Prospective employer asking salary questions?!?
Discussion
Hi all,
A friend has applied for a role with an international employer, in their London office. He has had an e-mail from from their recruitment team asking for a detailed breakdown of his current salary along with salary expectations. My initial advice was to avoid the question, but they've asked very specifically via e-mail so I'm at a dead end.
I'm sensing some king of trap here, what would be the best way to respond? does he run the risk of low balling himself? The role is the next grade up from the one that he's on, so it would be a promotion for him.
Any advice?
A friend has applied for a role with an international employer, in their London office. He has had an e-mail from from their recruitment team asking for a detailed breakdown of his current salary along with salary expectations. My initial advice was to avoid the question, but they've asked very specifically via e-mail so I'm at a dead end.
I'm sensing some king of trap here, what would be the best way to respond? does he run the risk of low balling himself? The role is the next grade up from the one that he's on, so it would be a promotion for him.
Any advice?
Very annoying practice - particularly when, as I am, you're doing a job for which you're massively overqualified (as a slightly more attractive alternative to the dole queue) and being paid about two thirds of what you would be if you were doing a job that utilised your full skillset. Share your salary and you get low-balled or judged to be unfit for the job you're applying for.
MitchT said:
Very annoying practice - particularly when, as I am, you're doing a job for which you're massively overqualified (as a slightly more attractive alternative to the dole queue) and being paid about two thirds of what you would be if you were doing a job that utilised your full skillset. Share your salary and you get low-balled or judged to be unfit for the job you're applying for.
That makes no sense. If you are as good as you feel you are then line up two offers and tell them you’ll work for the winning bidder.James_B said:
MitchT said:
Very annoying practice - particularly when, as I am, you're doing a job for which you're massively overqualified (as a slightly more attractive alternative to the dole queue) and being paid about two thirds of what you would be if you were doing a job that utilised your full skillset. Share your salary and you get low-balled or judged to be unfit for the job you're applying for.
That makes no sense. If you are as good as you feel you are then line up two offers and tell them you’ll work for the winning bidder.It is a very common practice to ask this, and one which needs dealing with carefully if you do not want to cause conflict with a potential new employer.
In the past I have dealt with this by saying something along the lines of "As I'm sure you can understand, my current employer would view that information as highly confidential, and at the moment I cannot tell you. Should you offer me the role, then of course I wouldn't be bound by that confidentiality. What I can say is that I would be expecting a package of......for a role similar to the one we are discussing
In the past I have dealt with this by saying something along the lines of "As I'm sure you can understand, my current employer would view that information as highly confidential, and at the moment I cannot tell you. Should you offer me the role, then of course I wouldn't be bound by that confidentiality. What I can say is that I would be expecting a package of......for a role similar to the one we are discussing
mark beavan said:
It is a very common practice to ask this, and one which needs dealing with carefully if you do not want to cause conflict with a potential new employer.
In the past I have dealt with this by saying something along the lines of "As I'm sure you can understand, my current employer would view that information as highly confidential, and at the moment I cannot tell you. Should you offer me the role, then of course I wouldn't be bound by that confidentiality. What I can say is that I would be expecting a package of......for a role similar to the one we are discussing
Any confidentiality you're bound with when employed is very likely to extend afterwards. Your comment would raise alarm bells to me as an employer. In the past I have dealt with this by saying something along the lines of "As I'm sure you can understand, my current employer would view that information as highly confidential, and at the moment I cannot tell you. Should you offer me the role, then of course I wouldn't be bound by that confidentiality. What I can say is that I would be expecting a package of......for a role similar to the one we are discussing
I agree written like it was I initially raised an eyebrow, but it's written on his p60 that they'll need when onboarding him to sort his payrole, so it does hang together.
I think it's a nice answer, but would benefit from being worded a little differently to make it clear you value IP/conf of current company even after you leave
I think it's a nice answer, but would benefit from being worded a little differently to make it clear you value IP/conf of current company even after you leave
stuthe
said:
said: I agree written like it was I initially raised an eyebrow, but it's written on his p60 that they'll need when onboarding him to sort his payrole, so it does hang together.
I think it's a nice answer, but would benefit from being worded a little differently to make it clear you value IP/conf of current company even after you leave
P60 figures will exclude any salary sacrifice benefits such as pension. My P60 salary will we significantly below my real salary. I think it's a nice answer, but would benefit from being worded a little differently to make it clear you value IP/conf of current company even after you leave
At a large, international company no-one is going to wait with baited breath to look at a new-hire's P45 or P60 to see if they were telling the truth or not. What someone is currently being paid is largely irrelevant compared to their skills/aptitude to perform the role they are being interviewed for.
Tell them your expectations. If you want to answer the question about current pay, be open and honest. It isn't a crime to go looking for a new job and expect to be paid at least the market rate for the job if you have the skills to do it.
Tell them your expectations. If you want to answer the question about current pay, be open and honest. It isn't a crime to go looking for a new job and expect to be paid at least the market rate for the job if you have the skills to do it.
If a candidate was evavsive if such a question came up (maybe because their interview didnt match the 'ask') then I would move onto the next candidate.
How you interview and present yourself is more important than your current salary. We have all been in jobs where you are worth far more than your employer rates you (until you resign)
How you interview and present yourself is more important than your current salary. We have all been in jobs where you are worth far more than your employer rates you (until you resign)
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff