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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

#101

Post by mooreds »

scarface74 wrote: post #95
mooreds wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One point raised on the article is that they will have a better idea of market and salary range than you will (or they should!). So if you give them your desired salary it might be out of their range (too high or too low). Also, especially at the beginning of the hiring process, you don't know everything about the company, so how can you have a valid desired salary? Also, your value to them as a possible employee inc…

Why wouldn't you have an idea about market range?

I think you should have an idea about market range, but so should they. It is an asymmetric relationship--they have many employees, but you typically have only one employer. So they should have better data about pricing for the purchase of their labor than you should.

Again, it's primarily a negotiation tactic.

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

#102

Post by mooreds »

marbletiles wrote: post #59
mooreds wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One point raised on the article is that they will have a better idea of market and salary range than you will (or they should!). So if you give them your desired salary it might be out of their range (too high or too low). Also, especially at the beginning of the hiring process, you don't know everything about the company, so how can you have a valid desired salary? Also, your value to them as a possible employee inc…

The key point is that your desired salary should be an accurate amount based on your needs and expectations. If you're genuinely out of their range, why would you settle anyway? This is why it's crucial to focus the conversation on your expectations, not your current compensation. That might not be enough for you! That might be why you are looking for a new role! It's a waste of everybody's time if they misunderstand…

Did you read the article and not find the salary determination process convincing?

Of course you should have an expectation, but why is it incumbent on you to list your range? Why is it not incumbent on them, since they'll be an effective monopsony of your labor?

I guess it is a question of whether you want to maximize your potential income (in which case you want the cards close to your chest) or if you'd be happy getting what you expected (and maybe a bit more). I've been in both places in my life, but I remember an older person telling me when I was young (paraphrasing) that you should take your company for all it will give you, because you can bet they'll do the same to you.

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

#103

Post by mooreds »

Cakez0r wrote: post #33
mooreds wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

When the question is designed to exploit you financially, I have no problem lying to answer it.

Agree that the question is exploitative, but curious why you wouldn't just take one of the approaches outlined in the article rather than lying?

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

#104

Post by scarface74 »

mooreds wrote: post #101
scarface74 wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why wouldn't you have an idea about market range?

I think you should have an idea about market range, but so should they. It is an asymmetric relationship--they have many employees, but you typically have only one employer. So they should have better data about pricing for the purchase of their labor than you should. Again, it's primarily a negotiation tactic.

True. If you're talking to recruiters and other people in your network, you should have a pretty good idea of your range.

On the other hand, if you do accept a job below your range and you talk to enough recruiters, soon you'll be poached anyway.

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

#105

Post by sneak »

beaconstudios wrote: post #81
sneak wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has nothing to do with "screwing people". This is terrible advice. Salary negotiation is the single most important financial decision you will make in your life. That shit compounds , son! Do. Not. Give. Them. A. Figure. First. Don't! @patio11 explains why in exquisite detail here: http://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/

you say all this like I suggested anything different. Salary negotiation is important, and in my experience the worst thing you can do is either mentally commit to taking the job before you negotiate a salary, or sow the seeds of mutual distrust early on. If you try to pull the same bullshit on the recruiter that they're pulling on you then you're playing their game on their terms. What I've suggested, contrary to yo…

You suggested giving a number first. Your mental gymnastics about why that is justified or professional do not somehow make that a game-theoretical good choice.

Seriously, you don't come across as "distrustful asshole" when you repeatedly refuse to divulge it, you come across as competent at business.

Transparency is not your friend in a negotiation. You profit from having secrets. Every professional negotiator knows this.

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

#106

Post by jaimex2 »

uncle_d wrote: post #28
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.

You don't usually have anything to offer fresh out of college. Jumping jobs more often I think has a much higher pay off, and you naturally get better at negotiating from the experience.

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

#107

Post by jedikv »

credit_guy wrote: post #38

Here's a better advice, if you allow me to quote the title of a book by Cal Newton: be so good at what you do that they can't ignore you. Don't play little games like that. You end up wasting everybody's time. Maybe you don't care about their time, but you should care about yours. The interview process is taxing, you can't focus properly at your current job, the uncertainty eats at you, you can't treat it as a zero c…

Problem is that's just vague self-help-esq feel-good advice that applies to everything and subsequently means nothing.

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

#108

Post by beaconstudios »

sneak wrote: post #105
beaconstudios wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you say all this like I suggested anything different. Salary negotiation is important, and in my experience the worst thing you can do is either mentally commit to taking the job before you negotiate a salary, or sow the seeds of mutual distrust early on. If you try to pull the same bullshit on the recruiter that they're pulling on you then you're playing their game on their terms. What I've suggested, contrary to yo…

You suggested giving a number first. Your mental gymnastics about why that is justified or professional do not somehow make that a game-theoretical good choice. Seriously, you don't come across as "distrustful asshole" when you repeatedly refuse to divulge it, you come across as competent at business . Transparency is not your friend in a negotiation. You profit from having secrets. Every professional negotiator know…

your black-and-white view of "giving a number" and complete refusal to seemingly even read my comment shows that there's no point trying to explain this to you again.

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

#109

Post by snvzz »

kristiandupont wrote: post #67
chii wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if they say you are worth what you were paid in your last job!

I don't know what kind of positions you are applying for but if a recruiter started antagonizing me like that I'd say "well it looks like we are not a good fit for each other. Have a nice day!"

They were looking for somebody cheap. Bullet dodged.

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

#110

Post by fahadkhan »

chii wrote: post #48
fahadkhan wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you need any one job that badly? Appreciate I am in a fortunate position but I was under the impression that there is more demand for developers than there is supply.

I think there's more demand for cheap developers. There's almost no demand for expensive ones imho.

Interesting, my view has been almost the opposite. It's difficult to get your first developer role. But after a year of that and salaries increase quite rapidly. likewise with contracting / freelancing.

Of course my view of cheap and expensive may be different from yours.

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