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How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

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Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#21

Post by fahadkhan »

gambiting wrote: post #14
goldenkey wrote: post #8

Just lie and say something competitively high, because negotations will always lowball and haggle it down from there. Previous salaries are NEVER verified for simple reasons, its beyond offensive for the references as well as the interviewing company to ask about compensation which is a private business affair. Why is responding to asshole questions in a pragmatic manner so hard to avenge for hanging by the doornail…

In certain countries(Sweden) all tax records are fully public and anyone can read them, so the recruiter can just look up what you are being paid without asking.

wow! Not sure how I feel about that. I find it strange that anyone can find out the price paid for any house in Britain. I often see people often 'valuing' other people with this information. I can't imagine what it would be like if people could find salaries directly.

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#22

Post by cies »

josh_fyi wrote: post #2

Say "My contract prevents me from disclosing my compensation package" (probably true), "and I treat my commitments seriously."

This! And if it does not say so in your contract you can add a little "I believe my contact..." in there.

Many other advocate lying. I'm kind of hesitant to do that because of my believe that it is "starting off on the wrong foot".

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#23

Post by [deleted] »

gambiting wrote: post #14
goldenkey wrote: post #8

Just lie and say something competitively high, because negotations will always lowball and haggle it down from there. Previous salaries are NEVER verified for simple reasons, its beyond offensive for the references as well as the interviewing company to ask about compensation which is a private business affair. Why is responding to asshole questions in a pragmatic manner so hard to avenge for hanging by the doornail…

In certain countries(Sweden) all tax records are fully public and anyone can read them, so the recruiter can just look up what you are being paid without asking.

[deleted]

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#25

Post by beaconstudios »

goldenkey wrote: post #18
DoubleGlazing wrote: post #17

I find that a lot of the tactics used to deflect or avoid answering awkward questions in interviews just do not work. There are two questions that always get me in interviews. The first one is the salary one. If I am evasive, or try to deflect, the interviewer will probe deeper. They just wont take no for an answer. In fact I've even been told straight up "Give us a figure, or we won't proceed". Another one is about…

Totally agree. Its the same as when a cop pulls you over. Being abrasive yet technically legally correct will just get the cop to royally shit on your situation. See my relevant comment in the thread below: https://news.ycombinator.com/reply?id=13947819&goto=item%3Fi...

you can put a human being in a uniform and give them authority but they're still a human being with all the complexity around ego and personality.

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#26

Post by cies »

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #17

I find that a lot of the tactics used to deflect or avoid answering awkward questions in interviews just do not work. There are two questions that always get me in interviews. The first one is the salary one. If I am evasive, or try to deflect, the interviewer will probe deeper. They just wont take no for an answer. In fact I've even been told straight up "Give us a figure, or we won't proceed". Another one is about…

I once named my salary and they thought it was so high that they said they'll need a salary strip to prove it before signing the contract.

The negotiation stranded on other points, so I never had to. But I had the gut feeling this practice is not legal (in EU).

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#27

Post by susi22 »

mooreds wrote: post #7
neverminder wrote: post #5

And what if you lie? Also, I think it depends on what country you're in. For instance in UK most recruiters are 3rd party companies operating only as middlemen and their compensation from the employer company is directly proportional to your offered yearly salary (usually something like 15%), so they are interested in getting you the highest possible salary within reason.

Lying (about anything) seems like a poor way to start a relationship between you and your employer. Of course, negotiation is expected and you shouldn't lay all your cards on the table, but outright lying might poison the relationship.

The beautiful German language: To "earn" and "deserve" are the same word. So you're technically not lying if they ask "Wieviel verdienen Sie?"

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#28

Post by uncle_d »

jaimex2 wrote: post #16

Outright saying I'm currently on X has worked wonders for me. X is 20% more than what I actually earn.

I saw an article a few years ago, where they said most people disadvantage themselves unknowingly - by not negotiating their salary for their first job out of college harder.

The thinking being that if most people usually move jobs for their current salary +x%, that initial figure has a profound compound effect throughout the rest of your earning career.

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#29

Post by LoSboccacc »

pleasecalllater wrote: post #3

My experience is quite bad with such companies. There are some huge ones, who are mostly remote, and the first question is "how much do you want to get". I answer, then there is no negotiation, and I usually want just too much (which usually is what I was making at that time). They don't also want to talk with me about any different figures, there is no counter offer, nothing. This is really sad, seems like they don'…

they probably need to post those position so that they appear legit at an audit, for whatever reason (anti discrimination quotas, visa regulations, need to make hiring a cousin's wife legit in front of hr etc)

Re: How to answer the “What’s your current salary?” job interview question

#30

Post by cam_l »

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #17

I find that a lot of the tactics used to deflect or avoid answering awkward questions in interviews just do not work. There are two questions that always get me in interviews. The first one is the salary one. If I am evasive, or try to deflect, the interviewer will probe deeper. They just wont take no for an answer. In fact I've even been told straight up "Give us a figure, or we won't proceed". Another one is about…

Absolutely, I think this question is much better dealt with bluntness.. call their bluff.

"Is this a salary negotiation? Lets talk about what I am worth."

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