Follow up to 'The one thing you should never disclose to potential employer'.

Follow up to 'The one thing you should never disclose to potential employer'.

The previous post generated a lot of attention, and some questions. For those who did not read that article, the essence was “Don't disclose your current salary or salary history”. Here are the reasons.

The employer already knows the budget for the position and what they are willing to pay. Learning your minimum number gives them even greater leverage. Your salary is private information. Imagine meeting someone, having a coffee or two, and then they ask what you earn (and are offended if you ask them). Finally, it is irrelevant. If the job duties, hours, skills, experience, and such are worth an amount, then you should, in fairness, earn that amount.

This leaves the question “What do I do about this?”. First of all, you might choose to simply capitulate and go with the flow. The previous article laid out an example that demonstrates an impact greater than $200,000 for a mid-career 40 year old. However, not everyone is in a position to be 'different' in a job application process.

If you do decide that not disclosing your private information is best, talk openly and honestly with your next employer, and be ready to ask some questions of your own in response. “I feel that salary history is very personal, and it does not apply to this situation. If the position pays $10,000 or 10 million, and I am the right fit, and want to do the job for the salary offered, it doesn't matter...”

Here are some sample questions to indicate interest, and establish that everyone is somewhere in the appropriate salary range:

What is your normal range?

What did you pay the last person to do this job?

Based upon my experience, skills, and qualifications, what do you normally offer?

The idea here is to 'qualify' both the candidate and the company. “Oh the range is X to Y? That's fine with me, and I think my skill (or selling point) will show that I am a strong candidate”.

It is fair for an employer to know that you are a viable candidate for a position, and not just wasting their time. I am not suggesting that you should raise complete roadblocks, present as unreasonable, and disqualify yourself. Janitors typically make less than Engineers. A janitorial company should not have to bother with a candidate who insists on 'Engineer' pay. Likewise, a candidate should not have to tolerate a company that wants an Engineer's qualifications for the pay of a Janitor.

Likewise, a job seeker should not have to be manipulated or pressured into working for a salary far below their worth. Reasonably, the employer has a general idea of what you make anyway. If a company does not value you, and simply seeks to 'lowball' you, red flags should be raised. Is this company in financial trouble? Do they value their employees or are they just another cog in a machine? Is this company ethical, or just greedy? Is the bottom line all that matters?

To tie up a loose end, this 'divulge your salary history' inquisition starts with many online applications. The forms do not offer you a “I choose not to answer” button. Often, you must fill in an amount. My typical advice is to put in $1 per hour. Later, if they ask about it, you can explain that is is irrelevant, they are not hiring you for the job you already have, and (respectfully) what is the range of the current position?

Good Luck and Best Wishes,

Chris