I have an entry level position at my firm, and I was applying to other internal positions that more closely match my skill set, but which would cause me to have a huge increase in pay. One interviewer/screener asked me how much I was currently making, and I said I'd prefer not to disclose that information. Their response was, "That's ok, I can just look you up in our system. Ah, you make $x." It was so infuriating.
“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
#32Apparently in MA, USA, where I live, it is illegal to ask this[1]. It is brought up on Business Radio often (sirius xm 111). Although strangely, the host always thinks the law applies just to woman, which I'd find very odd. However, I am not sure people abide by it. 1. https://qz.com/749476/massachusetts-salary-history-job-inter...
The bill doesn't go into effect until next year - July 1, 2018.
Well that'll do it.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#33I have an entry level position at my firm, and I was applying to other internal positions that more closely match my skill set, but which would cause me to have a huge increase in pay. One interviewer/screener asked me how much I was currently making, and I said I'd prefer not to disclose that information. Their response was, "That's ok, I can just look you up in our system. Ah, you make $x." It was so infuriating.
Not too much you can do in that situation, unfortunately. I usually approach that as a "focus on getting a raise"-type strategy, which is a little different than negotiating starting salary. You did the right thing in your situation and just got unlucky :(
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#34If you live in Massachusetts it's now illegal for a perspective employer to ask this question as part of your interviewing process: http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/fy2...
Philadelphia just passed a very similar law, which goes into effect in a month or two I believe.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#35I have found that almost any decently sized company uses some sort of online form as part of the application/interview process.
These forms usually have a current or desired salary field and often has fairly strong validations on it (e.g., must be filled in, must be a number between x and y, no non-numeric characters allowed).
So you either have to fill it in or not submit the application form at all (the rest of which is usually perfectly reasonable), which is not going to impress anyone.
I suppose you could also hack their javascript and take out their validations and hope they don't have server side validations as well. That should impress them :).
edit for sense/grammar
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#36I don't really see the point of not telling them, if the company has no idea about your previous salary, they aren't going to be tricked into offering you some huge number, they are going to come in at the average wage in your location for that position. What you should do instead is identify the number you want to get paid before hand. ( Which should be higher than the average ) And then honestly tell them , I'm cur…
If you're going to do this, you should leave out X. The larger the differential between X and Y, the higher the unconscious (or perhaps even conscious) bias will be against you. "This guy wants a 40% raise to come work for us" vs. "This guy wants $Y to come work for us."
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#37Very, very long article. TL;DR: "I don't want to tell you, make me an offer instead" is the suggested answer.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#38I've used this technique to great effect for almost 20 years. The problem I have now is that my salary is so high that, without presenting a desired salary, there aren't any easy filter questions left to determine whether a potential employer is remotely interested in acquired somebody of my "caliber".
It is reasonable to expect a company to stretch their budget by 20%. However, it generally isn't reasonable to ask for double their budget. The faster we can get to no, the faster we can talk to other folks.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#39I have an entry level position at my firm, and I was applying to other internal positions that more closely match my skill set, but which would cause me to have a huge increase in pay. One interviewer/screener asked me how much I was currently making, and I said I'd prefer not to disclose that information. Their response was, "That's ok, I can just look you up in our system. Ah, you make $x." It was so infuriating.
This behavior is telling you (maybe not intentionally or consciously), that you need to look outside the company for a large pay bump. Unfortunately, many companies do this.
And honestly, there is a middle ground that a company needs to walk, otherwise on the far side, they can be a ship full of very well paid employees on a trip where a few thin years could sink it.
But to be clear, it's absolutely not in your personal interest to receive low pay for the benefit of the firm - especially in an entry level position.
Re: “What’s your current salary?” is a trap question–Here's how to answer it
#40A 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…
Them: "We'd like to see proof of your salary history." Me: "Sorry- we arrived at an agreeable number earlier. I don't see how a salary history would change that." Them: (stammers...) Either way it's a win- you either get it, or they toss you and you dodged a FUCKING BULLET.
They won't stammer. They will without the slightest bit of shame attempt to cajole/badger/guilt/etc you into revealing the information. Then they may also engage in a background check / credit report goose chase to get or infer the information.
You say "you dodged a FUCKING BULLET", and I agree in principle, but in practice, a lot of employers do this, and a lot of people submit themselves to this kind of crap which makes you stick out more (like a sore thumb) when you don't.