Help me help my husband get a new job.

How should a person respond to a request for a salary history? I know that, in general, the first person to name a number is in the weaker position. However, my husband’s just gotten an e-mail for a job he’d really like to have (a “foot in the door” sort of position), and they’ve requested salary history in a way that makes it look as though they will simply file his resume in the round file if he doesn’t supply this information.

My husband’s current job is a good one, in that it pays our bills and keeps us in a little bit of fun money. However, his is a terrible night shift, and I have the weird scheduling that comes with graduate school. We’d like the chance to see each other a bit more often. On top of that, he really doesn’t enjoy his job. He does it strictly to pay the bills while I’m in school.

In terms of duties, this job isn’t much different than the one he does now. It’s a sys admin & hardware job, his is a largely hardware job with some sys admin duties. However, it’s a movement into a company that is in an industry (game programming/physics programming) he’d like to end up in. As I said, it’s a foot in the door sort of position.

How do we handle this situation?

Submit the salary history and do not lie about any of it. If that is what the potential employer requires than give it to them.

The fact of the matter is for most jobs the salary the employer is willing to pay is pretty fixed. There generally is not a whole lot in the way of negotiation on salary and benefits till you are some super mucky-muck that everyone is chasing. Granted there may be a range a company is willing to work within but you likely are not going to get a job for $30,000/yr because that is in line with your salary history when the employer was willing to pay $75,000/yr. Usually they will be a range of something like 48-52k/yr. or something like that.

Once the offer is made it is up to you and your husband to decide if the offer is worth taking (as you mentioned it is not always an easy calculation just based on the bigger paycheck).

Good luck!

Thank you for your good wishes.

I know he had no intention of lying, but I didn’t/don’t know if there’s a similar thing to the “I’m sure that every job is evaluated and compensated differently” line that can often be used in the instance of being asked how much you want to get paid.

I just want him to get a job he actually wants so badly! And if it pays lower than what he’s getting now, we really can’t afford it.

Then just be honest. If they can’t go as high as he is making now, they won’t offer, assuming (correctly) that he won’t be interested. The only time this is tricky is if you ARE willing to take a pay cut but don’t want to be obvious about it, since you’d rather not. That isn’t the case here.

That makes sense. I just find it hard, because I’d like to be willing to take the cut for him to get a job he’d actually enjoy. That’s just not feasible, though.

I’ve not ever been turned down for an interview because I did not supply my salary history, and I’ve been asked this question at this stage before. I strongly urge him to NOT supply a salary history or a specific figure. Yes, in the end you may find that the salary is too low to make the move. There can still be advantages to playing this out to the very end, if possible, however.

Here’s how you answer the question:

I am looking for a salary that both reflects the talents and skills I bring to the table in addition to matching my employer’s goals. More importantly, I feel that an employer/employee relationship should be a good fit, and a win win for everyone. I am very interested in discussing this opportunity with you to see if my skills match what you require. When would be a good time for you for an interview?

The goal is to get in for an interview. Even if in the end the salary is too low (assuming he gets offered the job), if he impresses this company, perhaps other contacts or other opportunities may come from it.

NEVER talk salary first if you can avoid it. If they press him again, he reiterates the win/win thing, and offers only a range, not a specific number. Do NOT give a salary history. Why give them an opportunity to take him out of the running before they’ve even had a chance to meet him and be impressed by him?

I never give a salary history, and it’s never been a problem. Even when I was told it was “required”. And I ain’t no high-falutin’ executive, neither!!

They’re asking for salary history, not asking “how much do you want”. Very different questions.
I have never submitted it directly. When interviewers ask me how much I make, I give answers like:

  • according to convenio (“convenio”: a sector-wide, sometimes company-wide, agreement listing things like salary range by position; it’s considered just one step below the National Employment Conditions Law)
  • well, I know I’m being paid as much as my coworkers who hold similar positions
  • oh, since I come from a job quite different from the one you’re offering, I don’t see how that’s relevant

When I’m asked how much I’d like to make,

  • as much as coworkers in equivalent positions
  • according to convenio (if it’s a position with a very narrow salary range in the convenio)
    and, if they’re interviewing for several positions/locations,
  • well, the range I’d consider interesting varies with position and location, since the cost of living isn’t the same in Madrid as in Cadiz.

A couple of interviewers didn’t like the answer, but most laughed or tried to hide a smile, specially for the “how much do you make now” set.

That’s true, but I’d still answer it the same way. They want to weed you out, but at the same time have expressed interest. I would never blow an opportunity to remind a potential employer of why I’m the best one for the job.

My mindset is always: “Never turn down a job you haven’t been offered.” Keep them interested as long as you can. Even if you get all the way to the point where you’ve had two interviews and a written offer, you can still turn *them * down. Why do that for them and before they’ve gotten the opportunity to meet you in person?

Also, I would never use the phrase “I don’t see how that’s relevant”. Notice how my response compliments the employer while tooting my own horn at the same time.

He can give his current salary and include “negotiable” which would cover him regardless of which direction he wants to go. Sometimes it’s worth it to take a slight cut to get in the door. Also, if I’m not mistaken, aren’t the crappy shifts paid a bit more than the regular shift, to make up for the inherent crappiness of it? A little cut would almost be expected.

If anyone has applied online, how do you handle it when it’s a required field? I’ve encountered this numerous times in online applications for larger corporations. Usually you choose from a range so it’s not a specific number. But this makes it much harder to avoid the question.

Since this appears to be a legitimate possibility, I’d go with being honest, too.

In other cases, though…in a lot of fields, I have heard of companies putting out these ads only to GET the salary history, as they are looking at modifying their own salary structure, and do not have an actual position open. They are a small percentage, though, but it is something to be aware of. I never put my salary history into an initial response to an ad. Later, when I know the opening is legit, sure.

And having said that, I will refer to the other posts above on replying to this in legitimate job offers. It’s a dance.

Wow, the advice is really flying. It all seems good, even though some of it’s contradictory. :wink:

I am so hopeful for him and this job, so we’ll see if anything more comes of it. It was listed on their website, along with another job, and he only heard back about this one.

Kalhoun, yes he does make a bit more money to make up for the inherent crappiness of his schedule. We could possibly afford to lose this, if it came down to it, but the amount is roughly two months’ rent. This wouldn’t be an issue if I hadn’t just been given a cut in hours for my teaching at school.

I would probably say (or write) something like “Here is my salary history, but please be aware that salary is only one factor in my career decisions. I hope that salary issues won’t keep us from talking further.” In other words, “negotiable,” as Kalhoun said.

That’s if my salary has been higher than they’re likely to offer. If lower, I’d make sure to do my homework and know the ranges I’d say yes or no to.