Too honest on a job interview?

Question

I knew I was doing very well on the interview when the salary questions came up. I told him what I make now (completely honest) and also added that I realize it is below the competitve salaries in my line of work. Since then I have found out that it is very common to exaggerate your salary by 5K to 10K in order to get the employer to come even higher than that. Was I too honest?

Yes I did not offer my current salary until interviewer asked outright. Then I gave him the truth. It also asked it in writing on the application, so I was consistent.

I think I am a viable candidate and may get offered the job. At that time, I will take your advice and hope that my honesty paid off. Thanks.

Answer 1

You did the right thing by being honest. Say you are hired and befriend someone and start discussing why you left your previous position and you let it slip that you were grossly underpaid at that position. That kind of information can get back to your boss or personnel department and you could then be fired from the position for providing false information on your job application! Most of the job applicants I have interviewed over the years were making below the starting salary of the position for which they were applying. It is a natural progression to move up the salary ladder with a job change. Perhaps there are other factors you could mention that enhance your current position which don't necessarily involve monetary compensation, such as additional vacation time, flexible work hours, more paid holidays, a short commute, or employer 401(k) matches. Most employers want to know where the applicant's salary requirements fit into the salary range for their position, otherwise, they could be wasting their time with someone who has higher expectations. Once the position is offered, you should then be prepared to negotiate the best possible salary.

Answer 2

If they dont ask, dont offer. There is not way they can find out your current salary through your S.I.N. The only way they would find out is if your previously employer tells them. Why not fudge it, whats the worst? You get caught and dont get the job. Dont under value yourself, people will use you. Take care of yourself, your worth it. :)
No. U can always negociate your salary after you get hired.
I guess you didn't get the job. I don't think its good to exaggerate too much because it could come back to bite you later. Certainly don't put it in writing. Lying on an application is grounds for dismissal.
I think honesty is honesty, which is always the best policy. But, sometimes we give too much information, and end up hanging ourselves. I wouldn't lie, but I'd try to stick closer to what I want to make, and not what I do make. If you do have to tell what you do make, it could always be the reason you are trying to advance with a new position.
I think it's perfectly right for you to be honest in this case. He might find out later how much you really make. You can always negotiate for the salary later when he asks you how much you are willing to receive once he offers you the job.
There is no such thing as being too honest, but there is such a thing as offering too much information. You can respond "My salary is in line with my contemporaries in a similar position".

Answer 3

I think your answer was fine. I wouldn't exaggerate what you're making now. We're in the process of hiring a computer tech for my firm. The applications that had outrageous salary wishes were dismissed out of hand and didn't even get interviews.

And people are right, you can always renegotiate your salary later. Good luck.

Answer 4

I think it's perfectly right for you to be honest in this case. He might find out later how much you really make. You can always negotiate for the salary later when he asks you how much you are willing to receive once he offers you the job.

Answer 5

I think honesty is honesty, which is always the best policy. But, sometimes we give too much information, and end up hanging ourselves. I wouldn't lie, but I'd try to stick closer to what I want to make, and not what I do make. If you do have to tell what you do make, it could always be the reason you are trying to advance with a new position.

Answer 6

I guess you didn't get the job. I don't think its good to exaggerate too much because it could come back to bite you later. Certainly don't put it in writing. Lying on an application is grounds for dismissal.

Answer 7

in the event that they dont ask, dont supply. there's no longer way they could locate out your cutting-edge sales by using your S.I.N. the only way they might locate out is in the experience that your until eventually now organization tells them. Why no longer fudge it, whats the worst? You get caught and dont get the interest. Dont under value your self, human beings will use you. look after your self, your nicely worth it. :) No. U can continually negociate your sales when you get employed. i assume you probably did no longer get the interest. i do no longer think of its sturdy to magnify too a lot because of the fact it ought again to bite you later. particularly do no longer placed it in writing. mendacity on an application is grounds for dismissal. i think of honesty is honesty, this is often the main suitable coverage. yet, now and back we provide too a lot training, and finally end up putting ourselves. i does no longer lie, yet i might attempt to adhere nearer to what i intend to make, and not what I do make. in case you do ought to tell what you do make, it ought to continually be the clarification you attempt to improve with a sparkling place. i think of it relatively is completely good which you'll be effortless for this reason. He might locate out later how a lot you relatively make. you may continually negotiate for the sales later while he asks you the way a lot you're keen to obtain as quickly as he provides you with the interest. there is not any such situation as being too effortless, yet there is that the form of situation as offering too a lot training. you may respond "My sales is according to my contemporaries in a matching place".

Answer 8

If they dont ask, dont offer. There is not way they can find out your current salary through your S.I.N. The only way they would find out is if your previously employer tells them. Why not fudge it, whats the worst? You get caught and dont get the job. Dont under value yourself, people will use you. Take care of yourself, your worth it. :)

Answer 9

No -- usually companies within the same field know how much other companies pay their employees. The interviewer would have probabaly known if you were padding your salary.

Answer 10

There is no such thing as being too honest, but there is such a thing as offering too much information. You can respond "My salary is in line with my contemporaries in a similar position".