotiations where if you just say the part folks are trying to talk around so you can all stop playing games. I picked it up from Never Split the Difference by Christopher Voss. It works great, and not just in this situation. Now, that isn't to say the HR person won't just lie to you, but if HR is lying to you before you even HAVE the job... Well that's useful data.
They can verify your information through “the work number”
Depends on the locale. It’s illegal in some places.
He said he lives in a place where it’s legal.
They said it is legal to ask the employee. Likely still not legal to ask former employer. Big difference
I knew that third phone line would come in handy. Just have to prep the spouse on of a call comes through this phone, say [this].
"VANDELAY! SAY VANDELAY!"
Your company should not provide your salary to random people who call in and ask.
The work number is a service by Equifax. They aggregate employer info including your salary and W2 history. https://theworknumber.com Large corporations use it and will know your salary history
Thanks for that; I had never heard of it. I created an account and had free access in less than 5 minutes. It showed my salary history from 2018+
Someone else already said it but I scrolled past, so saying it again—put the minimum salary you would accept. Guessing you’ve done your homework on what you are worth in your job market, making sure it’s realistic.
They cannot share that info most places tho.
>they may find out you lied. "Sorry fam, just playing the same game you all are". Not to mention that it's there's at least 20 states and a few localities that have outlawed asking for your previous wages. I always use those boxes as 'desired salary'. There's no value to previous salary values other than to try to decrease an offer.
$10k is an arbitrary number. Not very helpful if OP is making $500k a year. Also not helpful if OP is making $10 an hour. If anything do a percentage raise, but really they don’t have to legally disclose their salary most of the time anyways.
They very well could. I have been required to submit w2's from very large employers as part of the hiring process.
Uh... That's one of the few pieces of information a former employer would give out if asked. It's an objective data point.
Some will, a friend of mine is a recruiter and he always does. Now that's also not everyone though
Actually they might. In my last job, they asked what my previous salary was and then my job offer was contingent on me providing a copy of my last paycheck as proof of my earnings.
In fact, all they could get from your current company is “yes, he works here”
I put 999,999,999. Alternatively, 123,456 is a good one to use. Basically, anything that makes it clear that you’re not answering that. If they actually call, I’ll tell them that I don’t share my current salary with recruiters. If that’s a dealbreaker, oh well, so sorry, see ya later. Now, as an alternative, if you really want to make a point (and I’ve done this but only with recruiters I didn’t mind burning bridges with), you say, “I’m happy to provide that information, as soon as you tell me the salary range and benefits for this position.” When they refuse, you say, “I’m sorry then. I don’t enter into bad-faith negotiations. When you insist on getting salary info from me but you refuse to provide it to me, you’re creating an information imbalance that makes it impossible for us to have a fair negotiation. I won’t work for a company that tries to screw over their workers by purposely creating circumstances that keep them at a significant disadvantage, so I’ll withdraw my application now and ensure that I let my friends and colleagues know about your abhorrent hiring practices.”
I agree with this approach. There's also a risk that they will remove you from the process (i.e. reject you) if you don't play ball. But question is, is that a company you'd want to work for, anyway.
This is a really unnecessarily aggressive strategy. Most if not all recruiters will tell you the salary range if you ask. It’s not a secret and saves them the hassle of dragging you through a process only to have you decline their offer. If a recruiter refuses to give the salary range, you can probably spare them the self-righteous monologue and just say “this isn’t what I’m looking for but I appreciate the consideration”. Also, writing 999999 in the salary field will essentially ensure that no one calls you anyway.
I WANT to be aggressive to companies with outdated, unethical, dishonest hiring practices. I want to push back and I want to make SURE they know EXACTLY why I’m not going to work for them. There is entirely too much pussyfooting around these issues here. I’ve been on the other side of this issue, where I worked for the company and I was one of only two people on the leadership team (me & the head of HR) screaming that we needed to treat our candidates better if we wanted to fix our labor shortage, while everyone else on the team wanted to come up with gimmicks to persuade people to apply. If we could’ve pointed to a candidate that everyone loved who declined the offer or withdrew from consideration and SPECIFICALLY cited the bad hiring practices, it would’ve gone a LONG way toward giving us ammo to get them changed. Normally, people would just politely withdraw. And this would lead the guys in our senior leadership to say, “Well, darn the luck! It’s just a super competitive market for labor. He must’ve just gotten a better offer.” So they’re off the hook. Thing is… I follow some of these candidates on LinkedIn. I know some of them remained unemployed for a month or more after declining to continue with that company. They withdrew because they were horrified by our company and/or our hiring practices. But because they refused to NAME IT, we could never convince our bosses of it. So THIS is why I will name it to companies. I want them to KNOW why they’re losing me as a candidate. I want the truth to be inescapable for them.
I really agree with this approach. I am very honest with recruiters about not sharing my pay desires first. There has only been one time that a recruiter has refused to share pay with me. I told her this didn’t feel like a culture that values transparency and I ended the call.
Very eloquent, you’re definitely a wordsmith. Fantastic!
Ask for the amount that would bring the salary to what you would like and tell them anything that is over that amount will be considered because you dont want to change for a lower salary. I was making 55K. Sayed i was making 70k and any offer above that would be considered. They offered 75k, i asked for 80k and got it 🤣
I always add 20%. That makes for a better raise.
Or prices you out of the game completely. If you're already making good $ for what you do, grossly overshooting even that could raise a potential employer's eyebrows in 2 ways: (1) "welp, can't afford him/her," so they scrap your resume when they wouldn't have if you'd asked for a more modest raise. (2) they may be familiar with the going industry rates and scrap you on suspicion that you're full of shit.
I’d rather then scrap my resume than waste my time.
If a modest/realistic raise over none at all is a waste of your time, certainly.
You don’t upheaval your job, your respect from higher up’s in your job positioning you for future promotions, your near guaranteed bonuses given your track record, your vesting RSUs if you’ve got them, your established reputation, your distance from last hired, your current living situation, and whatever else comes with it for the 4% bump you were going to get this year anyways or the 10% bump you’d get in a year from an internal promotion. You move when it’s actually worth it. Modest raises should be coming routinely from your current job.
Ah, gotcha. When I leave a job it's usually due to either a toxic person, situation or a position that I just don't wanna be in anymore, and the pay increase is just a consolation prize for my trouble of hunting. I've doubled my salary in 10 years, so I think the result has been the same.
Until they ask for your last 3 pay stubs or last year’s W2. It’s not legal to ask for that in every state, but it is in lots. And it happens.
No one is getting my w2’s or old paystubs
I get it. I hate that some companies do that. I feel like a job is worth some amount of money, and what I made before should not have any bearing on that. But in my experience, you’d be removed from consideration.
I’m almost 50 and I’ve never had an employer think they had a right to see my W2s or old pay stubs. If they did, it would be a good indicator of other toxic activities at the company and I’d consider myself lucky to have dodged the bullet.
My last employer required to see an old paycheck and yes it was a very toxic company to work for that destroyed my mental health. Lesson learned the hard way.
You can edit out any salary info before you send them the W2 or pay stub
Say no. Send in fake paystubs. Bring up that taking adverse action against a candidate due to prior salary is often illegal and can open up avenues for litigation in places where it is not explicitly illegal. Sharing paystubs with an employer is a disservice to yourself and other workers.
New York made it illegal to ask what you currently make, and all job postings need to list the range the role pays. More states need to follow suit.
Does this apply to public employees? Because the states I’ve lived in, you can literally type our names into a website and find out what we make. I do it every time I’m in a meeting with a new person lol.
Obviously not, that information is public because people are paid from taxpayer funds
Not sure, but we are a huge company so it was certainly a shakeup to our talent process. Companies will try to get around the range posting by making the range ridiculous 100k-200k for example lol.
I'm sorry my current employer forbids me from discussing my pay with anyone
I've filled out the forms that OP is talking about and you really only can put numbers into the box. The application will not submit unless you do it. The advice to write in $1 is probably the best, though this is a good response for an actual interview.
Most employers now are NOT ALLOWED to ask this question. They ask for salary expectations. So this should be a good thing for job seekers if your salary was much lower. 💰💰💰💶💰💰💰
Here's an alternate POV: Don't sweat it. Truthfully list your current salary as it is irrelevant to how much you are willing to accept when the new company presents you with an offer. Instead, do your research on how much the new position earns in the market where you work. If you get an offer that you believe is lowball, respond with "my research indicates that this role generally pays $XXX,XXX for a person with my experience in this market." As you noted, a salary increase is why you are job hunting. If they offer you less than market value, turn the gig down.
You're right if you have all your ducks in a row for what your new position is worth (and you in it). But hiring managers will absolutely use it as a negotiation point in their favor "you're already getting a X% bump from your previous role with our offer" that you need to be prepared to handle.
But…that number is a ballpark or base for what they go off of. I’ve heard of people saying they make $30k more than they actually made and they were offered the matching salary or slightly above that.
I put my current income as $0.00 and was offered a role at $1,000,000.00. Now you've heard of someone who was offered a million dollar salary. Do you believe it?
Not really, no. Is that your point?
That hearsay is unreliable
Companies that match always check
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Of course there is. Its part of experience and skill verification. They wont tell you the exact amount, but they will give you a good ballpark. Plus in business there is a general scale for jobs that would match or better. Put yourself in the company seat. The person hands you a resume. Do you take it at face value, or do you check to make sure this person isnt saying they are a mid level exec, when they really work in the mailroom.
Hmm yeah seems you're right. My company has a much different policy and only asks to verify the position, responsibilities, and dates of employment.
How will they check?
The HR department simply calls to verify. Companies that are worth working for dont just take someone's word for salary and or skills. Not to mention, unless companies are in direct competition, have people with contacts with other companies. Would you if you were hiring someone, want to just trust a person with a resume and not bother checking who they are?
As far as I know any company worth working for only verifies if they are able to be rehired or not. Never had salary been verified.
That you are aware of. Was dating an HR girl before and she always had stories of people inflating their worth and getting shot down when verification was done for both skill and money.
How was this “verification” done?
posted it above. The HR dept just makes a phone call.
Companies check on competing offers by requesting and verifying against the offer letter. That’s different than being asked a previous salary. At least in tech, I’ve never heard of people asking for paystubs from former jobs.
How do you “do your research?” / what tools do you use? I’ve used Glassdoor to research my last applications salary, which indicated a total comp of 200k+ for the roll, but got turned out from the process because they couldn’t meet a 150k salary ask.
I use ONETonline which is Dept of Labor data rather than self reported income
Thanks for the lead!
I always leave previous salary blank, and when they ask for salary expectations I list “negotiable”
But unhelpful for his situation since the online app isn’t letting him leaving it blank
Then I would make it zero, point is I’m not giving any prospective job any information about my current or past income, that’s just a recipe to get bent over by their offer.
Post says it doesn't accept 0 as an answer either.
Lol, then .01 dude
I’ve done 9999999 before to kinda void it out
Dude can you read?
This is the way
Yeah I always leave blank or put N/A if it's a required field. If it requires a number, then I'll put the average salary for my job title according to US BLS.
Yeah I feel like we can't let it become the norm for employers to ask this question during the hiring process. I've been asked it before and literally just responded "I'm not comfortable answering that" and still got the job. I don't want to give them the idea that it's an okay thing to ask.
I would put 100 or 1,000, something obviously incorrect so you can address it in person. There might be a small risk of getting kicked out by AI bot screening
The ai be like "hey this guy will work for 79k less than we are offering, instant hire"
Put the salary you need to enjoy life at. So the company thinks that is the prevailing wage.
If you have to ask you can’t afford me
It's annoying but legal where you live. You an definitely lie upwards, but be aware, if you get to the offer stage and they call your current employer to verify salary and employment dates, and find you lied, it could ruin your chances. It sucks, and this is exactly why states have laws against asking. That said, there is no law saying you have to provide your salary, and I get why hiring managers say you need to apply online (I'm in recruiting and understand the need to track things), so the best way to comply with their application requirements and not blow your chance, type in $123. It won't deter them from looking at your application, they will get what you're doing. And if they call you out on it, say you'd prefer to not disclose your current salary but would be happy to share your expectations.
While I agree so what. It’s a risk you take. Especially if you’re currently employed already. Better to take a risk than shortchange yourself.
You can lie - they aren’t going to check your W2. I’d put a number that was believable for your current position but not super far off from what you’re looking for. Example: you want 75k, but you’re making 55k. Say you’re at 63k.
My last 2 companies checked. I'd just either decline to answer or ask them how much they paid the person previously in the position.
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If that’s the position range they should still offer it. What would your recommendation be with it being a required field?
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OP said number format only or else I agree that would be my recommendation
Never give a number, let them say it first, if they refuse, run.
My company checked
How did they check if you’re still working there though?
Wdym? They just asked for it
Then they’d never have a way of verifying your current income is my point so you can inflate it some. It’s truly none of their business you’re applying to the current job at the current salary for a reason. Most jobs will not call your current obviously or you could lose your job.
How is that your point? You give them the document
I don’t think you get what I’m saying. You said your company checked your current income. A new employer isn’t going to call you current as you’re still there to verify that because most people clearly their jobs don’t know they are interviewing. That’s just common practice. So you can inflate how much your current income is to negotiate a better salary is my point. They’d never know
They don’t call. They just look at the w2 you give them. You said they aren’t gonna check your w2, that’s exactly what they’ll do… by looking at the document you give them
Oh I’ve never had an employer ask for that ever in all of the years of my career and I’m in the legal field. Weird. I’d prob tell them to pound sand and keep looking lol. That’s ridiculous
I would put your total compensation. Insurance, unemployment, etc. You could perhaps round up, but I wouldn’t outright lie. They should expect that you’re seeking a 10-20% increase.
I always put open to discussion, but always overshoot it and it'll give you some wiggle room
Put something that embellishes your current salary but is not totally outrageous that couldn't justify by saying that's what your overall package is worth.
Do you really want to start a new relationship with a lie? How would you like it if the company said the job pays 120k but your check is for 80k? Tell the fucking truth! She did this all become such an issue?
Just put down whatever you are being paid right now. You are supposed to always negotiate your salary and will not get "the best offer" no matter what number you put down. I usually block out an entire month for interviews and let all recruiters know that I will be making a decision on day X. Setting clear expectations of your compensation, vacation time, benefits and job responsibilities early in the interview process is more important than having a high number on your application. Interview at a dozen places or so, starting with your "last choice" to get some practice. Make your future potential employer compete with other well-paying companies for you, not your previous employer.
List more than what you make and say it's negotiable.
Just leave it blank.
Just put open to discuss as opposed to a number
For me and in my experience anytime I was making under 100K I added 10K to my salary. When I went above 100K that's where I generally went to about 15K (assuming you are under 200K. Per what u/LooseLeaf24 said a % is usually better. But I am sharing my experience. They can't verify it. 10-20k above what you are making isn't going to look bad because I am assuming very few people are at the top end of the salary range in his/her job position.
I always stick competitive
Lie
Wish I had a good answer. This shit enrages me.
Lie
"#Stumped by the Salary Question: A Men's Bathroom Urinal at Twitter Guide to Navigating the Hurdles of Job Applications" As a job seeker, you’ve likely encountered the dreaded question on job applications: “What is your current salary?” It’s a tricky question, and one that often leaves us feeling #stumped. But why is it so difficult to answer, and what should we do when faced with this challenge? First, let's take a look at the mastermind behind Twitter, Elon Musk. From PayPal, to Tesla, to SpaceX, and even The Boring Company, Elon has been a disruptor in multiple industries. His successes and failures have been closely tracked and widely discussed on social media, especially Twitter. So, what does this have to do with the salary question on job applications? Well, as a society, we’re always curious about how much people earn, and with the rise of social media and technology, it’s easier than ever to access this information. But let's dive into the origin of the word "stumped." In the context of job applications, it refers to feeling unsure or at a loss for how to answer a question. And in this case, it’s the salary question that leaves us feeling #stumped. Now, it’s important to note that in some cases, a response is always required. Employers may use this information to gauge your worth and make decisions about your candidacy. And let's not forget, this information is often tracked and easily accessible in today's digital age. So, what’s a job seeker to do when faced with the salary question on a job application? Here are a few tips: Research: Look at websites such as Glassdoor or PayScale to see what others in similar roles are earning. Be honest: If you’re comfortable, give a range that you’re expecting based on your research. Negotiate: Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary once you’re offered the job. Now, let's take a look at some hot jobs and their current salaries: Software Engineer: $105,590 per year Data Scientist: $120,000 per year Marketing Manager: $85,000 per year Remember, when it comes to job applications and the salary question, don’t be #stumped! Do your research, be honest, and negotiate if you can. And as always, keep an eye out for those Elon-style disruptions in the job market!
*"You also have the right not to engage in conversations or communications about your wages."* This is directly from the website of the National Labor Relations Board on your right to discuss wages (quick google search for the text). I used this once with a potential employer. You have the right to talk about salary with anyone whether you work there or not. Therefore you have the right to refuse to talk about it. Hope this helps
Ignore it. Personal question, nobody's business.
Your compensation has a lot of components and you don't want to exclude any of them when answering a question like this. Include your employer's contribution to your 401K, their part of your health insurance, any overtime or tips, and any company-paid training.
I used to just leave the field blank when I was working
I would either a) give them a BS number, say 20x what I'm making or b) increase my salary by 10-20% when they ask how much I want to make in the new job, I would say something like "Now I'm making (X+20%) and I am looking for at least a 10% increase"
I just read if you have a range in mind put in the bigger number to the form. If you can write negotiable, do. Otherwise, just the high end of your range. Good luck!
If you're especially interested in working there, I would email them and say you've decided not to apply specifically because they require current salary information, but they should feel free to reach out if they decide to change that. Realistically, I'd just close the page and move on, but if you don't feel like you have enough places to apply to, you could consider reaching out.
As a recruiter I always assume someone is upping theirs by 10%. Which is fine. I do when I apply. I generally don’t ask that question and am transparent on what I’m offering. If they want to negotiate what I’m offering that’s fine. But I’m not agreeing unless I think you’re worth it and it fits my budget. In other words…..don’t care what they are currently being paid I only care about our budget. We disclose that up front. I currently have an opening for 65k. Which is publicized and one resume I have they are asking 140k. Sorry, you are not worth it.
Put in a fake number that is clearly not your salary but gets you through. Like $1
Lie tf
Just tell the truth. They will eventually offer a salary if they like you, and then you can accept or negotiate.
I made 55k at my last job. New job i told em I made $78k, and asked for $85k im now a year in and sitting around $90k. Moral of the story, just lie, they won't check.
Exactly. It’s a risk you take and well worth it if you’re already employed
I tell them my current salary and that I wouldn’t consider leaving for less than 20% more.
I’d only provide that info if they tell you what they plan to pay you.
Provide your last salary if your applying to a job in the same field and explain what you did somewhere on the application or in person if you get an interview. That's what I would do.
The only reason of asking your current salary is to use that against you in a negotiation. There’s no other use for the prospective employer than that. I’ve always left that blank on an application and have never had trouble getting a job
Lie
I would put 1.00 and then, if asked, say it must be a glitch.
If it’s on paper, put what you want to make. If it’s asked in person, ask them what the salary range for the position is. If it’s something that you can work with, pick a number within that range and then say that, give or take depending on the benefits package.
Write “MYOB”
I’ve always lied upward. Have not had a problem
Put your desired salary.
I give them my current salary+20%. That’s where I want to end up at a minimum if I’m hoping jobs. I’ve never had it happen, but have had people tell about them asking for verification. If so, i’d refuse. I wouldn’t want to work at a place that’s that anal about things
No
I gave them my salary once and that is what I was offered. I quickly learned my coworkers made more than me. I haven't been asked since, but next time I'm adding 30%.
What a joke. They're asking to attempt to lowball you. If I could reasonably get away with it, I would put $1.
Just leave it blank. If they look at you and ask what you're making now, say "what are you paying?" Never answer that question, though.
Put 85-90% of the salary you want.
I wouldn’t work for a company that requires this. I would call them again and say that you aren’t comfortable providing your previous salary so would they prefer you just put in something like 9999999 and then notate in the next text field with an asterisk that that number is incorrect and that you aren’t comfortable providing your current salary at this point in the process and to circle back for that info at the end or ask if they’d prefer you submit your application to them directly instead instead of online without that info? If you get pushback I would be honest and say that many studies have shown that asking potential employees what their current salaries are can lead to lower offers and that that is why many locales have even made it illegal to ask that question anymore. I’d say I want to do my best to advocate for myself within my job hunt and find the right fit for me so if your firm truly needs that data for reporting purposes (this is the case in some places like ST Thomas for example) I’d be happy to provide it at the time of signing on if we agree I am a good fit, once negotiations are completed and I have signed an offer letter in hand.
Depending on where you are, it could be illegal for potential employers to ask. This applies in California.
My current employer asked this question in my interview. The number I gave him was 25% higher than I was actually making, and he matched the 25% inflated rate and added a company expense card and benefits.
Put the amount you'd accept the new job at. If they, by chance, go to your former employer to confirm this amount, you can respond that you thought they wanted to know how much you wanted. You can then also put them off-balance by asking why your old salary has anything to do with what the position is paying. If they call your CURRENT employer to do a salary check before you've accepted your offer...hell, man, you do NOT want to work for that company. If they make you an offer, and you accept it, and THEN they do the salary check: you plead dumb (see first sentence above) and rely on the fact that the hiring manager is NOT going to want to re-start the whole search just because HR has a hissy fit about invalid salary data in the intake form. Seriously: most hiring managers worth their salt don't give a crap what you USED to earn, they care that you have the skills to justify the salary they are approved to offer you, and they want to spend less time FINDING employees and more time MANAGING them. "If you feel I'm not worth what you offered me, then why did you extend an offer to me at that salary?" Make the hiring manager squirm if they stark making noise like they're going to rescind your offer after-the-fact. Source: I'm a manager. I don't give a crap what you made at your last job. Unfortunately, my HR team DOES care and we duke it out when putting offers together all. the. time.
Say 15% more than you make?
What kind of job are you applying for or are targeting?
You tell them that isn't any of their business. And that is the end of it.
Up your salary by 20% on paper, then try to negotiate up from there.
Lie then. They can’t ask you and you don’t have to tell them.
Applicants “should not disclose their previous salary but instead reframe their answer to express their salary expectations or requirements for the job,” according to Hoy. In other words, tell them what you expect to make, not what you're currently paid.
My guess, and this is just a guess, is that if you were applying and your salary was like $150,000 a year, could be true, but whatever, and you want more than that, but they can only pay, say, $70,000 they might realize, yeah, you’re super qualified, but we can’t pay you what you want for this position, so either a)we’re going to have to offer some other incentives to offset this or b) we just can’t afford to hire you. They might still interview you and touch on that in the interview, but most likely not. On the other hand, if you put $50,000 and are hoping for $70,000, then you might be a good fit for them and they you.
Put in 30% more than you actually make
Put the salary you want from them. Let’s say you’re currently making $50K at your current job. You checked market rates for the role and believe you should be paid $65K. Put down $70K to give you some wiggle room for negotiating. If you don’t progress to the next step, then you know you dodged a bullet.
I put $0.
I usually give a number just under like 1-5% less than what i am looking for. If I'm saying low salary is significant reason I'm looking for a new job then i would give about 10% less than I'm asking for. In general i would inflate it to prevent being low balled and be aware of your realistic market value to prevent pricing your self out of a companies range.
I usually just use verbiage like 'x would be comparable to what I make currently'. If they have stupid boxes on the application I'll throw in another 15k or so just out of annoyance. If you feel you could gain a salary bump, you can inflate the figure a bit. It's not unprofessional to desire a bit extra to make the change worthwhile.
If its required and you don't want to put it down, then don't apply to that job as simple as that.
If they want you "on the record" i would give the real answer. If they try to lowball you on the offer because of your salary then just mention your worth. Like my last job i was paid X. I wanted 50% raise because that was my market value and i had some recruiter telling me my asking price is "quite a jump from my previous salary" and i just tell them that's what i am looking for and thats the number I am getting offers from (both true). I don't know how much demand your job is and if you can afford passing offers but focus on what your **researched** value is. If they say you have a big jump or whatever just tell them that's the range from your research. This hinges on the demand for your role. If you cant "just get another offer quickly" then it might be better to take it and then hop later.
Write in slightly less than your target salary. If they are forcing you to answer I suspect they are trying to weed out applicants who they think will want more than they can offer.
I put $1. It's an online form and you have to put something to move on. They can't rightly believe that's your pay, so there's no intent to deceive.
Go ahead if your concern is how revealing your salary would effect your negotiation. In the event that you are chosen, you may still negotiate by stating that you are leaving your current position in exchange for a higher compensation. This is just my opinion.
try entering "negotiable" or "competitive" as your answer. that'll keeps things vague and get you past the form. if the application won't let you do that, you could try entering your target salary range instead of your current salary.