Dear Sue: What is the appropriate way to respond when asked about salary history or salary requirements when applying for a job?
- Curious
Sue Says: I asked Lawrence Alter, president of The Arthur Group, a Minneapolis career development company, to help answer your question. He does not recommend exposing your existing, previous, or desired compensation levels. When you tell someone what you are earning or what you wish to be earning, then you could be limiting yourself. It is not uncommon for a candidate to be eliminated by their previous or desired level of compensation because the employer feels that they are not an affordable option, or that they have not been at a high enough level of responsibility.
If the figure disclosed is on the low side, it could limit the amount of salary the new employer might be willing to offer. For example, if an employer has a budgeted range of $65,000 to $70,000 and you say that you've been earning $55,000 or would like to earn $55,000, you are not going to be effective at negotiating. Chances are you will be brought in at or below the minimum of the budgeted range.
Today there is a concept that if an individual (especially seeking a management opportunity) cannot effectively negotiate their value to a company, that they will not be an effective negotiator for the company.
Alter offers these additional suggestions:
- Never include salary history in a resume or application, even when requested. If your background is st...
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