One of the most salient features of our Tech Hiring culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted.
Asking for your current salary is their easiest and often best salary negociation strategy. If you answer it's very good for them and very bad for you.
It's a salary negotiation strategy because they don't need it. They only need to know how much value you would bring to the company and which portion of that value they are ready to offer you. If you have two candidates that are exactly as good there is zero good reason to pay less the candidate that used to be underpaid, typically because she has the wrong gender. There is a bad reason, they may want to continue to underpay you.
Good people don't ask this question. Those who do do it because it works really well if you can be intimidated enough to answer. Then it's jackpot because they know what's the absolute minimum you can accept. Then they may give you 3.000β¬ more than that. You will think you have to accept. And you will know only later that a fair salary would have been 6.000β¬ more. Or 8.000β¬ more. And it compounds in a career.
My advice:
Don't lie. Don't be embarrassed. Tell them you never answer that question as a matter of principle. If you can, go away because they probably don't have your best interest at heart.
There are exceptions like if you overpaid after 15 years at Google and most offers are below your pay range
But most people would have higher salaries if they just say no.
Asking for your current salary is their easiest and often best salary negociation strategy. If you answer it's very good for them and very bad for you.
βWhat is your current salary?β is a red flag that you donβt want to work here
Jean-Michel Fayard π«π·π©πͺπ¬π§πͺπΈπ¨π΄ γ» Oct 10 '20 γ» 6 min read
It's a salary negotiation strategy because they don't need it. They only need to know how much value you would bring to the company and which portion of that value they are ready to offer you. If you have two candidates that are exactly as good there is zero good reason to pay less the candidate that used to be underpaid, typically because she has the wrong gender. There is a bad reason, they may want to continue to underpay you.
Good people don't ask this question. Those who do do it because it works really well if you can be intimidated enough to answer. Then it's jackpot because they know what's the absolute minimum you can accept. Then they may give you 3.000β¬ more than that. You will think you have to accept. And you will know only later that a fair salary would have been 6.000β¬ more. Or 8.000β¬ more. And it compounds in a career.
My advice:
Don't lie. Don't be embarrassed. Tell them you never answer that question as a matter of principle. If you can, go away because they probably don't have your best interest at heart.
There are exceptions like if you overpaid after 15 years at Google and most offers are below your pay range
But most people would have higher salaries if they just say no.
Tough assessment, but true.