stating salary requirements 2

[boffintech]

Today’s classified ads feature a listing for an engineer (unspecified with 3 years experience in manufacturing). The bottom of the ad reads “Resumes without salary requirements will not be considered.”

What do you make of that?

 

[Roadbridge]

Looks like that company got a budget set a side for a certain salary scale and will see which engineer fits there parameters and discard the rest.

 

[GregLocock]

I know what they'll end up with. On the other hand, it would have saved me a fair few hours a few years back. There was no way the company involved was prepared to pay me what I'd expected, so I wouldn't have bothered with the interviewing process.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[IRstuff]

LOL...

Been there...Interviewed with IBM and they offered me a job, but didn't show what the salary offer was, so I called them up.

Even then, they still wouldn't tell me, but asked what my other offers were. "oh...," they said, "well, we weren't going to offer you anywhere near THAT much."

TTFN

 

[mrMikee]

Another one like this is "send salary history." It's a sign that the salary is going to be on the low side and the company knows it. They don't want to waste time with people who want too much money.

Regards,
-Mike

 

[OutToLunch]

I was once once in the interview process for a job that had the salary for the position posted in the classified ad that I responded to. Once they were interested in me they started asking for salary history and I refused. They couldn't believe that I wouldn't tell them what I was making at the time. I told them thanks but no thanks and moved along. In hindsight, it was the best decision I could have made at the time.

 

[jsummerfield]

I would have no concern telling a prospective employer either what I make or what I want. You cannot expect to get what you want unless you tell them. If you tell them what you make be truthfull. They may want to make an offer based upon what you make. You will accept the offer based upon what you want or perhaps what you need.

John

 

[whyun]

I agree with Roadbridge that the company is trying to filter out the candidates wanting salaries outside its range. Good people can be "missed" using this technique.

Companies usually have a set budget and a range of salaries for each open positions. More often than not, revealing the current salary can limit the salary negotiation process for the candidate. In many cases, companies will offer salary beyond a few raise cycles from your current rate, and it WORKS!

 

[MikeHalloran]

I've been working for a very low salary, based on hopes of better times, and a promise of deferred compensation, sealed by a handshake.

(The IRS makes it very disadvantageous to have an actual contract.)

Better times came, but not better enough, I guess. The job evaporated, and so did the promise and the deferred money.

If I tell 'em what I was making, they'll try to match that pitiful sum. If I tell 'em the boss reneged on a promise, they'll think I've got a bad attitude.

I detest this whole salary negotiation game.








Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[IRstuff]

Asking for salary history is equivalent to forcing you to make the first offer in the negotiation, and an involuntary offer, at that.

TTFN

 

[LHA]

I would answer the ad, and give a very liberal range. That will get you in the door.

The original post stated "salary requirements", not "salary history".

I would not provide a salary history during negotiations, and can't ever remember being asked.

I have always been asked what my salary requirements are, and I can't imagine not answering any direct, legal question in a job interview.

Its just like asking a current employer for a raise...the first question is always, and has to be, "how much do you want?" I can't imagine refusing to answer, but I can well imagine where the negotiations would end up if I didn't have an answer.

Remember: The Chinese ideogram for “crisis” is comprised of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.”
-Steve

 

[mrMikee]

Asking for salary requirements in the initial contact for a job is simply a way for a company to filter out applicants they don't want. The salary history request is a little more subtle but serves the same purpose. Some companies don't pay the going rate, but that's just the way things are. My point is that the "salary requirements" or "salary history" thing is a sign the position being advertised will most often pay on the low side, but this is just my opinion.

-Mike

 

[ARenko]

It's to your advantage to make them give the first number. If you give the first number (whether it's your current salary or your desired salary) you can short change yourself. If they ask your salary requirements simply say that you expect they will make you an offer commensurate with your experience and accoring to the local market - make them do the research. But you should have a desired salary range in mind and if they make an offer in this range, then you should accept.

 

[OutToLunch]

I don't see how my salary history has any bearing on my salary negotiations with a prospective employer. Let's say that I'm a really really great engineer (which I am - I'm also not too modest either - haha). But let's say that due to some circumstances, I had to take an engineering job that paid below what I felt my level of experience should be paid. I then interview for another job and they want to know what I'm making now. No way am I telling them. I have no problem giving them a number that I think I should be paid, but not until they throw one out first. So they can do one of two things - either don't offer the job or offer the job with a salary that they feel is inline with my experience. Then I can do one of three things if they offer the job. Decline, Accept, or Present a Counteroffer. If at any point I feel that I'm getting jerked around, I will end the interview/negotiation right then and there.

 

[pso311]

So what is the answer when you're sitting in front of the interviewer, and he says "what is your compensation at your current position?" -"We'll discuss salary if I'm offered the position" only defers the point in time when you answer.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Well, if you've gotten to the point where you don't really give a damn if they offer a job or not, the correct answer is,

"That's relevant only if you're proposing to pay me to do that other job, the one that I used to do.

What we're discussing here and now is what you'll pay me to do the job that _you_ need done.

Since you already budgeted the money for it, just put the highest amount you anticipated in an offer letter, and I'll get back to you."

;---

If you do give them a number, use the real one. If you were accepting a low salary because your kids were in school, or the climate was nice, etc., so state.

;---

Okay, I've already tried every possible tactic except flat out lying. My experience says that an outfit you'd want to work for won't screw you over ... and conversely.

My experience also says that the outfits you'd want to work for are rarely hiring.




Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[ARenko]

Last interview I told them that I preferred not to disclose it at that time and that I was confident they would make a reasonable offer based on my experience and the job location. I got an offer on the high end of my desired range, so I accepted with no further negotiation required.

If you don't like their offer and you want to negotiate, then you can bring up what your current salary is if it helps your cause.

 

[vooter]

When it comes the to question, "what are you being paid now?" I've replied with:

I'm making $XX,XXX. Now, I read the salary surveys in the engineering trade journals, so I know that I'm in the high/average/low/whatever range."

The next question usually is "what are you looking for?"

Answer: "I'm looking for at least a $10,000 increase."

Note: this is being honest. If they're going to hire you away from a good job -one that you like- they're going to have to pay more. Plus, you've just let the interviewer know what you think you're worth.

Also, if you are desparately looking for a job, that's the time to use the old "I'll discuss salary when the time is right" line. But when you're in a position and the other company "wants you" you're in the driver's seat. Go ahead, tell 'em what you make and tell 'em what you want!

 

[ARenko]

vooter,

What if before they interviewed you they set a budget for the position that was $15k to $25k higher than $XX,XXX? You've just screwed yourself out of some money they were prepared to pay. And maybe you've just let the interviewer know that you don't think you're worth much.

 

[whyun]

I found it advantageous to not reveal the current salary nor the desired salary. Allow the firm to determine a price based on the resume (which they obviously approved) and the interview. This drives them nuts.

I've been on both sides of the desk and use it to my advantage as much as possible. Important thing is, never short-change a good candidate because when they find out, they are out the door.