Do you ask what the starting pay is during your interview?

[Tarik One]

2 positions I applied for around the time this thread was created, I didn't mention salary at all. One turned me down, and the other still has me waiting.

I applied for another position about 3 weeks ago, they called me back a week and a half later. I asked what the started pay was, and she told me on the spot. We set up an interview 2 days later.

Just got a call today with an offer, and it pays quite more than what I am earning now. It doesn't hurt to go against the grain sometimes.

[Riley Martin]

Is it normal for your potential employer to ask about your salary history at past jobs?

I don't see how that's their concern.

[niko]

Is it normal for your potential employer to ask about your salary history at past jobs?

I don't see how that's their concern.

Yes, they are trying to get a feel for what you need to be paid.

[Tarik One]

Is it normal for your potential employer to ask about your salary history at past jobs?

I don't see how that's their concern.

They do that to see if your salary demands exceed their own. If yours do, they'll most likely cross you off and move on to the next candidate.

[Meticode]

If they don't tell you by the time they offer you the position, ask them.

I'm not agreeing to a position where I don't know the pay personally, but I'm not asking until the offer the position.

I had a job interview once where I didn't ask them and it wasn't brought up and they said basically, "We're going to offer you the position, are you willing to accept?"

And I replied, "Just one question, what is the starting wage?"

They told me and I declined the position. It was way lower than what I needed.

[Riley Martin]

Yes, they are trying to get a feel for what you need to be paid.

They do that to see if your salary demands exceed their own. If yours do, they'll most likely cross you off and move on to the next candidate.

But what if you were underpaid at your last job? Should I fudge it and inflate the salary? just not above the reasonable range for the position I'm applying to.

I get that they want to make sure your salary expectations aren't too high, but conversely a lower salary history shouldn't allow your next employer to continue underpaying you. Right?

edit: Guess I shouldn't lie: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/...salary-history

The best thing you can do when an interviewer asks about your salary history is to reframe the question into what salary range you're seeking. After all, this is the more pertinent question! For instance: "I'm looking for a range of $45,000 to $55,000." In some cases, this answer will be accepted and the conversation will move on. But in others, the interviewer will insist on knowing your previous salary. If that happens, you can try responses like:

"I keep that information confidential, but the range I'm looking for now is..."

"My previous employers have always considered that information confidential, but I'm seeking…."

"That's not something I share with anyone but my accountant, but I'm seeking…"

I think I'll try that tactic in the future.

[Balla_Status]

Every time I've had a recruiter call me about a job position, they've asked for my current pay and I told them what I would like to be paid. On one instance, the guy straight up told me I'd be making $1k/day. I don't think it's inappropriate to ask recruiters but may be inappropriate to ask the employees of the company they are recruiting for. May depend on the industry as well.

[PHX_Phan]

I usually have an idea of what the pay is before I apply.

That being said, I'm not the least bit shy to request this information. I'm not there because I believe in the company's morals and want to take part in it's growth. I'm there to perform a job and earn an income.

If you sell yourself right and are worth your salt, then you'll likely get the job. Never heard of a job turning a promising prospect away because they wanted to know how much they'd be making.

[outbreak]

Depends what kind of job you are applying for. If you aren't a professional and are applying for some entry level job then maybe you shouldn't ask, if you're going for a specialist job I think it's ok. Around here though every job I have seen/been offered/applied for has had the wage listed/told to me before I go to the interview/apply. If not the exact wage it would usually say the range your salary will fall in to depending on qualifications.

[n00bie]

I usually ask if they ask me what my salary expectations are. But then again, I'm in b2b sales.. and all recruiters know $ is very important to sales people. If the average salary in the role is too low, I wouldn't even want to waste their time.

[MJ(Mean John)]

OP- it's true, you shouldn't have to ask, and you shouldn't ask the person conducting the interview.

You should ask if the pay is not told at the time of the job offer.


- question, what job? And what type of company ?

Sometimes, you can look it up and get an idea and know if you have a little wiggle room to negotiate.

[DwnShft2Xcelr8]

I tend to look up the average wages of jobs I'm interested in online.

[ALBballer]

Personally I think it is a dumb social etiquette of not asking how much they are willing to pay. But that is the rule of the game and I generally wouldn't ask.

But if it involves a recruiter, I will be straight up ask about the pay because at this stage of my career I don't want to waste my time with low offers. With employers, I would be more hesitant.

[Tarik One]

Personally I think it is a dumb social etiquette of not asking how much they are willing to pay. But that is the rule of the game and I generally wouldn't ask.

But if it involves a recruiter, I will be straight up ask about the pay because at this stage of my career I don't want to waste my time with low offers. With employers, I would be more hesitant.

Yeah, and the fact that I am already employed made me more daring to ask upfront versus being in a position where I didn't have a job. I had virtually nothing to lose by bringing it up.

[CeltsGarlic]

that is the first and the last question bro. interview abc