Do I disclose my current salary to the recruiter?

Vicky256 · 2024-02-14T16:02:33+00:00

As the title says really. I have an interview tomorrow which was set up by a recruiter. He has just asked me to tell him my current salary. Is this the norm? My gut reaction is that it's none of his business but I've not applied for a job for a long time!

Viewfrommyhouse · 14/02/2024 16:05

Nope, don't tell them. What you currently earn should make no difference to any future job. Maybe state the range of salary you'd expect for the role instead?

Doglegs · 14/02/2024 16:11

No. Say 'my salary expectations are £xxx' instead.

CheeseDreamsTonight · 14/02/2024 16:12

I know my boss always asks current salary in brutal salary negotiations. I don't think I would disclose to a recruiter though. Only if put on the spot

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 14/02/2024 16:17

I am a recruiter. It's standard practice in any exchange for a number of reasons (as is 'what are your expectations?)

a) it's often asked of us by the potential employer as knowing someone's basic salary is just a part of our job. If we can't tell them that then it looks odd (especially if the reason is 'because X won't disclose it'

B) it's part of a recruiter's job to negotiate the best salary they can for you. How can they possibly guide the potential client as to why a salary they offer isn't high enough (ie but that's only a match on their current salary) if they don't know what your current salary is?

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 14/02/2024 16:24

This practise of asking for your current salary is how we've ended up with the gender pay gap.

Many women will have taken a career break and will have returned to work on a lower or stagnant wage.

It's far better to give your salary expectations. Providing your actual salary gives the employer the opportunity to give you lower than they're actually prepared to pay.

The employer should pay the going rate for the role not what they can get away with.

crumpet · 14/02/2024 16:29

I gave my salary. I was comfortable to state that it was below market rate and that my expectations were X-Y for the new role.

flipent · 14/02/2024 16:29

Yes they are going to ask. No you do not have to tell them.

Agree with pp - just let them know your expectations for the role you are applying for, 'For this role I would expect a salary of above £**' or 'I would be looking at roles with salaries over £xx.

You can phrase it however you are comfortable - but no requirement for you to give them your current salary.

RedOrca · 14/02/2024 16:50

Ask him what he thinks it should be?

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 14/02/2024 17:10

I am finding this baffling. Op I don't know what industry you are in but it's not some sort of ruse to get you a lower salary' ... contribute to the gender pay gap or anything else.

We ask what your current job title is.
What your job responsibilities are (expanding on CV)
What your notice period is
Where you live (and where you are happy to work geographically)
What are the other things that are important to you in your job search
Current salary (plus any extra benefits or bonuses so this can be added on) - we then have a discussion about whether this is fair etc - or I will let someone know if I think they are underpaid so I will try and push for more for them to take that into account.
Expected salary

Amongst other things.

It's not (as some others say) to try and get you less money (certainly not in our interests anyway!) or for any other reason than a plain and simple question that could actually end up really helping you.

It's all just standard practice.

123ZYX · 14/02/2024 17:18

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 14/02/2024 17:10

I am finding this baffling. Op I don't know what industry you are in but it's not some sort of ruse to get you a lower salary' ... contribute to the gender pay gap or anything else.

We ask what your current job title is.
What your job responsibilities are (expanding on CV)
What your notice period is
Where you live (and where you are happy to work geographically)
What are the other things that are important to you in your job search
Current salary (plus any extra benefits or bonuses so this can be added on) - we then have a discussion about whether this is fair etc - or I will let someone know if I think they are underpaid so I will try and push for more for them to take that into account.
Expected salary

Amongst other things.

It's not (as some others say) to try and get you less money (certainly not in our interests anyway!) or for any other reason than a plain and simple question that could actually end up really helping you.

It's all just standard practice.

How do you use your knowledge of the current salary?

Surely the role you're advertising for has a set salary/ narrow range.

If the current salary is higher, would you pay outside of the planned salary range? If so, this does continue the pay gap, because someone already paid less will be paid the top of your range as a maximum

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 14/02/2024 17:19

As others have said- of course it's up to you if you disclose it but it can be of real benefit to you to do so. If not of benefit then it certainly won't be a negative thing for you.

As I said I think in 20 years of recruitment I have only had 3 people not wanting to disclose it. All it did was make the person's situation quite hard to work with as it's pretty much always asked of us by a prospective employer.

Anyway! I'll be quiet!

Good luck in your interview op

HelpMeGetThrough · 14/02/2024 17:22

Not a chance. I've always told them what it would take financially/full package to be worth it to move.

They've always pushed me to tell them my current package, but I just refuse and tell them it's not important to them what I currently earn, just what I want.

idontlikealdi · 14/02/2024 18:26

I do, and I tell them what im
Expecting. Not worth wasting anyone's time.

Original poster

Vicky256 · 14/02/2024 18:37

Thanks all. I don't want to be difficult but equally think that if the interview goes well it's up the employer to make me an offer?

Salary ranges within the industry are generally well publicised.

OP posts:

SheilaFentiman · 14/02/2024 18:49

“Current salary (plus any extra benefits or bonuses so this can be added on) - we then have a discussion about whether this is fair etc - or I will let someone know if I think they are underpaid so I will try and push for more for them to take that into account. “

Most recruiters I speak to are working for the potential employer, not for me. So why would they want the recruit to get a higher salary?

Switcher · 14/02/2024 18:54

It never occurred to me not to tell them. The employer will ask anyway when I get the job and they can see it in my tax if PAYE.

keirakilaney67 · 14/02/2024 18:54

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 14/02/2024 17:19

As others have said- of course it's up to you if you disclose it but it can be of real benefit to you to do so. If not of benefit then it certainly won't be a negative thing for you.

As I said I think in 20 years of recruitment I have only had 3 people not wanting to disclose it. All it did was make the person's situation quite hard to work with as it's pretty much always asked of us by a prospective employer.

Anyway! I'll be quiet!

Good luck in your interview op

'not a negative'? Why do you think employers ask for that information?
Also, you 'push' for more based on someone previously being underpaid. So what if they were not, but wanted more anyway?
The salary should solely be based on the value of the job to the company. Skills + experience to a certain extent. But never someone's previous pay. How is it relevant?
I've been criticised for rejecting job offers because it was a big leap from a previous salary when the fact is, I was underpaid.
These days I name my price - any employer that baulks isn't someone I want to work for unless desperate. Not a good look.

byteme1011 · 14/02/2024 18:55

I got a payrise about 6 months ago because my current employer (started about a year ago) misheard my current salary and when he gave me the offer (saying so x amount more than your current salary and I corrected him), he (as in HR) did ask if I wanted to go back and get more, I said 'dont worry' (it was 500 pounds more than I was currently on) and was too embarrassed to cause more hassle (hello gender pay gap). Turns out I was 10k less than what others were on and I asked my line manager about it and he got me a payrise within 2 weeks and apologised and said next time speak up! he was annoyed at me (next time I go for a role and asked my current salary I'm going to round up to the closest 5/10

keirakilaney67 · 14/02/2024 18:55

FYI @Switcher your hiring manager will actually never see your former pay for larger companies. PAYE etc is all documentation that HR handles and they usually don't even know who your LM is.

Switcher · 14/02/2024 18:57

@keirakilaney67 yes, I know that.

Hatty65 · 14/02/2024 18:58

Nope. I'd simply respond with 'This is the salary it would take for me to move from my current position.'

Sodndashitall · 14/02/2024 19:00

SheilaFentiman · 14/02/2024 18:49

“Current salary (plus any extra benefits or bonuses so this can be added on) - we then have a discussion about whether this is fair etc - or I will let someone know if I think they are underpaid so I will try and push for more for them to take that into account. “

Most recruiters I speak to are working for the potential employer, not for me. So why would they want the recruit to get a higher salary?

They get paid a percentage of the salary of the candidate! So if candidate gets more then so do they !

Howmanysleepsnow · 14/02/2024 19:01

Generally, recruiters are keen to get you a higher salary as they get a percentage (in my field anyway).

SheilaFentiman · 14/02/2024 19:01

Sodndashitall · 14/02/2024 19:00

They get paid a percentage of the salary of the candidate! So if candidate gets more then so do they !

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well, slightly. But the percentage on an extra 5-15k isn’t going to be much to them as a one off vs having a happy firm use them again and again

Sodndashitall · 14/02/2024 19:06

Yes but if candidates leave in a short space of time for more salary then they won't get used again! I've had that happen and I've fairly much blacklisted the agency