It seems like a question that pops up daily on the discussion boards “what should I say when they ask my current salary or what I want to be paid?” The short answer is: _________. Right, nothing. Any number you provide can only be used against you. Don’t believe me, read on…
“What is your current salary?” “What salary are you looking for?” You’ve probably run across advice on how to answer these questions, including “Don’t give a number!” But, why?
Let’s first think about what they will do with that information. Certainly, if you are expecting 2x what they pay for the job, you’ll save everyone some time by cutting things short. But, have you ever been that far off interpreting a job description? Probably not.
Whatever you say will ultimately be used to calculate an offer. I usually offered a 10-20% bump depending on how much we wanted the candidate. Just enough to seem like more, but not go too big. After a few years working at the company, you may find out that your peers make significantly more than you. Why? Are they that much more awesome than you? Yes. At negotiating salary.
If we turn things around, and have the company tell you what they think you are worth, you are more likely to be paid on par with your peers at the company. Their process will look something like “Hmm, this candidate reminds me of so-and-so. What do we pay them?”.
If you are thinking, “I don’t want to be rude or seem difficult!”, try this. Ask the recruiter or hiring manager what the pay range is for the position. Listen carefully to the slick, rehearsed, answer you receive saying why they cannot tell you. Were they rude? Disrespectful? Difficult? No, it was probably a very casual response: “Sorry, we don’t give out that information.” Follow their lead!
At the end of the interview process they will have a very good idea of what you would be worth to the company. So, why not let them make the first move?
Here are some phrases you can try on to get through this situation:
“I’m looking for a salary that reflects my experience and the requirements of the position.”
“I’m looking to be paid competitively for the location and role.”
“I look forward to reviewing your proposal.”
“I will be happy to respond to any offer you provide.”
“I am currently paid fairly for my skills and responsibilities. That is what I’m looking for.”
“I wouldn’t want to presume how you value this role. I look forward to your offer.”
Footnote
I found it rare, in the technical field, for people to get a promotion by transferring to another company. My first thought if I saw someone applying for a position 1 or 2 levels above their current title was:
If their current employer wasn’t willing to make them a Level X employee, or pay them 50% more, why would I?
Me
If you are looking for a promotion, your best bet is to advance in your current position. Not sure how? Ask your manager!
Now, the corollary to this is that titles are not standardized across organizations. Everyone is a VP at a bank or a startup, but not so at Big Tech. In those cases, yes, titles may go up (or down) depending on how much “title inflation” there is between the two companies. In those cases, their salary may remain largely the same.