What are the grounds for Co.'s to ask for your salary history? I’m guessing it is legal because many of them do it, but somehow it seems like it shouldn’t be to me (like asking for your age, race, weight, etc).
Can anyone shed some light on this practice’s legality, morality, and reasoning.
anyone can ask. and you can refuse. i have. and know people who lied.
have never heard of company asking another company for employees salary. why would your company volunteer their payroll? none of their business. theyre screening. probably have price range already set. first person to use a number loses negotiation.
My wife (also a designer) is hiring right now. She specifically requested salary requirements, so every resume she gets that doesn’t include it goes straight into the trash. Like it or not.
Why? She doesn’t have time to mess around with candidates that are outside of their range (adding the word “negotiable” helps.) After posting for 2 days, she had over 100 applicants for the one position, so anything to help sort the pile quickly is used.
The lesson is; follow the directions, and pay attention to detail (she even trashed at least a half-dozen that forgot the extra “h” in her name in their cover-letters.)
When answering, don’t stretch the truth–if you make it into the final round, many companies will do a background check that will reveal more than just your salary history, including exact dates of your former employment, and if you’re responsible with your credit.
“many companies will do a background check that will reveal more than just your salary history, including exact dates of your former employment, and if you’re responsible with your credit.”
ha. was going to mention that. employer wont give info. but people who really want it will find it. pretty easy anymore.
still. best not to name dollar figure first if avoidable. and position, experience, location and all that tell you what general range job is already. get the IDSA salary survey. or another. it tells you about what amount theyre offering. and if they come to you try get them to make offer first. if you go to them be prepared to give a negotiable number using what you know. and if your unemployed, well, you dont have much choice if you need work.
and fer God’s sake, dont misspell their names! 
I did a little reading since posting originally and found some good info concerning the best way to deal with this. They emphasized to play politics basically. Don’t get nailed down to a figure. State mid 40’s + yearly bonus, or something like that and “negotiable” or “competitive” are also great to include.
cg, I’m interested to know what you or your wife feels is a respectable answer that satifies her requirements yet doesn’t show the entire hand you’re holding.
27, you might want to be specific. i’m guessing CG giving guidance for people responding to ads. are you? if a company called you, the answer is different. also different if your employed or unemployed…financially okay or desperate for work.
I have applied to ads and contacted other companies out of the blue. Funny thing is that I have heard back from very few ads, yet have been contacted by all Co.s that weren’t currently listing jobs… go figure!?!
It’s because the ones that are hiring are sorting through an avalanche of resumes and they’re understaffed to handle it.
re; showing your hand… it’s a tough game. In my wife’s posting, it was a requirement. So if you wanted to be considered, you had to show your cards. But like I said, adding the words “negotiable” helps if you shoot a bit high.
You have to be honest to yourself. Sell yourself at what you’re worth. Learn what you’re worth in your market. Would you be happy making less under certain conditions? Figure out what those conditions are.
To command a significant raise/promotion you have to know when to play hardball, and be willing to lose-out, or walk-away as a result. I’ve done this before and never regretted it because I was happy, and in a good position where I was
Rule #1: look for jobs when you don’t need one!
salary history has worked to my disadvantage in the past; and getting hired during bad economies didn’t help either…
as for salary expectation, ykh pretty much summed it up, we owe it to ourselves to know what we are worth…
what’s everyone’s experience trying to get Operations to raise your salary to the current competitive market level?
I hate this game too but companies don’t want to deal with someone that is out of their range.
If I have to give a number I usually tell them that without knowing benefits, etc. it is difficult to give an exact number. Then I give a large range range like $40,000 to $60,000. Benefits/bonus play a big part in my salarly requirements. Funny how many companies want to know your info but won’t share theirs till they offer you the job.
Bringin’ this one to the top…anyone have any other insights on this?
I’ve been advised (by more corporate types) to ask for a high number, even one that seemed high to me. The point was that you will never be laughed out of an interview, unless you’re asking for $250k or such. I still feel funny asking for $80k when I feel like it’s high for the market and region, etc.
I’ve been advised (by more corporate types) to ask for a high number
If you go too high they won’t consider you. The theory is that if they do offer you something substantially less, you will be unhappy with your compensation and eventually leave for a job with more $$.
Don’t low ball but certainly do ask for something realistic.
I’ve called my last employers HR department and they said they can’t give out a precise salary amount but they can give a round about number
I have a very hard time priceing freelance work…for vector technical illustrations,…I’m good at the illustrations, but I have not a clue what people charge for them,…anyone?