“What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
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“What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
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Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#2I've seen a lot of people including recruiters talk about how this is a terrible idea. But then I see this and folks like patio11 talking about similar negotiating strategies. How do I know which one is right?
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#3I've seen a lot of people including recruiters talk about how this is a terrible idea. But then I see this and folks like patio11 talking about similar negotiating strategies. How do I know which one is right?
How you decide what's right for you is a personal decision. But when it comes to salary negotiation, you can be sure the company is very much working to do what's right for itself and its shareholders, and I think you should similarly be just as focused on doing what's right for you.
Negotiating your salary is better for you. Disclosing your current salary or desired salary when asked is worse for you and better for the company.
I wrote this article specifically to help folks understand the interview and negotiation processes better so they could make a more informed decision about what's right for them.
Does this help? I'm happy to clarify - just let me know!
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#4I've always hated this question and the best I've managed is to pick what I thought was a biggish number and tell them that.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#5I've always hated this question and the best I've managed is to pick what I thought was a biggish number and tell them that.
Picking a biggish number is better than just telling them the actual number (in terms of "What's your desired salary?"). Better to give them a big number, all things considered.
But giving NO number is MUCH MUCH better.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#6A close friend recently related to me that during an interview process the HR contact mentioned that they had just revoked an offer from someone who 'asked for too much' during negotiations.
Director level position (non-profit, Washington DC). Candidate asked for ~100k, and they were willing to give it to them - until they got a detailed salary history and found out their current salary was ~80k... so they would've only offered ~85k.
So they were absolutely fine with paying 100k for the job (very reasonable for the role and size of the org), until they learned it would be a decent pay increase for the new hire. Insane.
It will not surprise anyone to learn this org has a bad reputation for internal culture and holding on to talent.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#7A close friend recently related to me that during an interview process the HR contact mentioned that they had just revoked an offer from someone who 'asked for too much' during negotiations. Director level position (non-profit, Washington DC). Candidate asked for ~100k, and they were willing to give it to them - until they got a detailed salary history and found out their current salary was ~80k... so they would've o…
That's extremely frustrating to hear and seems VERY short-sighted by the company itself. If they already determined that person would be a good fit at $100k salary, it seems so silly to change their mind just because they learn about the candidates PREVIOUS salary.
Another reason not to disclose salary requirements, but also seems like a case of management myopia. Thanks for sharing :)
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#8A close friend recently related to me that during an interview process the HR contact mentioned that they had just revoked an offer from someone who 'asked for too much' during negotiations. Director level position (non-profit, Washington DC). Candidate asked for ~100k, and they were willing to give it to them - until they got a detailed salary history and found out their current salary was ~80k... so they would've o…
Having worked as a recruiter I have never heard of an offer being completely revoked for that. Are you sure they weren't just offered $85k and decided to decline it?
If they got the $85k offer, it would have been an opportunity to negotiate and prove why they were worth the extra.
It's a costly process for a company to advertise and interview multiple candidates, it's a huge waste to then fully revoke an offer to the best candidate.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#9I've seen a lot of people including recruiters talk about how this is a terrible idea. But then I see this and folks like patio11 talking about similar negotiating strategies. How do I know which one is right?
How you decide what's right for you is a personal decision. But when it comes to salary negotiation, you can be sure the company is very much working to do what's right for itself and its shareholders, and I think you should similarly be just as focused on doing what's right for you. Negotiating your salary is better for you. Disclosing your current salary or desired salary when asked is worse for you and better for…
Negotiating your salary is better for you.
1000000% agree with this. My first job, right out of college, I got an offer which was fine, and I had no problem with the amount. But, I asked for more, because why not? And got 15% more just from asking.
Always. Negotiate.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
How you decide what's right for you is a personal decision. But when it comes to salary negotiation, you can be sure the company is very much working to do what's right for itself and its shareholders, and I think you should similarly be just as focused on doing what's right for you. Negotiating your salary is better for you. Disclosing your current salary or desired salary when asked is worse for you and better for…
Negotiating your salary is better for you. 1000000% agree with this. My first job, right out of college, I got an offer which was fine, and I had no problem with the amount. But, I asked for more, because why not? And got 15% more just from asking. Always. Negotiate.
A pretty good summary of my "Why you should always negotiate" speech.
"Because why not?"
I love it.