Questions about Salary during applications

[ToothbrushMan]

I hate this question coming up in some online applications. Many sites only allow you to enter numerical digits as an answer so you cannot even enter something generic like "competitive" or "none of your business" or "between x and y range" etc. My personal fave at the monent if the system allows it is to say "Less than XYZk"

What are people opinions on being asked this question?

Sometimes it might just ask for current salary or ask for your salary expectations. How do you answer?

I personally feel that if I earned say £50k in my last job and I am applying for a cleaning job paying NMW if I put £50k down on the application they are gonna think he is not serious or will just do the job short term then go find another £50k job, or if you put down say £30k and the employer is paying up to £28k they again will think you wont want to take a cut and bin your application.........

but really is it any of their business how much you got paud in your last job? whats that got to do with the job you are now applying for?

I wonder if there are any bosses here that can tell us how they look upon the answers given. Surely it must have some influence on being selected for interview?