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Original poster

New job salary when underpaid at last job

34 replies

fluffedup · 15/02/2021 19:15

Hi everyone, I could do with some advice on this.

I work in a career that's often very well paid. But over the last couple of decades I have chosen jobs, and chosen to stay in jobs, because they fit around the children. When you stay in a job for a long time, in my industry, you often don't get the salary increases that you would have got if you changed jobs. As a result I am underpaid in my current role.

I'm looking for a new job at the moment. The jobs I'm looking at are at least a third more than I'm on at the moment, and I am well qualified to do them. But a recruitment agent I spoke to today said that employers are generally reluctant to offer much more than 10% over what you are getting in your previous job.

So, what would you do?

a) Politely refuse to give your current salary on the grounds that you are underpaid for your skills. Risk coming across as difficult.

b) Get a job, stay a few months, get another, until you catch up with others with your skill set. But possibly put off potential employers because you are now a job-hopper.

c) Tell them your current salary when asked, but refuse to take the job unless you get a decent offer. Probably the best one as my sector seems to have quite a few jobs at the moment.

d) Something else?

OP posts:
TangerineGreen · 15/02/2021 20:12

Hmmmm so it must work differently in your industry as in mine a job is advertised with a salary range and then after interview there is a salary discussion of expectations etc.
How does yours work? You apply for a job with them knowing your last salary? Do you have to go via a recruitment agent?
If so, I would not disclose my current salary and say ‘I have x years experience in this industry so my salary expectations are....’ would that work?

StephenBelafonte · 15/02/2021 20:18

You could always lie.

Theunamedcat · 15/02/2021 20:20

Tell them your salary be clear this is why your leaving?

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 15/02/2021 21:41

if it's in a sector where application requires you to complete an application form, this may be hard to get around - but if it's cv and letter of application, just don't include it.

topcat2014 · 15/02/2021 21:45

I have never disclosed my current salary to new employers. Why would you do that? That sets a floor for them to scrape above.

Have a clear idea of your worth.

topcat2014 · 15/02/2021 21:46

@everyday you can always write not disclosed.

Defiantly41 · 15/02/2021 21:48

This practice is one of the reasons for the gender wage gap, any initial gap gets exacerbated throughout a career (women often ask for/settle for less)

I would just state what your expectations are ( the range you have advertised is x to y, and with my experience I'd expect to be at the mid-point/top quartile/etc )

79andnotout · 15/02/2021 21:59

Don't tell them or lie. Get the salary you're worth, especially if it's a role in demand.

Sunflowers095 · 15/02/2021 22:19

You could:

  • explain this is between you and previous employer but happy to discuss the salary you're after in the new role
  • say it's NDA
  • explain that you don't feel comfortable answering because that question contributes to the gender pay gap, as companies can easily inherit a gender pay gap

I wouldn't lie as it does happen where in reference checks employers ask about salary.

Defiantly41 · 15/02/2021 22:36

Found a good article on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-you-shouldnt-disclose-your-current-salary-when-looking-barker/

welliwasntexpectingthat · 15/02/2021 22:53

Lie. It's all crap designed to continue the imbalance. You are or should be paid for "the job" ......

Rainboom · 15/02/2021 22:55

don't lie, many employers do pretty thorough checks these days and they'll see in your P45

welliwasntexpectingthat · 16/02/2021 16:48

Ok not lie but avoid disclosing and with certain exceptions then they can't insist.

EBearhug · 16/02/2021 16:56

There's no point lieing, because they will find out when you give your P45 to them if you get the job. But I agree with focussing on what you expect to get (you should base this on research,) and point out the gender pay gap issue as above, and avoiding disclosing.

I once negotiated hard on a job offer, because I wasn't really interested in the role, and thought I would be pricing myself out of it. It was a useful lesson that they went away and tried to get HR to sign it off at what I thought was a totally unfeasible salary.

Namethatuser · 16/02/2021 17:33

I'd focus on salary expectations and keep shifting the conversation to that. Not convinced an employer who refuses to offer you a job because you don't disclose your previous salary really wants you enough. We ask for salary expectations - just so we are not wasting each other's time - interviewing someone with wild expectations of how much they are worth. I was surprised when we advertised a job starting at £40,000 and the applicant told me their salary expectations were £28,000, I think they must have read it wrong.

Caketroubles · 16/02/2021 17:51

I have never given anyone a number to a potential employer. I simple say I have researched my options, and know what the standard rate is going hence this is my expectation. I have not had an employer who asked a question after this. It’s the recruiters who are part of this problem in my experience. Perhaps discuss your options with a different recruiter too? At any time, work with at least three recruiters if you can. It’s gives you a good range of options and lets you decide who is being fair and who isn’t.
Just don’t tell you current pay to anyone. You are not obliged to. There are many online sources that teach how to deflect this question and turn it in your favour even.

topcat2014 · 16/02/2021 22:10

You don't have to hand in your p45 and can request HMRC issue a week 1 code.

Original poster
fluffedup · 16/02/2021 23:37

Thanks everyone for your responses.

In my industry jobs are usually found via recruitment agents, and they generally do ask for your current salary, probably so they can tell the potential employer that they've found someone cheap.

I don't think lying is a good idea because if they found out, it would look bad. And anyway I'm a crap liar.

But today I spoke to a couple of recruitment agents today, and they asked my current salary, and I politely declined to give it, saying that I would rather focus on the salary offered for the new job. And both they said that was ok, and said they would put me forward, and both said they would aim for a figure about a third more than I'm currently getting.

As opposed to the one I spoke to yesterday, who I told my current salary, and who said I would probably get about 10% more than I'm currently on.

So that's all you have to do!!! That's the secret!!!

I did a bit of googling too, and apparently in some American states they are making it illegal to ask the current salary.

OP posts:
topcat2014 · 17/02/2021 19:44

Result

Caketroubles · 18/02/2021 13:23

Well done OP! Stick to it and don’t fall for their tactics. Make sure that they stay under the impression that you are working with other recruiters. They will try to ask you this same question about your current pay in many different ways and will even try to catch you off guard. So be ready for this too. However, you have won half the game already. Smile

Lockandtees · 18/02/2021 14:10

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Absy · 18/02/2021 14:19

I’m in an industry where typically if you stay in the same organisation for a while your salary stagnates (great way to treat loyal staff) but the recruitment agencies frequently publish what common salary bandings are. I’ve been told I’m underpaid at the moment so I can expect to ask more. As for the employers, internally the would also have salary bandings dependent on rank / level of experience that they would use to determine how much to pay, and based on that they would have flexibility on how much they could offer.

Original poster
fluffedup · 18/02/2021 18:15

It's weird. This has never happened before. I'm actually a bit scared. I'm possibly looking at a 50% payrise.

There are few women in my industry. It always felt odd that whenever I found out what a friend was getting (they would be in different companies to me) they would be so much better paid. These would be male friends, by the way.
I can't believe it's that simple.

OP posts:
happytoday73 · 18/02/2021 18:21

Came on to say you need to concentrate on expectations rather than current salary.. But see you've sorted it.

Dont start on imposter syndrome like thoughts... You need to be on the right wage for your competence... Good luck!

topcat2014 · 18/02/2021 19:20

As a finance director I can confirm internal salaries lag the market. Replacement staff often have to be paid more than leavers.

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