How much to ask for when a recruiter asks about salary requirements

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
+1. I tell recruiters my current salary and that I'm ready for the next step in my career and looking for a 20% increase.
Don't short sell yourself

Only a complete moron provides their current salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is annoying too. One time I negotiated and said I would accept $xyz, but it could be a total package of salary and stock options and bonus — I don’t mind income being somewhat contingent on my performance , I just don’t want it contingent upon an unknown manager going to bat for me every year.

But then when they made offer, it was $xyz but included value of health insurance, 401k and other overhead rather than actual comp.

Now I stick with salary so that it is abundantly clear.

Did you accept that offer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last time I was asked that, for a job that I wasn't dying for, I told them I thought the question was wrong and contributed to the gender pay gap.
Not everyone has that luxury, of course, but if more of us called out employers on the question when we can, I think it would be good for society.
I ended up getting an offer at 95th percentile of the range.

I'd try not to give a number, OP. Ask them the range, and then tell them whether it fits what you're looking for.

Yup. Some states are making it illegal for potential employers to ask.

What states are those? I know a few have passed laws about asking about salary history, but haven’t seen anything banning the asking of a candidates salary requirements/expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last time I was asked that, for a job that I wasn't dying for, I told them I thought the question was wrong and contributed to the gender pay gap.
Not everyone has that luxury, of course, but if more of us called out employers on the question when we can, I think it would be good for society.
I ended up getting an offer at 95th percentile of the range.

I'd try not to give a number, OP. Ask them the range, and then tell them whether it fits what you're looking for.

Yup. Some states are making it illegal for potential employers to ask.

This! I do a lot of hiring and I always tell candidates the range, and confirm it meets their expectations. It’s so annoying that employers don’t do this more often.

I always tell the range. I dont want to waste my time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last time I was asked that, for a job that I wasn't dying for, I told them I thought the question was wrong and contributed to the gender pay gap.
Not everyone has that luxury, of course, but if more of us called out employers on the question when we can, I think it would be good for society.
I ended up getting an offer at 95th percentile of the range.

I'd try not to give a number, OP. Ask them the range, and then tell them whether it fits what you're looking for.

Yup. Some states are making it illegal for potential employers to ask.

What states are those? I know a few have passed laws about asking about salary history, but haven’t seen anything banning the asking of a candidates salary requirements/expectations.

I know CA passed this law. My company (based in VA) opted to make it their standard practice in all states to stop asking for current salaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last time I was asked that, for a job that I wasn't dying for, I told them I thought the question was wrong and contributed to the gender pay gap.
Not everyone has that luxury, of course, but if more of us called out employers on the question when we can, I think it would be good for society.
I ended up getting an offer at 95th percentile of the range.

I'd try not to give a number, OP. Ask them the range, and then tell them whether it fits what you're looking for.

Yup. Some states are making it illegal for potential employers to ask.

What states are those? I know a few have passed laws about asking about salary history, but haven’t seen anything banning the asking of a candidates salary requirements/expectations.

I know CA passed this law. My company (based in VA) opted to make it their standard practice in all states to stop asking for current salaries.

Yes, CA’s law is related to current (and previous salaries). The PP who said it was illegal to ask stated that in reference to a poster saying OP should not give her expected salary range. Curious what states have made it illegal to ask about a candidates expected salary range. I hadn’t heard that was a law being proposed and Google isn’t turning up anything.

[Anonymous]

I work for a Fortune 50 company and we don't even ask candidates what they currently make. Nobody wants to tell, most lie anyway, and its just pointless. We ask "so what are your expectations of salary/total comp" from this position. That's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is annoying too. One time I negotiated and said I would accept $xyz, but it could be a total package of salary and stock options and bonus — I don’t mind income being somewhat contingent on my performance , I just don’t want it contingent upon an unknown manager going to bat for me every year.

But then when they made offer, it was $xyz but included value of health insurance, 401k and other overhead rather than actual comp.

Now I stick with salary so that it is abundantly clear.

Did you accept that offer?

Heck no. At least I got a nice winter trip to Florida out of the deal. I really liked the job, and was already scoping neighborhoods. But that kind of game doesn’t work for me.

[Anonymous]

Companies should post their salary on job postings all salary info should be public knowledge

[Anonymous]

OP here. Interestimg about the CA law. I had the interview today and was delighted Talent Acquisition didn’t go there. Not sure what will happen, but they’ve been looking for a while and skill set is fairly narrow. I think I’ll advance, but I know more about the job and they know more about me. Thanks for the advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for a Fortune 50 company and we don't even ask candidates what they currently make. Nobody wants to tell, most lie anyway, and its just pointless. We ask "so what are your expectations of salary/total comp" from this position. That's all.

At my company (the one earlier that no longer even asks), part of the background check included providing W2s showing you earned what you claimed you earned. It was crazy.

[Anonymous]

I have sometimes avoided the question by saying “I am well compensated where I am, but I’d rather not get into specifics at this point as I think it would distract from the overall process / conversation / etc. If it’s the right opportunity and I am the right fit I am sure we will work something out”

Deflects the question and sends the message that they might need to stretch on comp for you without you saying anything untrue or false.

[Anonymous]

One should have a pretty clear idea of their worth and a number that would make it worthwhile to leave the current position. Otherwise it is just a lottery of sorts. Does one really expects to somehow fool potential employer into paying way more then they should? If employer feel like they got a bad deal then one will probably get canned sooner rather than later.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand t he secrecy. I told the recruiter what I expected to make when I left a law firm and went in house. Why would I keep it secret and be disappointed in the offer? They saw what it would take to get me and we negotiated salary, signing bonus, and a series of retention bonuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I don't understand t he secrecy. I told the recruiter what I expected to make when I left a law firm and went in house. Why would I keep it secret and be disappointed in the offer? They saw what it would take to get me and we negotiated salary, signing bonus, and a series of retention bonuses.

I think the conventional wisdom is that many people don’t know what the avg market comp is for their role so they end up asking for less.