Job Interview/Salary Questions?

Question

I am looking for a new job after I got my MBA. It would also be a career change. So my previous salary become an unfair reference point to a potential new job. When asked at interviews/application forms about current or previous salary information, how should I answer? And what's the potential employers impression if you do not give them your salary history? I also heard that it's against the law to ask about past salary. Is it true?

I am expecting about 30%-50% more than I am currently paid. If I quote my current salary, it may seem that I am asking for too much.

Answer 1

Salary questions on the application are there to screen out applicants. Never answer them. Employees routinely receive hundreds of applications. One look at the salary, they will either go into the pile on the desk or the garbage can. If you leave it blank they will have to read on and hopefully' you resume will attract them to look further.

At the interview, if that question is raised, do not answer. Instead tell them that you are more interested at knowing more about the job opportunities and the responsibilities. If the interviewer persists, do a U-turn by saying "since you have bring this up several times, may I assume the job is mine assuming we can agree on compensation"? Then shut up and maintain eye contact. The proper question at the right moment transfers control of the conversation to you instead being the lamb waiting to be butchered.

If the interviewer says yes, the job is for you to turn down. If no, you have not convince the guy you deserve the job. Now you need to find out why by simply asking "well what else would you like to know about me"? When the person tells you , do not jump and answer immediately. Unless you know why you could be barking up the wrong tree. Instead follow up with another question like " Well that is interesting. Why is account receivable (or what ever) important to this position"? Now be quiet and listen very carefully. By the mean time, you should have all your career strength in short form memorized. Then start throwing out the appropriate ones to satisfy the interviewer. Again control the conversation. HR people may be very good at this but other department heads are never trained on interview techniques.

When the interviewer presses on regarding salary, do another U-turn on him by saying "Well with my past working experience and my MBA, I am ready for bigger challenges and I like to get paid fairly, what do you have in mind or what is your budget"? Then shut up and keep your eye contact. Silence is golden.

A word on career strength and weakness (and everyone has them). Just remember the tip of the iceberg did not sink the Titanic. It was the base, so never let them chip at the base. Sit down and write down all your strength and weakness in 3 X 5 cards and memorize them. When a question about a weaknes comes up knowledge it and then overcome it by using your career strength and move on. For example lack of specific industry experience...you an overcome that by saying that your MBA is a good example of your transferable skill, your learning ability and hard work. You get the drift, your are smart enough to get your degrees you will figure this out. Best of luck.

Answer 2

Asking about salary is not against the law!

Most Government Resume from ask salary history.

Never LIE on your application or at any other time!

Failing to complete your application offers a negative impression to the interviewer about your ability to follow written instructions.
If you have issues, then bring them out!

If asked what your salary requirements are STATE what you feel is correct. Keep in mind that GREED KILLS.

May I suggest, where ever you go, dress as though you are the owner not an employee or a would be employee! Females- NO DRESSES, (unless you want to be taken as clerk/secretary material only), no high spiked heel shoes. Males - Suit, shirt, tie only! No loafers, tie ups. No white socks. Males and females - dark blues, Grays and black.

Never answer a question right away, Listen, think 5 seconds,
look directly into the eye, answer!, Begin your answer with, Sir/Madam, you will be surprised at how many points courtesy adds. Use the LAST name. You do not have a personal relationship with the Interviewer.

Last, If you do not know the Answer, say, "Sir/Madam, I do not know the answer. Never try to fudge!

Never offer what is not asked for!

Answer 3

Be up front and honest with the potential employer. It is not against the law for them to ask you for your salary history. In fact, it's common practice among most employers. However, your situation is unique and you need to clarify this to anyone who does ask you for your salary history. Be assertive and let them know that while you were making $x at ABC company, your situation and your employability has change and the minimum you are willing to accept now is $x. Any employer worth working for will understand exactly where you're coming from.

Answer 4

The employer is going to know you will want a better salary now that you have more schooling. If you honestly don't want to disclose it, just say "due to the irrelevance of my past work history within the context of this position, I just didn't include it" And no it's not against the law. The only questions that are are your age, your religion, your political persuasion and anything geared towards your personal life (ie. are you planning on having children in the near future?) They are not entitles to your social security number until you are hired either, unless its for a background check as a condition of employment.

Answer 5

Always be truthful on your Application/Resume. You just got a degree, so an increase in salary is not out of the question. When they ask for desired salary, always ask for more than you are willing to take. If your minimum desired salary is $50,000 ask for $55,000. This way if they offer less than 55k you have room to work with before hitting your lowest desired salary. If the offer the 55k, you're ahead of what you wanted.

Answer 6

Have seen or was told answer to your question that range from ask for sky to assert your worth to ask for anything to get into the door. Like answers given in book What Color is Your Parachute. Never heard it was illegal to ask for salary history, and it seems unenforceable, but knowing some stuff passed by current congress who knows.

Answer 7

Always be honest on applications when disclosing salary.

At interviews - if you were honest on the application - you must be honest as well.

The company is not going to pay a MBA McDonalds salary - so don't lose sleep over that issue.

Answer 8

You are not required to give salary history, if you do in your case it should be obvious that it is not comparable to the position you are pursuing. My standard interview answer is "it's negotiable",
until the very last stages of the process.

Answer 9

I was the same way too... But I was told that if you dont speak up and just let people take advantage of you, you will not be happy to work there. Believe me... Besides you show confidence, responsibility, and show that your a team player as well as a leader, you will get it! It happened to me and I very happy.