Finding out salary / package before interview

[Participant]

Hi

I'm applying for an external role, which on the face of it sounds good in terms of challenges of the job and proximity to home, but doesn't reference anything about the package.

They want me to apply by submitting details, CV, and a cover letter, as well as do online tests over the weekend, all with absolutely no information about the package.

There's no way I'm spending five hours of my weekend doing the above to find out at interview that the salary is half my current.

Why do employers waste everyone's time by not divulging this? I can see two main reasons:

- Providing a range automatically makes everyone ask for the top of the range, then risks upsetting them when they don't get it
- The old fashioned and almost amusing-in-a-cute-way view that everyone should be intrinsically motivated

I've emailed back saying I want to respect their time, so are they able to share indicative information about the package on offer. This is before I've even applied, which seems odd but then it also seems odd to want to waste people's time.

What are people's thoughts? Is it inappropriate to ask this before even applying, on the basis that they'd have referenced it in the job advert if they wanted to share pre-interview?

 

[Participant]

Ask them. In my experience a company recruiting like that is either for top dog roles, or they're going to see how cheap they can get you.

Have already asked them per op. I guess they're just being cagey because they don't want to give away their position. It could save them £ks by not divulging the salary they're prepared to pay for a given role.

Sounds a bit fishy though to be honest. Is it a verified profile?

It's legit. A trusted ex-colleague now works there in HR and has checked the job spec and referred me to try and cash in, despite the direct approach.

Anyway I'll see what they respond with. 'Bugger off, come and talk to us' probably.

 

[Participant]

Just had a sensible and efficient phone call with their HR department in which they clarified their and my salary expectations. Easy and very reasonable in the end! Refreshing.