I've had to take my P60's for the last three years to every job interview I've been to . I work in sales and it's that cut and dried. I was an executive search consultant (bastard recruiter) for years and it is a fact of life now that employers want to know what you're on.
However.
Be honest OP, if you feel that you're underpaid perhaps you are but how you frame it at interview is very telling. Saying something like, I've been really enjoying my role at company X for several years but feel that I have reached a point where my current employer cannot support my professional ambitions and salary expectations. I am now actively looking and am having some very interesting conversations.
Having in demand skills and the right personality is the only way to get a better salary. If the new employer wants to cheap out then do you really want to work there?
Also do not tell recruiters about other interviews you're attending directly or through other agencies under any circumstances, keep that shit to yourself.
"[i]I did get the horrible impression that I was the token external candidate to conform with a company policy[/i]"
Did you then see another job advertised with the same company a couple of weeks later that was very obviously the newly-vacated position after the internal candidate was given their promotion ? And did the job agency phone you up to ask if you were interested ? I had that last year. LOL.
A couple of developments in the role later and i'm on 50k with minimal lift in responsibility.
50k - pfff- I wouldn't get out of bed for that...
