"Current Salary" on application forms/interviews?

HangTime

HangTime

HangTime

Man of Honour
Joined
25 Oct 2002
Posts
31,893
Location
Hampshire
I'm currently in the process of looking for a new job, and one thing I've sometimes wondered about is whether my current salary has much of a bearing on how prospective employers view me.

Basically while not embarrassed by my salary per se, I would say that for the type of work I do it is considerably lower than what is generally expected. Most jobs I look at which are doing very similar work, just at different companies, tend to be offering around 20-50% higher than I am on already (some requiring more experience or specialist skills are up to 80% higher).

My concern is that by revealing how much I am currently working for, employers might start to wonder about whether the work I do is really that complex, and whether as a graduate there must be something wrong with me to be working for such a relative pittance. It also of course means that when negotiating salary for a new job they know they don't have to offer so much.

What got me thinking was a few weeks ago when I was talking to some chap from a recruitment agency about a certain position. Based on my CV/covering letter he assumed I was earning more than I am; when I revealed my salary he then said he hadn't realised my salary was so low and that he had another position I might be interested in as well.

Now, what I'm wondering is whether it is worth 'bigging myself up' on forms/interviews etc by stating my salary (and hence implied worth) is slightly higher than it actually is. Anyone ever done this?
 
if its a low pay, but in the right field. I wouldn't worry about it. As you can always say, you took it for experience in the interview/negotiation.

I had the other problem. I went from a reasonable pay, to looking at warehouse jobs at £150+ less a week. No one would hire me, due to my previous pay :(
 
At interviews I always tell them it's irrelevant when they ask. It's like playing poker, but showing your hand to your opponent. Get them to pay what you're worth. If you tell them your current salary they'll just offer you £500pa more than you're on at the moment.
 
AcidHell2 said:
I had the other problem. I went from a reasonable pay, to looking at warehouse jobs at £150+ less a week. No one would hire me, due to my previous pay :(
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can see how it works on the other end of the scale too. I've actually got a friend doing Plumbing training now with a 2:1 degree his employer/colleagues don't know about because he felt it would make them think he wasn't the right sort of candidate.
 
I'd be very careful about bigging up your salary, remember you new employer gets your P45. Its not hard to work it out from there. If you dont feel comfortable talking about it dont. Just say that salary isnt your primary concern and you dont want to talk about your current salary as its irrelevant to your acceptance of the job so long as its in the stated range.
 
FordPrefect said:
I'd be very careful about bigging up your salary, remember you new employer gets your P45. Its not hard to work it out from there. If you dont feel comfortable talking about it dont. Just say that salary isnt your primary concern and you dont want to talk about your current salary as its irrelevant to your acceptance of the job so long as its in the stated range.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought about the fact that they would get my P45, but I figured by the time they get that I've pretty much won them over and landed the job anyway. Heck, my P45 probably 'looks wrong' compared to my stated salary as it stands anyway, since I got a payrise in August.
 
Skunkworks said:
At interviews I always tell them it's irrelevant when they ask. It's like playing poker, but showing your hand to your opponent. Get them to pay what you're worth. If you tell them your current salary they'll just offer you £500pa more than you're on at the moment.
Click to expand...

do you think telling them its irrelevant would be better than telling them you were on 20k instead of 13? :) (lack of thinking smilee)
 
Don't new employers only see P45's when the employee presents them? If so, just fill in a P46 instead.

In my industry, if working for an agency, one has to lie or be walked over. I'm in talks with one about defecting, and they've been told I'm on £200 net per week more than I am. They probably believe me, because the existing agency operates like a dialysis machine.
 
I had the same problem while working out in the sticks I was earning very little for what I did. When I moved to London I was looking at jobs paying between 50% and 100% more.

I defiantly wouldn't lie as they will probably confirm your current salary with your employer when you leave. Most interviews I had they never even talked about what I was currently earning, if they did I would tell them. It didn’t effect my salary negotiations as one firm offered me the very top of there salary range.
 
If you are going to lie remember it can do as much harm as good. I have had to fill in references for people within the last month. A good portion of them asked what the persons salary had been. I know at least some of the employers I was responding to wait for references before they offer the job. Lets face it, some employers are going to question your honesty.
 
I included all my expenses in my salary because it was basically a perk (so not really lying?). I think people we hoping to offer me less money when I moved to London because I have less experience than they were looking for. They didn't :)
 
i work in secure I.T., all my companies ive worked for are very security concious and give out very little information about employees old or existing.

depends what industry and job type you are going for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom