Does anyone work in recruitment?

[Bestseller]

I'm just wondering why so many job ads don't include the salary.

I suppose if I was desperate for work I might still apply but as someone with a good job who has a look what's around and of interest every now and again, I wouldn't dream of applying of the salary isn't advertised.

That's how a changed my last two jobs, I wasn't desperate to leave I just saw something interesting. Doesn't it vastly reduce the number of candidates if you don't advertise salary and I'd have thought, the quality too?

Why do agencies think its a good idea?

Often the salary you will be offered is based on experience and what you are currently earning.

It's to try keep spend down.

Totally agree with you Op!

I realise it will be because they want to keep the option to be "flexible" with the salary but not even quoting a range must vastly reduce the number and quality of applicants, which must be the last thing the recruiter wants?

This drives me bonkers. I now assume they want to low ball the applicant and don’t bother applying.

Exactly Gemme, but if most people assume the same, that must work against them in finding good quality candidates. I know its a pain from the job seekers' pov, I'm wondering why it works for the recruiter.

Directly advertised roles often don't list a salary band (I guess they don't want current employees to see if they've bumped up the range if they have people under that.)

Not a recruitment consultant but recruiters will insist on knowing a range in my experience - and often add it to their ads because they know it encourages applicants! If agencies aren't putting the salary on that sounds unusual - I would guess it must be shit!

I've been to various job interviews where they've asked me what salary I'm looking for. I'm convinced they offer the job to the lowest bidder.

Incidentally it is worth googling for phrases in the job ad to see if any other agencies are advertising it too with a salary range.

Also I hate it when adverts say "competitive salary".

Can't speak for everyone but we don't list the salary when we advertise vacancies because we don't want other people currently employed to see.

That's because the salaries at my work are shocking and everyone is either grossly underpaid or grossly overpaid sobrhe salaries are top secret information.

I found it restricted applications. Often roles I recruit for the salaries are genuinely negotiable depending on skills and experience. I once advertised with a range (not too broad as that's just as bad and makes the company look like they have no idea) really good salary for the job, no decent applicants. I readvertised it 2 weeks later with "salary negotiable depending on skills and experience" and had much more success.

Also I hate it when adverts say "competitive salary".

I saw a vacancy on a FB group yesterday which said that, and then the employer had added a comment saying "PMs won't get any other information so don't bother asking".

Mmm, way to go to attract people! It was one of those vague ads where it could be 15k or 50k too, depending on whether the spec was over blown or understated!

In my better halfs line of work adverts never seem to have a pay range but they expect a few calls a month from recruiters offering more. The industry generally seems to expect people to move every 18-24 months and over the first three years to go from 35-50k. Thereafter there is something of a ceiling unless one tries to jump to a management role.

Not advertising salaries makes it easier to pay less to women, or to younger people in general. Perhaps if the public sector dropped this to start with to set an example?

Yes, I think it's to stop current employees getting the hump. I don't apply for them either. Though on two occasions I did ring the company up to ask the salary before I spent an hour tailoring my CV and letter of application. One was an agent and she got the hump. Other was direct and they told me the range and it was very top of the range.

I used to work for an agency in accountancy recruitment.

Either a lot of the jobs are made up to get candidates or trying to stop competitors figuring out who is recruiting

It can be such a waste of people's time. Several times over the years I have applied for and been offered jobs such as this. They look on paper like a step up but then when you are offered the role it turns out to be less money. It's incredibly annoying so I don't bother anymore.

This is why I love working in the public sector. You know what the salary is and there’s none of this bullshit about ‘salary expectations’ My DH had that at his last company which was a FTSE100 company and they would have people in the same job, started on the same day with a £10k difference in their salary. Crazy! Never again.