Skip to content
BOL Conferences
Learn More - Click Here!

New Reply Thread Options
#858527 - 11/20/07 09:21 PM HR Question re: current salary
Anonymous
Unregistered

Maybe someone with a HR background can answer this. Why do recruiters and potential employers ask for current salary? Maybe I'm naive, but what does my current salary at Bank A have to do with my possible job at Bank B?

TIA

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#858544 - 11/20/07 09:31 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Anonymous
Skittles Offline
10K Club
Skittles
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 13,965
TN
They want to know where to ballpark an initial offer of salary.
_________________________
My Opinions Only

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#858589 - 11/20/07 10:08 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Skittles
Anonymous
Unregistered

I don't like that question, either.
But I understand why it is important to them.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#858616 - 11/20/07 10:50 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Skittles
YosemiteSamIAm Offline
Power Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,795
Guess
Bingo, been there, done that!
_________________________
Sorry, did I just use my outside voice?

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#858625 - 11/20/07 10:58 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary YosemiteSamIAm
Anonymous
Unregistered

Orig Anon here -

Guess I'm not that naive after all.

Without going into a rant about how ***totally unfair*** it is, how do you avoid falling into the 'pay him/her less because he/she made less in the past' hole?

My main reason for looking elsewhere is because I'm not being paid commesurate with the additional duties I've 'acquired' over the past two years. All management will offer is a % increase - doesn't even come close.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#858650 - 11/20/07 11:38 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

Mine was the 3rd post. That is a hard question. If you oppose lying as I do you tell the truth and add that your salary was not comensurate with your responsibilities and should not be relied on to use as an initial offer.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#858750 - 11/21/07 01:56 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Anonymous
hrlady Offline
100 Club
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 127
As an HR Manager I can tell you that your honest response to that question would be appropriate and totally understandable.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#858767 - 11/21/07 02:13 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary hrlady
rlcarey Online
10K Club
rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,227
Galveston, TX
Just don't tell them - I never have for external positions. I say that I am looking for a salary that is commensurate with the responsibilities of the job for which I am applying. My past salary history has no bearing on that issue. I have taken jobs for a lot more than I currently made and a lot less, depending on the job and other factors, such location and reduced responsibilites, the attitude of management, how I thought I would like working with specific people, etc.. There is a lot more to a job than the salary and if you approach it in that manner, I don't think anyone would fault you for it.
_________________________
The opinions expressed here should not be construed to be those of my employer: PPDocs.com

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#859133 - 11/21/07 06:13 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Anonymous
NotALawyer Offline
Gold Star
NotALawyer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 455
I had an experience where I was working through a recruiter for a new position and he compared my salary history to my job descriptions. He said the salary for my most recent position indicated that the position was not a 'senior' position and must be a 'staff' position. The new position was in a more expensive labor market than my last position and the recruiter was not familiar with my area. (Same goes for housing prices, but that's another topic.) I had to explain why the salary was low but that the position was correct - which was a big reason why I was looking to move.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#860671 - 11/26/07 10:02 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary NotALawyer
Anonymous
Unregistered

My bank's employee handbook has a line about salary information being confidential, and I'll bet yours does, too.

Perfect excuse to say, "I cannot disclose salary information, but I'm looking for something in the neighborhood of . . ."

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#860702 - 11/26/07 10:22 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Anonymous
Auditman Offline
100 Club
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 132
I always felt that if I did not provide current salary information when requested, my application would not be considered.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#860776 - 11/26/07 11:25 PM Re: HR Question re: current salary Auditman
rlcarey Online
10K Club
rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,227
Galveston, TX
Originally Posted By: Auditman
I always felt that if I did not provide current salary information when requested, my application would not be considered.


Personally, I think that is a fallacy. The strength of your resume is what gets you to the next level. No one is going to not call you if you fail to disclose your current salary.
_________________________
The opinions expressed here should not be construed to be those of my employer: PPDocs.com

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
Quick Reply:
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled




Moderator:  MagicCity, P*Q, Truffle Royale