Comments on: Salary History

By: RP

RP — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:15:23 +0000

I’ve been through managers training at a large telecomms company where i learned that future employers cannot inquire as to many details (legally) of your previous employment. Those details include such things as salary, attendance, sick days taken, tardiness, HR cases, performance reviews, reasons for termination or departure and even your position. Truly the only information a previous employer *can* share with a future employer is that you in fact worked there, and what your start and end dates were. If any other information is shared you have the right to sue your previous employer for any number of reasons, and can collect future income not earned as a result of their negligence.

Morale to this story is – that is confidential information, but determine your value before you ever talk to a potential employer. Practice negotiating salary in private (with your spouse or a friend) before you get there. And be able to recite a summary of your positive characteristics/values that you will bring to the position given your knowledge, wisdom and experiences. Be able to tell a story about yourself well beyond your resume. These all help in ANY negotiation, whether it’s for a new job or a 1st date!~

By: ppindia

ppindia — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:57:08 +0000

hmm…Interesting, here in India you are almost forced to answer the question since you have to bring your last 3 months pay slip, bank statement, income tax returns, offer letter of previous company to prove what your previous salary is(which they will be verify later!). Otherwise however good you are you wont get the job!

By: Links From Around The Web – July 26, 2009 | MoneyAndWealth

Links From Around The Web – July 26, 2009 | MoneyAndWealth — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:03:36 +0000

[...] Four-Pillars has an article about disclosing your current salary in an interview. [...]

By: Steve Hanov

Steve Hanov — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:35:28 +0000

A good excuse to not quote your salary is confidentiality. Every raise I’ve ever gotten has been marked, “strictly confidential” on the letter. Technically, I could be sued for revealing it!

Thanks for the link. I happen to read this blog and it was an unexpected surprise to be linked back to.

By: Mr. Cheap

Mr. Cheap — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:46:26 +0000

Dylan: I agree with Jesse, I think that would be a great response (and if you had to repeat it, I agree that it says something big about the hiring manager).

Jesse: Good idea for a post! Thanks for your kind words.

By: jesse

jesse — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:32:34 +0000

Dylan, that’s a good one. We often forget what answers employees get from management on confidential or sensitive issues. Often it’s an answer that doesn’t have any numbers attached and full of carefully worded but meaningful statements. Your statement is, in the business world parlance, a way of saying, “None of your business. I am at a huge disadvantage if I tell you, and you know it. In order to keep things fair we should not see each other’s cards.” If they keep pressing you, repeat verbatim your previous sentence. That is, in the business world, a way of saying they aren’t getting what they’re asking for and if they don’t pick that up, they’re probably going to be difficult to work with or they don’t have much experience in negotiations; both bad signs from your POV.

Listen to your company’s CEO when she/he answers a prickly question. When dealing with prickly questions, speak their language answer them in the same way. People often think that employers will get upset you’re not answering the question but, actually, if you are to be a liaison doing business deals, however small, on their behalf, the last thing they want is someone who caves so a simple negotiation tactic.

When you avoid direct questions, the employer may look annoyed but keep it positive and express interest in working for the company and demonstrate how you have always had a company’s interests at heart when performing your past jobs.

Mr. Cheap, you should do a posting on the “language of business” or something about how to read certain statements from management. It can be of huge help when people are doing business negotiations like determining starting salary. I’m sure you have some personal examples of what was said and what was really meant.

Love the blog.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:45:58 +0000

My answer would be:

“My total compensation from past employers has always been fair and reasonable given my experience, responsibilities, and job expectations, and I would expect the same from any future employer.”

I think that tells them where you stand on answering the question, and it demonstrates tact and recognition that salary is only a piece of total compensation. It’s also hard to make any kind of counter argument against “fair and reasonable” or even for the hiring manager to pose a follow-up questing with out risking sounding like total douche bag.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:23:58 +0000

I was just placed in the unfortunate situation recently. I wish I had read this article beforehand. Is salary information classified as “public information”?

Thank you kindly for your help.

Peace,
e

By: Weekly Review-Recession Over Edition- Guest Posts | Financial Highway

Weekly Review-Recession Over Edition- Guest Posts | Financial Highway — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:04:47 +0000

[...] Mr. Cheap @ Four Pillars discusses how to answer salary expectation question during interview [...]

By: This and That: Best bets for a bull market and more… | Canadian Capitalist

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:28:53 +0000

[...] I’ve had my share of interviews but I’ve never been asked about my salary history. However, employers do typically ask about salary expectations and I simply say “in line with the market”. Mr. Cheap on how to address this sticky question if it comes up in an interview. [...]