To ask what the salary is before applying? And how do I do that?

[Newbi]

As title really, I’ve been in my current job for a long time and am just starting to look around. So many roles don’t have a salary attached though? If it’s a non-standard/obvious one that I could indeed/glass door etc...can I ask before applying? How should I word that? I don’t want to waste both sides time.
There’s a particular one I’m really interested in but I strongly suspect I would want more than they would be offering so I’m trying to find that out- any advice gratefully received!

Email the advertiser and say "what is the salary for this position please".

I literally emailed the HR contact on a recent job I was looking at. They responded and i decided not to apply as it wasnt enough. They emailed after the closing date to ask if I was sure about not applying as they looked at my LinkedIn and I had the right skills so I guess they didnt get anyone apply!

Some employers don’t do this because the amount they are willing to pay would vary so widely depending on experience and they don’t want to attribute a high salary and attract a lot of inexperienced hopeful people, or a low one and put those more experienced off applying. You could ask for the range, or you could send them a brief email with your experience and salary expectation and ask if that is within their range, should you be successful.

I wouldn’t show your hand and let them know your salary, but just email and say you find the role interesting as it matches your experience with XYZ and can they let you know an idea of the salary they are expecting to offer.

I applied for my most recent job while earning 37k and they offered me 63k. They wouldn’t have done that if I’d have shown my hand at the start!

Thanks loads- I’ll draft an email along the lines that @MaverickDanger suggests- in the vanishingly unlikely event that they offer me nearly twice my current salary I’ll owe you

I think it is fine to ask if you have an email address to email.
We have just been advertising for 2 positions in my team and didn't put a salary on. My company would never put one on. I don't think they would want existing employees to know as could cause issues, as some will be getting less then the new person.
Also we want to be able to negotiate based on experience. This is just for a fairly standard office job nothing fancy.
When arranging interviews the recruitment person organises and we did ask her to check salary expectations with a couple we thought would be wanting more as didn't want to waste our time if the job was no good. So best to ask for a rough idea.

Nothing to lose @Newbi - fingers crossed you do get double your salary 🤞🏻

I think it should be obligatory to say what the salary is when advertising a job. Why waste the applicants time if there is a mismatch of expectations.

All the "competitive salary" rubbish actually puts me off!

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Email the advertiser and say "what is the salary for this position please".

This.

I don’t trust companies if they cannot be transparent about something like salary.

I applied for a job years ago that was advertised at £25-30K. They offered me £21K (less than I was on) to work 42.5 hours a week (more than I was working) and honestly tried to make it sound like I was getting a good deal. I was so insulted that I withdrew my application without negotiating.

That was worse than a company not including the salary in the first place!

I would never apply for a job that didn't state the salary, if they aren't transparent about something as fundamental as salary then it's not a company I want to work for. Not wanting existing employees to see the salary is a shocking reasoning. We should be talking about salary more, not less, especially as women.

This annoys the hell out of me.
I feel they are trying to see how cheap they can get you most the time and holding back on their true budget to see what the candidate says.
Not transparent at all !!

google the role - it may be being advertised by a recruitment agency as well, who will include the salary (or salary range).
Failing that, call or email - stating that you don't wish to waste your time or theirs if the salary isn't appropriate.
I always think not indicating a salary range is bonkers - I never apply without knowing.

I once had an interview for a job with no salary in advert. I asked at the end of the interview and they refused to tell me! Ridiculous.

I've just had an interview with a company who didn't give a salary in the advert. At the end of the interview they basically asked me what I wanted.

It's difficult. I'm on a fixed payscale so it doesn't apply to me but this is a recurring issue when my husband is applying for jobs.

He will always make his current salary very clear to the recruiter and what the minimum is that he would move for. Recruiters are full of crap though and will often send him through rounds of interviews for a position that is only a few thousand more than he is currently on which isn't worth leaving a good job for.

@shivawn

It's difficult. I'm on a fixed payscale so it doesn't apply to me but this is a recurring issue when my husband is applying for jobs.

He will always make his current salary very clear to the recruiter and what the minimum is that he would move for. Recruiters are full of crap though and will often send him through rounds of interviews for a position that is only a few thousand more than he is currently on which isn't worth leaving a good job for.

Maybe he should do as @MaverickDanger did and not tell them his current salary. It makes business sense that they’ll be CFs and only try and top it by a smidge.

I won’t apply for a job unless the salary is posted …. They are either trying to get you for less than they pay current employees, or, they are underpaying their current employees - either way it’s disingenuous and not for me