[Closed] Job application - telling them your current salary

You can always negotiate down, up is somewhat more difficult...

Whatever you want, I wouldn't believe the figure unless I had some inside info 😉

I'd assume something would need to change if I was going to consider you under the current band (like drastically reduced travel costs, car being included or relocating to a cheaper area)

Tell the truth about your actual salary but tell them how much you’d expect to make the move.

If you’re not honest and get offered the job you’ll get found out to be a fibber as soon as you hand them your P45.... which details your previous earnings.

Aye, it's irrelevant really, they'll have a band that can offer you. I'd be honest.

Whatever you want, I wouldn’t believe the figure unless I had some inside info

It is a small industry, in Scotland where everyone's sister lives next door to your boss or something similar. I have a slight concern that these things can be found out...

If they are being told then it's a great look too 😉

It's up to them to judge what you are worth, you could always decline to answer and put expected down so that you are clear - again that is probably more welcome as it sets out expectations from day 1.

Put the band end points that you are in... I'm in Band X going from £xxxx to £xxxxx

Talk about the actual figure face to face if they ask?

If you don't want to tell them, just don't tell them. I wouldn't lie about it.

It's pretty standard for me.

You normally would expect an uplift to make a move to a similar role.

However, I did take a slight drop in real terms, to move back to the private sector, due to the pension. However, it was to make a significant change in career direction.

Tell the truth about your actual salary but tell them how much you’d expect to make the move.

I would do this, and have done this in the past. I've made it clear to future employer what I am expecting based on that, not only for the job itself but for actually moving from a job that I was a) quite good at and b) reasonably happy to continue doing if the new job fell through.

I feel if you can't have that kind of open conversation with a potential employer at the beginning it's likely a sign of complicated discussions to come.

I am leaning to being honest about salary and need to go up a significant amount - current very small organisation uses me at manager level, yet won't appoint me at that level with salary and title... The new job(s) are senior manager level for which CV and current job description match perfectly...

As with all things, honesty is the best policy, at least that way you won’t have to remember what you told them. From the employers perspective, they’ll be seeking to contain their costs and if you are cheaper than the other ideal candidate, you’ll be more attractive. Additionally, starting you at the lower end of the scale gives them more wiggle room to reward you as you grow into the role and responsibilities involved, although you may prefer to be recognised in different ways, eg more holiday.
HTH

I’d avoid the question to a point.  A job interview should be about the value to the new organisation you bring and what they are prepared to pay you.  You are ultimately selling your value to them, and to some degree current salary is irrelevant.

I’ve never seen the point in asking that question but our HR folks have it as standard, the canny people seem to give a “Total package” number - including pension, bonus, car allowance etc.

If it's on an web form, in the past i've just put £1. Never been questioned in the interview, normally it's HR that follows up to offer you the post afterwards, at which point it's "i'd expect x to move". If you do put down your salary, make sure you include the value of the pension, car allowance, etc.

Last time I gave a salary figure the interviewer took the piss. Offered £200 above and was surprised when I declined the offer. All my Saturdays for £200!

make sure you include the value of the pension, car allowance, etc.

Ahahahah...etc

I work for a charity...

If it's a small industry you might show more integrity by not discussing money until you've been offered the role.

Why should they find out what a competitor is paying people?

Tell them the actual salary. They’ll be able to work it out in the end anyway. And then you’ll look like you’ve lied. Which you have. Honesty is the best policy when starting at a new place.

I think the textbook answer is that it's in their interests to establish money early doors so as to filter between numerous candidates, while it's in your interests to talk about it at the very last stage in the process when ideally you're the last man standing and they're dead set on appointing you.

In the interim you just say it's not about the money, I'd rather talk about the role, which I'm mad keen on (whether you are or not). Then at the end you play hardball. They ought to respect you for it if they have any sense of perspective.

I would answer but based on my total package figure, not basic salary. I wouldn't refuse to answer, you're just flagging yourself as awkward (even though in reality it's not a question you should really be asked at interview). I'd emphasise you felt you were under-valued in your current role and it was one of the main reasons you were looking for another job.

When I interview I never ask this. I just ask what the candidates salary expectations are as we generally advertise jobs with a salary band dependent upon experience etc. Then the negotiations begin.

Have had a few who want way more than the role is offering. They may feel they're worth more and if they are that's fine but they should be applying for a different role. Generally stop the interview at that point and tell them to look at role X and apply for that if they're interested. If not then thanks no point in continuing and wasting both our time.

TBH bit of a red flag to me if someone can't read a job description and check the salary is suitable for them.

If asked on an application form then tell the truth and fill it in. If asked face to face in an interview then you have the option of a reply something along the lines of "I can confirm my salary is within the range advertised for this position"

Leave it blank.

If they say they need a figure for the form they're lying in an attempt to compromise your negotiating position. Tell them to put '£1' in.

If they say they really need an accurate number they're lying in an attempt to compromise your negotiating postion. Tell them that you'd be really sorry to walk away from the opportunity over this. If you really have to answer the question then I'd follow the rest of the advice here:

https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/

Sorry to hijack, but I've got a similar question. I'm in a job where I'm paid above the market rate- I took it in September, it's turned out to be the wrong thing and I want out. Another company offered me a job at the same time at way too low a salary, but came back in December with one £4k less than I'm on now. They're still looking now and I'm tempted to take them up on an offer.

I know they'll laugh in my face when I tell them my current salary, but how do I try and limit my losses here? I'm willing to accept a pay cut for the extra happiness I hope it'll bring me and could manage on the advertised salary.

There is no legal obligation to provide your current salary. if you want to put something in there, say 'I expect to be paid the market reference salary which I believe to be x'

marcgear is right, if they really are taking the mick then that's the words to use.

There is no legal obligation to provide your current salary. if you want to put something in there, say ‘I expect to be paid the market reference salary which I believe to be x’

I don't think there's a legal obligation to disclose anything at all! Although most employers might turn down a blank application. There's certain things they can't ask (age, race, sexual orientation, religion, gender, marital status etc) but there's no list of must ask questions beyond "do you have the right to work in the UK" and I don't think they can ask you to prove it until they've made the offer.

What really annoys me is when it's part of an automated online form and you cant progress past it! I'm sure I've been filtered out by putting in a number too high or too low. My pay fluctuates from £x to £5x some months, which at least gives me an easy way of my salary last month, this quarter, last quarter, last 6 months etc, just work back until I get an average I'm happy with. No lies, and I can stick a number in that's a smidgen under their band.

you have the option of a reply something along the lines of “I can confirm my salary is within the range advertised for this position”

You could say that, if you really didn't want the job.