I have an interview tomorrow, and I’ll probably have to fill out an application while I’m there. I’ve been trying to figure this out for months, so I thought I’d ask some opinions on this here…
I was an AmeriCorps*VISTA for a year(99-00’) Since it’s techically volunteering, we weren’t paid a salary. However, I say techically since we were given a living stipend, which is pretty much the same thing, except it didn’t matter to them if we put in 70 hours in one two week period and 90 (as long as it added up to about 150 every 28 days, they were happy)in the next- we got the same $ regardless of hours, so…I can’t really pin point an exact hourly wage, which is what they ask for on applications.
So, should I try to figure out what that’d be an hour(less than minimum wage, isn’t that great?) or continue to list the amount we got as out stipend/month? Also, as an incentive to do A*V we were given an $4,750 educational award- only to be used to pay for further schooling or pay student loans(ie it can’t be cashed in by an individual, just a college or lender.) Would I add in that amount too? I haven’t in the past.
Why do they ask what you’ve been paid in the past, anyway?
Elfkin- it really depends, but here’s how I would list it:
x/1999 - y/2000 : AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteer)
and then list the amount of the stipend in this format (even if it’s in an “hourly pay” box)
(Let’s say it was $500)
$500/month stipend
Here’s why I’d do this- you don’t want to anchor yourself at a low hourly wage, that will lower your perceived value, when in reality you’ve been doing something of exceptional personal and professional value. Let them figure it out for themselves if they must, but don’t give an hourly figure if it’s really meaningless.
Just my 2 cents.
I just started a new job, and have been doing the interview dance for awhile. It seems that most employers use a pretty standard application, so I just “adjusted” it to suit my paticular situation. If the application asked for “hourly wage” and I was paid a yearly salary, I noted that. Same goes for dates of employment (can’t remember the exact month, so I just filled in the year), etc.
I would fill in whatever you feel is relevant and make a small notation to clarify. Any questions your prospective employer may have will be cleared up in the interview.
Ed
I’ve never disclosed past wages to prospective employers. Just leave the box blank. When they ask you about it, tell them what you think you should earn in the job you’re applying for. Previous earnings are irrelevant. As you said, you had a job as a volunteer. On that job, the amount of money you earned in any period has no bearing on your potential earnings on a for-wages job.