Interviews & disclosing salary
Discussion
I have a meeting/interview with a potential employer this afternoon. This came about after an agency got in touch with me and it has all happened very quickly. The agency has told me repeatedly under no cicumstances disclose my current salary to the potential employer. The agency guy has told me he will be able to get me a lot more than what I am on at the minute. So my thinking as to why they don't want me to disclose is that A) My current salary is far too low and will put the employer off, B) The employer will offer me a large increase on my current salary but still quite a bit short of what they would be willing to pay so the agency's commision will be lower.
Any thoughts? If asked, what should my response be?
Any thoughts? If asked, what should my response be?
Not sure about putting the employer off but if there's a difference then it gives your new employer more reason for keeping it low. From experience you stand a much better chance of getting a decent salary if you're already on one so could be a possible reason.
But yes, it could be that the agent is on some sort of commision that's related to your starting salary (not sure though). Either way it's probably in your best interests to do what he says.
Best of luck!
ETA. you could just say that you've been advised by your agent not to say (is honest at least). I don't think I've ever discussed salaries at an interview before so maybe it won't come up until afterwards when the employer feeds back to the agent.
But yes, it could be that the agent is on some sort of commision that's related to your starting salary (not sure though). Either way it's probably in your best interests to do what he says.
Best of luck!
ETA. you could just say that you've been advised by your agent not to say (is honest at least). I don't think I've ever discussed salaries at an interview before so maybe it won't come up until afterwards when the employer feeds back to the agent.
Edited by Fatman2 on Thursday 9th February 13:04
It's a good idea to be as vague as possible about your salary, the caveat being that as long as you can do so without winding the guy up.
You can't win by telling them your salary expectations at this time. If you give them a number lower than what they had in mind, you've just cost yourself money and you'll never, ever get it back. Conversely, although less of a problem, if you give them a number too high you may put them off. The chances of you both having the same number in mind are minimal.
There's a more tactful way of going about it though. If he asks about your salary expectations, say something like "I'm more interested in the overall opportunity than the money - I'm sure you'll make me a fair offer when the time comes". If he really presses you for your current salary, I would normally advise telling them, and following it up by saying that you would be looking for a salary which represents your skillset and the work to be performed, rather than basing it off what you've historically been paid.
Seems evident to me though from the recruiter's behaviour that there's potentially a large differential between what they expect to have to pay, and what you're on. If so, if you can avoid telling them your current salary it would likely be in your interests.
You can't win by telling them your salary expectations at this time. If you give them a number lower than what they had in mind, you've just cost yourself money and you'll never, ever get it back. Conversely, although less of a problem, if you give them a number too high you may put them off. The chances of you both having the same number in mind are minimal.
There's a more tactful way of going about it though. If he asks about your salary expectations, say something like "I'm more interested in the overall opportunity than the money - I'm sure you'll make me a fair offer when the time comes". If he really presses you for your current salary, I would normally advise telling them, and following it up by saying that you would be looking for a salary which represents your skillset and the work to be performed, rather than basing it off what you've historically been paid.
Seems evident to me though from the recruiter's behaviour that there's potentially a large differential between what they expect to have to pay, and what you're on. If so, if you can avoid telling them your current salary it would likely be in your interests.
Thanks for the advice so far guys. It will be a permanent position not contract so like has been said, the higher a salary I get, the higher his commission. I know what the starting salary is (109% increase on my current) although the recruiter hasn't told me, he just says he should be able to get me a good rise. So I know what the employer is looking to pay. Does this change anything? The recruiter said if asked just say I'd prefer not to disclose that at this point and that the agency would rather deal with that. Is this not going to put the potential employer off?
When I have dealt with agencies they have always given me the previous salary when doing the negotiation. Though I wouldn't ask in an interview what salary someone is on, really any terms and conditions (salary, benefits, bonuses) should be discussed after the interview as the prime aim is to see that the candidate is good for the job.
So, I would be surprised if they ask as they know what they would pay, and the agent would have put on the CV cover letter the salary expectations.
So, I would be surprised if they ask as they know what they would pay, and the agent would have put on the CV cover letter the salary expectations.
Sorry to thread hijack, but my mate asked me a very similiar question the other day:
He is currently on 27K and has got an interview for a role 30-45k
He said that the agent told him to go for 45k, so I'm guessing they are on com.
He really wants the role, but is step up for him and I thinks he is more than able to do the job, but he probably will not have as much experience as other cadnidates (this is a consultant role, he is in tech support)
Therefore when they ask him what salary he would be wanting, what shall he say?
He is currently on 27K and has got an interview for a role 30-45k
He said that the agent told him to go for 45k, so I'm guessing they are on com.
He really wants the role, but is step up for him and I thinks he is more than able to do the job, but he probably will not have as much experience as other cadnidates (this is a consultant role, he is in tech support)
Therefore when they ask him what salary he would be wanting, what shall he say?
TwistingMyMelon said:
Sorry to thread hijack, but my mate asked me a very similiar question the other day:
He is currently on 27K and has got an interview for a role 30-45k
He said that the agent told him to go for 45k, so I'm guessing they are on com.
He really wants the role, but is step up for him and I thinks he is more than able to do the job, but he probably will not have as much experience as other cadnidates (this is a consultant role, he is in tech support)
Therefore when they ask him what salary he would be wanting, what shall he say?
Personally I think any discussion of money during an interview is wrong. If someone asks how much I want my response is to ask them to make me an offer should they deem me suitable for the role. if they are interviewing someone else similar to you then money can't be the deciding factor in who gets the job. He is currently on 27K and has got an interview for a role 30-45k
He said that the agent told him to go for 45k, so I'm guessing they are on com.
He really wants the role, but is step up for him and I thinks he is more than able to do the job, but he probably will not have as much experience as other cadnidates (this is a consultant role, he is in tech support)
Therefore when they ask him what salary he would be wanting, what shall he say?
You should have an idea of the kind of money being offered in the market then once an offer comes in you can negotiate from there.
Gargamel said:
Employers will find out what you were previously on when they get your tax details. So whatever you do say, don't lie !
Never give a new employer your P45 from your previous employer,simple.OK, you might end up on emergency tax for a few mths,but worth it if you were a little economical with the truth in respect of your last salary.
Gargamel said:
Employers will find out what you were previously on when they get your tax details. So whatever you do say, don't lie !
No they won't. Just say "I have been chasing them but have never received it". I just filled in a form from HMRC website to cover it and I was paid correctly immediately (no emergency tax), something like 747 (standard). Gargamel said:
Employers will find out what you were previously on when they get your tax details. So whatever you do say, don't lie !
From being on the other side of this, it WILL wind people up. Wont be just the person who interviewed you that will be aware of it either. Tell the truth, and prove your worth.leeb said:
From being on the other side of this, it WILL wind people up. Wont be just the person who interviewed you that will be aware of it either. Tell the truth, and prove your worth.
In the rare event an interviewee is asked how much they earn, I still would advise to exaggerate it as it's more than not likely to help get a higher starting salary at the new place.It's only going to be in tiny little companies where the person receiving the new starter's P45 is the same as the one who, in the interview, asked how much they earn in their current role.
If questioned you can always say that the rest was made up with bonuses.
I shall continue to do so, it is a good tactic for squeezing more out of new jobs.
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