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disclosing current salaries to prospective empoyers

TN

Hey baby, want a hot dog?
Jul 9, 2002
14,301
1,353
Jimtown, CO
Do you tell a little white lie?
Will it bite you in the ass?

Why should your current salary matter if you are moving up to a better position?

Thoughts?
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,191
media blackout
I'm pretty sure that prospective employers can't legally ask your current/former employer what your salary was. But they can also gauge if what you tell them is in the ballpark of what you should be making for your position, experience, etc.

Bottom line, the more you make, the more you can fib. Its pretty much how you have to play the game to get ahead. Example, if you're making $40k, saying you make $50 would be a bit of a stretch. But if you make $75 and say you make $85, it'd be a little more believable. Depends on your industry, location, experience, how many people there are in your field, etc. RIght now, with the economy in the ****ter you're gonna be more hard pressed to get more.
 

I Are Baboon

The Full Dopey
Aug 6, 2001
32,383
9,289
MTB New England
I've always told the truth. Lying on a resume is grounds for immediate termination with most employers. Even if the new employer never proactively tries to check your history, it's too easy to voluntarily slip up yourself.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,191
media blackout
I've always told the truth. Lying on a resume is grounds for immediate termination with most employers. Even if the new employer never proactively tries to check your history, it's too easy to voluntarily slip up yourself.
Why in the world are you putting your salary on your resume in the first place?
 

cadmus

Monkey
May 24, 2006
755
0
PNW
I've always left it blank if it was on the application and handled questions about salary requirements with something to the effect of "If I'm your candidate, I'm sure we can figure something out." In my mind, current salary information is more useful to them as grounds for a low-ball offer than determining your qualifications for the job.
 

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
You can round up a bit. But you gotta be in the ballpark, especially if you work for a decent sized company. I bet Kodak knows within a few hundred bucks what a Xerox engineer with 10 years on the job makes anually.
 

I Are Baboon

The Full Dopey
Aug 6, 2001
32,383
9,289
MTB New England
Why in the world are you putting your salary on your resume in the first place?
resume/interview/application/whatever. If you lie during the process, an employer may terminate you if they find out you were lying. Whether you want to disclose that information is up to you, but if you do, tell the truth.

And prospective employers can ask former/current employers about your salary history.

But I'm an "HR type." WTF do I know? :D
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,191
media blackout
resume/interview/application/whatever. If you lie during the process, an employer may terminate you if they find out you were lying. Whether you want to disclose that information is up to you, but if you do, tell the truth.

An prospective employers can ask former/current employers about your salary history.

But I'm an "HR type." WTF do I know? :D
Salary is one of the few things that is negotiable with a new job. Same with benefits.

WTF industry do you work in that you can ask former employers the salary? I've never heard of that.


Like I said, if you're making $55k and you said you're making $60, that won't raise a red flag. But if you're making $55k and you say you're making $80k, they'll know something is up. Its pretty easy to figure out based on someones experience and education if their salary is in line with industry and regional pay.
 

pixelninja

Turbo Monkey
Jun 14, 2003
2,131
0
Denver, CO
I wouldn't lie. Not a good way to start a new job.

FYI - Check out http://www.glassdoor.com. It's still in beta so there's a lot of functionality that's missing, but it's a site that allows users to submit salary information and rate companies. It looks like it could become a very handy tool for job seekers.
 

I Are Baboon

The Full Dopey
Aug 6, 2001
32,383
9,289
MTB New England
WTF industry do you work in that you can ask former employers the salary? I've never heard of that.
Doesn't matter what industry it is. It's standard pre-employment background screening, which usually includes employment verification with your former employers.

And to your other point, lying is lying. Granted it's unlikely any red flegs will go up in the examples you mentioned, but be prepared to explain yourself if it does.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,942
13,135
Portland, OR
When I took this job, I was originally talking a much higher pay rate and it was lowered when they found out what I made at my last employer. When they verified my employment, they checked dates and salary.

I still ended up with about a 5% increase, but it would have been closer to 10%. I didn't tell them, my old employer did.

When I applied for the tow truck job, I left it blank. He asked me what I made, I told him he couldn't pay me anything close to that, so it wasn't an issue. Later over coffee I told him and he was floored. But I didn't drive a tow truck because they make bank, either.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,191
media blackout
Doesn't matter what industry it is. It's standard pre-employment background screening, which usually includes employment verification with your former employers.

And to your other point, lying is lying. Granted it's unlikely any red flegs will go up in the examples you mentioned, but be prepared to explain yourself if it does.
I totally understand what you're saying. From my understanding employment verification only encompasses if you did actually work there, the dates you worked there, and you were in the position you claimed to be.

And yea, if they call you out, you have to be ready to explain yourself.

Another point, just because you claim your salary was a certain amount with your last job doesn't mean that your new employer is required to pay it. Your old salary isn't the only factor in determining your new salary.
 

laura

DH_Laura
Jul 16, 2002
6,259
15
Glitter Gulch
WTF industry do you work in that you can ask former employers the salary? I've never heard of that.
At the last place I worked (non-profit) that is about the only information they would divulge about any previous employee. They would confirm dates of employment and salary range.
 

BMXman

I wish I was Canadian
Sep 8, 2001
13,827
0
Victoria, BC
Doesn't matter what industry it is. It's standard pre-employment background screening, which usually includes employment verification with your former employers.
Yep the last job I had I was always calling and verifying previous position, employment duration and salary...perfectly legal....D
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,942
13,135
Portland, OR
Another point, just because you claim your salary was a certain amount with your last job doesn't mean that your new employer is required to pay it. Your old salary isn't the only factor in determining your new salary.
But like my current position, they knew that 5% would be enough for me to agree to. Once I have my MBA, I will get a healthy bump because I have far more to offer than just a few more years experience.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
ive always told my new employer that i was making 10% or more than i really was. i always knew my last employer would never tell what i was really making...and luckily that idea panned out for my current job
 

Leethal

Turbo Monkey
Oct 27, 2001
1,240
0
Avondale (Phoenix)
Right on they can ask your present employer... so you can round but dont be dumb about it.. just be difficult on the offer if it isn't signifigant tell them you won' take the risk for less and your looking to leave because your current job salary is uncompetitive.
 

TN

Hey baby, want a hot dog?
Jul 9, 2002
14,301
1,353
Jimtown, CO
This job I just applied for has a pay scale that is almost twice what the pay scale of the position I am in now. That being said...broadcast TV is notorious for underpaying designers/animators like by almost 40-50% less than non-broadcast jobs.

My issue is I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by not getting the job for lying AND I don't want to screw myself out of not getting paid what my skill set is worth.
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
My issue is I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by not getting the job for lying AND I don't want to screw myself out of not getting paid what my skill set is worth.
Then be honest about what you're currently being paid AND honest about what you expect to be paid.
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,092
1,132
NC
FYI, I was told by my dad when I asked this question, who has been managing various sized groups and offices for about 15 years, that you should absolutely not lie about your salary barring simple rounding to a thousand.

He informed me that there are a couple ways a company can find out your previous salary. He pointed out that there were some more subtle ways to call and ask such as "I just want to confirm TN's salary at <your number>" that will often get answered, and that many companies will answer the question anyway even if they just ask straight out.

He also suggested that they can come very close to your salary by looking at your detailed credit report.

Just the opinion of one person, take it as you like :monkey:
 
Last edited:

bills.name

Chimp
Jul 17, 2007
10
0
Seattle
If your job has a "base salary" and it also has additional pay, like overtime and bonuses, etc. which increase your taxable income, I wouldn't hesitate to tell the potential employer the highest number possible, i.e. base salary + overtime + bonuses + etc. That, technically, is what you were making at your previous job....not just the base salary. And a quick question for the "HR types".... When you ask somebody's previous employer for their salary history, are those extra amounts of money included in what you hear, or do you just hear the base salary figure?
 

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,862
4,160
Copenhagen, Denmark
I was just going to say something a long the line as bills.name. Salary is often only a part of the package, then comes vacation, type of health care insurance, and all sort of other benefits.