Salary not on job advert - when do you bring it up?

[MitchT]

It seems to be de rigueur these days for companies to place job adverts but not to include a salary. Problem is, in my line of work I've seen jobs paying as little as £18k and as much as £55k. I don't want to waste my time going too far through the process for a role paying in the lower half of that range as I wouldn't want the job if I was offered it, but I don't know how soon is acceptable to seek clarification on the subject of remuneration. When do you bring it up?

[otherman]

Before applying I'd say. Call them up, there's normally a number for enquiries about the job.

[SmithyAG]

As soon as you speak to them.

No point wasting your time and theirs with an interview if the salary isn't going to be enough for you to consider it.

[edc]

Just apply for the role. If they ask you for face to face interview, then ask then what the salary range is as none has been provided so far. They will then probably ask for your expectation or last salary.

[Sir Bagalot]

In my experience it will mean it's a low salary.

Apply by all means if it takes 2 mins. Then if they come back ask the question.

Anything more than 2 mins to apply then make the call

[MitchT]

edc said:

They will then probably ask for your expectation or last salary.

I do hope they don't play the 'last salary' game. My current employer is very tight (OH worked in the same place and took a 65% increase when she moved to the same job elsewhere, just to be on what's considered the 'going rate') so I'm not interested in anyone who wants to lowball me just because my current employer is tight.

[bridgdav]

There are plenty of job sites which give a common or normal salary range for any position in a particular location.
Arm yourself with this information, see if is in your expected range, then discuss after your application.

With your present salary evidence, expected worth from your own salary target, independent salary range details.. You have a strong position to discuss what you want.

If they low ball. You can show your comeback with real data.

[STW2010]

I tried calling to find out the salary range of a job I was interested in. They asked me my salary and said it was quite a bit short of that (but still didn't say by how much). The HR person then emailed to say that they would be advertising the more senior position shortly. Again, no salary specified and my email reply asking for an indicative range was ignored.

I didn't apply for either. Waste of bloody time.

[0000]

Sir Bagalot said:

In my experience it will mean it's a low salary.

This, but mostly I think it's just a sign they're prepared to waste the time of other people.

Personally I wouldn't bother, I can't stand those conversations where people effectively tell you you're overpaid and should take a cut to come and work for their two bit company. I'd rather focus the job search elsewhere, even if that means McDonalds.

[0000]

MitchT said:

edc said:

They will then probably ask for your expectation or last salary.

I do hope they don't play the 'last salary' game.

That does annoy me too - offer me what I'm worth to you now, not what I was worth n years ago for someone else!

All you can do is just ask for what you think you should be on and have the balls to be firm about it even if it looks like a considerable jump. More often than not I've found it's paid off, I can only recall one occasion when it didn't and soon enough a better offer turned up.

[ReallyReallyGood]

If the company is of reasonable size they may be on glassdoor.com where employees anonymously post information about the company and the salary ranges.

[Jasandjules]

Phone them or the agency and ask what the range is. No point wasting your time applying if it is too low.

[sdyson31]

If it is a agency then ask them now and if your dealing with the client directly then either ask them now and if you don't want to ask directly at early stage then ask your friend to email them and ask about the salary range. This way your name won't be disclosed.

[jesta1865]

this can be tricky, i have a mate who told me just last week that he has put my name forward (including cv etc) to his boss who is looking and not finding people he likes.

that's not a problem except i have no idea what the salary range is, and now if i ask and it's not enough he will know he earns less than i do.

so i'm just going to have to ride it out and see if i get called in then talk to the company direct.

[Miguel Alvarez]

I would just call and ask for the salary range/grade/ball park figure. Why waste your time getting all suited and booted, going to an interview and the rest to be told it's half what you are on now?

[h0b0]

We do not advertise the salary on the posting because there is a $100k swing for the same job title. It is based on experience and value to the corporation. I am very straight forward when hiring people for roles and will have a profile of a person for the position and therefore a potential salary. It is possible though that someone's c.v. suitably impresses me and I change the profile of the role by making internal adjustments. Salary is one of the first things discussed after reading c.v.s It can be seen as being crass though. There is no point in going down the road of interviewing if I don't have the budget to cover their salary. I do have one employee who said "the lowest I could go is $X." That was way over what I had originally intended but he represented a huge benefit to my organization. So, I could justify the difference to my management team. He is a happy and loyal employee today.

OP, if you are asked for an interview it is probable that it will be an HR rep who is communicating with you. If so, just ask. In fact even if it is not HR the hiring manager should understand and appreciate the inquiry. It will show that you are serious about the position.