When applying to a job, an employer wants to know about your past. They’ll want to know how well you work on a team, your experience and education, and how much money you’ve made in prior jobs. All of these things are key factors in determining whether you would be a good fit for a position. For an employer, it will cue them into how much money you’re willing to make based on how much you’ve made in the past, or give them an understanding of where they stand when negotiating a salary.
Rather than stressing out about a request for your salary history, you should be using it to your advantage. Giving a salary history is a great way of leveraging your prior salary and experience when negotiating with new employers.
Always be honest. You may be tempted, but don’t lie because it could come back to haunt you. Chances are a prospective employer will never ask a past manager how much you’ve made, but it is possible. You never want to lie during the hiring process in general as it creates an immediate environment for deception. A high ask may also put you over the allotted budget for your position, which means your resume could be thrown out during the screening process.
Conversely, you may think that if you’re earning a lot compared to the industry average, you should say you’ve made less money in order to secure an interview. Again, this deceptive mentality will only set you back. It’s a terrible idea for you from a financial perspective because you always want to transition up, not down, in order to build your career. Also, if you are making a higher salary than the average, it’s most likely because you deserve it and can use it to your advantage when negotiating.
Honestly is always the best policy. Regardless of what your pay used to be, make sure that you use the number strategically to enhance your value to the next company. If you make a lot, explain why you do, and if you make less, explain why you think your skills and talents deserve more.
Putting a range for your salary could be beneficial as well because it gives the employer some flexibility when coming up with an offer and shows them how many times you’ve been promoted. If you’re making lower than the industry average for your position, you could make it clear on your resume and cover letter that you are looking to change jobs for opportunities for advancement.
If requested, you should attach your salary history in a separate document from your resume and cover letter. Here is a good way to answer a request for a salary history:
SALARY HISTORY
Media Director
Feedkick.com
Philadelphia, PA
Salary Range: $55,000 – $60,000, with full benefits package
Media Intern (2013-2014)
Ploymint.com
Philadelphia, PA
Salary Range: $30,000 – $34,000, with full benefits package
It’s important to note that salary history is different from salary requirements. While a history shows what you’ve made in past jobs, a salary requirement is the amount that is needed for you to switch jobs or transition to a new company. This can change if cost of living becomes higher due to relocation, or if there is a major change in your industry that would affect pay. While the two are connected, they are also independent of one another and could vary significantly depending on your circumstances
If you refuse to show your salary history it doesn’t mean that you won’t get a job, but could mean that you are overlooked by the employer. Make sure to always look at the positives and how your unique experience brings something special to the table. In the end it isn’t so much about the number, but how your skills and talents translate to how much money you should be making.
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