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Employers asking for job seekers Salary History
I am currently employed by a company that probably pays its IT staff in the lower 20% of the normal IT salary range. After a number of years of not getting ahead, I am looking for a move to get ahead.

However, one thing I find is that many of the Hiring managers out there are always asking for your Salary history and it is even on their application forms.

In one interview I went on the interviewer asked me out right why I was looking for a 20% increase.

In my opinion, my salary history has no bearing on the job hiring/salary negotiation process and that one should be paid according to your skills and what you bring to the table and what the job market dictates is the current salary range for the position you are being hired for.

My questions to you all are... Is it appropriate and alright to decline to share one's salary history with a prospective employer? If so, how can you do it without creating an unnecessary issue out of it?

BroncoManiac
Posted: 10/17/2006 @ 09:32 AM (PDT)
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garym@...
Job Role: Database Administration
Location: Longmont, Colorado
Member since: 07/05/2006

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Employers asking for job seekers Salary Historygarym@... | 10/17/2006 @ 09:32 AM (PDT)
I never tell them thatTony Hopkinson | 10/17/2006 @ 09:51 AM (PDT)
I like that attitudechris_abiodun@... | 10/23/2006 @ 04:45 AM (PDT)
Well you need to be able to back it up, wouldn'tTony Hopkinson | 10/24/2006 @ 08:08 AM (PDT)
Yepmarketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 02:53 PM (PDT)
Private and Personalfredbrillo | 10/26/2006 @ 08:06 AM (PDT)
Salary history is kind of ridiculousjneilson | 10/17/2006 @ 01:13 PM (PDT)
Why 20% more?marketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 02:57 PM (PDT)
I've never given my salary history.jneilson | 10/25/2006 @ 04:59 AM (PDT)
Application CullingTheChas | 10/17/2006 @ 05:45 PM (PDT)
My experienceJamesRL | 10/19/2006 @ 07:11 AM (PDT)
hiding something?shraven | 10/23/2006 @ 07:26 AM (PDT)
Employers risk losing good potential employeessschafir@... | 10/23/2006 @ 06:49 PM (PDT)
Put something there...GSG | 10/31/2006 @ 07:11 AM (PST)
So I would work for that company why?dockeryj@... | 10/24/2006 @ 09:12 AM (PDT)
The flip side of my pointTheChas | 10/25/2006 @ 03:58 PM (PDT)
Dead end jobscaverdog@... | 10/26/2006 @ 07:34 AM (PDT)
Salary Negociationsbchirgwin | 11/01/2006 @ 07:42 PM (PST)
Interesting questionZen37 | 10/19/2006 @ 11:08 AM (PDT)
Good Answer.....jenny.mealing@... | 10/19/2006 @ 10:45 PM (PDT)
YabbutJamesRL | 10/20/2006 @ 07:00 AM (PDT)
Your company is losing outBill_Vargas | 10/23/2006 @ 11:49 AM (PDT)
Much as I would likeJamesRL | 10/24/2006 @ 06:15 AM (PDT)
Completely Appropriatemgellis@... | 10/20/2006 @ 12:44 PM (PDT)
Just a new slant on the same thing.marketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 03:29 PM (PDT)
My takeJamesRL | 10/25/2006 @ 01:22 PM (PDT)
What's ridiculous are firms that ask for your complete salary historyJP_999 | 10/20/2006 @ 05:17 PM (PDT)
What next? They'll want to know how much allowance my folks gave me?Why Me Worry? | 10/25/2006 @ 01:51 PM (PDT)
Salary history?? Some even do Credit checksmjd420nova | 10/20/2006 @ 09:32 PM (PDT)
Security is one reasonJP_999 | 10/21/2006 @ 09:21 AM (PDT)
On the other hand,TonytheTiger | 10/24/2006 @ 12:21 PM (PDT)
Ahhh Googlemarketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 03:36 PM (PDT)
I have very little to show in my credit historyjneilson | 10/25/2006 @ 05:07 AM (PDT)
Check Credit History? Theft / Security risklarrybell_2000@... | 11/09/2006 @ 06:28 PM (PST)
Turn the tables...briaf | 10/23/2006 @ 06:01 AM (PDT)
Turn the tables...garyq@... | 10/23/2006 @ 05:53 PM (PDT)
To garyq@...thelegman7@... | 10/24/2006 @ 03:57 PM (PDT)
Calling current employergaryq@... | 10/24/2006 @ 04:44 PM (PDT)
most employers nowDr Dij | 10/25/2006 @ 10:21 PM (PDT)
commercial in confidenceWomble | 10/26/2006 @ 03:47 PM (PDT)
Briaf, Like your reply!ljkinder@... | 10/24/2006 @ 04:34 AM (PDT)
A personal choicesschafir@... | 10/26/2006 @ 07:56 AM (PDT)
Excellent - some other ideas on turning it arounddrowningnotwaving | 10/25/2006 @ 08:06 PM (PDT)
The ironclad rulemdhealy@... | 10/23/2006 @ 06:38 PM (PDT)
No!jmgarvin | 10/23/2006 @ 10:45 PM (PDT)
I have to agree with you. :)stress junkie | 10/24/2006 @ 04:33 AM (PDT)
Privatedlayne@... | 10/24/2006 @ 05:41 AM (PDT)
We Shop...wmlundine | 10/24/2006 @ 07:06 AM (PDT)
The Head Hunter says "you lose your leverage"White Rabbit | 10/24/2006 @ 07:52 AM (PDT)
Great post!jr_hearty | 10/26/2006 @ 10:13 AM (PDT)
Imagine being on the other side of the tablesongsan2000@... | 10/24/2006 @ 08:47 AM (PDT)
Personal Information has no place in the hiring processKen Cox | 10/24/2006 @ 09:00 AM (PDT)
accuallyericl_w19@... | 10/24/2006 @ 12:15 PM (PDT)
839 FICO for me....marketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 07:19 PM (PDT)
What about DIVORCE????justin.valois.ctr@... | 10/26/2006 @ 09:27 AM (PDT)
Here Heremarketingtutor. | 10/26/2006 @ 10:21 AM (PDT)
Yeah, and I'm sure Donald Trump has an excellent credit scoreWhy Me Worry? | 10/25/2006 @ 01:29 PM (PDT)
No no no no no!jmgarvin | 10/24/2006 @ 10:17 AM (PDT)
againericl_w19@... | 10/24/2006 @ 12:18 PM (PDT)
Not being funny but the scariest thing to creditTony Hopkinson | 10/24/2006 @ 02:36 PM (PDT)
You are ignorant for suremarketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 07:48 PM (PDT)
My credit score is just fine, thank you very muchjmgarvin | 10/24/2006 @ 09:37 PM (PDT)
Salary increasesgaryq@... | 10/24/2006 @ 10:53 AM (PDT)
Perfect Examplemarketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 04:01 PM (PDT)
Gap in resumegaryq@... | 10/24/2006 @ 04:51 PM (PDT)
You see trouble huhTony Hopkinson | 10/24/2006 @ 02:32 PM (PDT)
Here Heremarketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 03:55 PM (PDT)
Nice modified Brian Tracy quote...marketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 03:53 PM (PDT)
Wow, Glad I DO NOT work for youjustin.valois.ctr@... | 10/26/2006 @ 09:21 AM (PDT)
With regards to the credit history..._ITPro_OC | 11/17/2006 @ 01:48 PM (PST)
DECLINE TO ANSWERTWB3 | 10/24/2006 @ 09:24 AM (PDT)
That's how HR takes advantage of yougeorgeou | 10/24/2006 @ 05:16 PM (PDT)
George, I gotta agree with you...jmgarvin | 10/24/2006 @ 09:39 PM (PDT)
After the dot com bubble burstTony Hopkinson | 10/25/2006 @ 02:09 AM (PDT)
This is a sticky issue for me and it caught my eyegeorgeou | 10/26/2006 @ 08:03 PM (PDT)
I D I O T ! ! ! ! !drowningnotwaving | 10/24/2006 @ 07:29 PM (PDT)
Having said that, Credit history is not an ethical questiondrowningnotwaving | 10/24/2006 @ 07:50 PM (PDT)
But can't you seemarketingtutor. | 10/24/2006 @ 09:36 PM (PDT)
Whose an idiot ?Tony Hopkinson | 10/25/2006 @ 02:35 AM (PDT)
Who's the IDIOT!!dlayne@... | 10/25/2006 @ 07:37 AM (PDT)
It just may come to thatdrowningnotwaving | 10/25/2006 @ 05:15 PM (PDT)
Do you work for Gartner?jmgarvin | 10/25/2006 @ 05:35 PM (PDT)
Umm I think you'd better recheck the data paldrowningnotwaving | 10/25/2006 @ 06:36 PM (PDT)
Ah, so you DO work for Gartnerjmgarvin | 10/26/2006 @ 09:39 AM (PDT)
Yikes...jmgarvin | 10/25/2006 @ 09:21 AM (PDT)
91% of statistics are made up.stress junkie | 10/27/2006 @ 04:33 AM (PDT)
My replyEd Woychowsky | 10/25/2006 @ 09:50 AM (PDT)
HERE IS A BIG NEW YORK "F**K YOU" FROM ME TO YOUWhy Me Worry? | 10/25/2006 @ 12:41 PM (PDT)
Okay, let's take a show of handsdrowningnotwaving | 10/25/2006 @ 06:05 PM (PDT)
You arrogance and ego is why your company most likely sucksWhy Me Worry? | 10/25/2006 @ 06:37 PM (PDT)
Hey WMW do you think you're just missing the point?drowningnotwaving | 10/25/2006 @ 07:08 PM (PDT)
BTW -- F**K That New York Attitudedavidclark@... | 10/26/2006 @ 01:50 AM (PDT)
HOW MUCHfredbrillo | 10/26/2006 @ 08:11 AM (PDT)
My take on this situationsschafir@... | 10/26/2006 @ 08:16 AM (PDT)
Actually . . .drowningnotwaving | 10/26/2006 @ 04:52 PM (PDT)
I give you the golf clapjmgarvin | 10/26/2006 @ 07:14 PM (PDT)
Darn itdrowningnotwaving | 10/27/2006 @ 12:28 AM (PDT)
I am not sure who you are replying tosschafir@... | 11/07/2006 @ 02:20 PM (PST)
Remind me not to apply for a position with your company!Zeppo9191 | 10/26/2006 @ 10:53 AM (PDT)
Skilling and Ebbers probably had great credit histories!White Rabbit | 10/25/2006 @ 06:52 AM (PDT)
Checking background for criminal record is OK. Credit information is not.Why Me Worry? | 10/25/2006 @ 01:19 PM (PDT)
Some roles....JamesRL | 10/25/2006 @ 01:38 PM (PDT)
I agree 100%, but many positions that don't require it are abusing itWhy Me Worry? | 10/25/2006 @ 01:42 PM (PDT)
Rinky Dinky ?Tony Hopkinson | 10/25/2006 @ 01:54 PM (PDT)
Alternate ViewTheChas | 10/25/2006 @ 03:30 PM (PDT)
Exactlydrowningnotwaving | 10/25/2006 @ 05:45 PM (PDT)
Are we talking real dollars?jmgarvin | 10/26/2006 @ 09:45 AM (PDT)
You want to bet?Tony Hopkinson | 10/27/2006 @ 02:28 AM (PDT)
Missing the pointsschafir@... | 10/26/2006 @ 08:27 AM (PDT)
Non-Disclosure AgreementTom.Mannerud | 10/26/2006 @ 05:07 AM (PDT)
Absolutely the correct answerBFilmFan | 10/29/2006 @ 01:31 AM (PST)
Wrong Questionsysadmn62 | 10/26/2006 @ 05:13 AM (PDT)
Employer seeking Employee Salary Historybarbaraagreen@... | 10/26/2006 @ 06:35 AM (PDT)
Lets get real here. Turn the tables on them.rclark@... | 10/26/2006 @ 07:38 AM (PDT)
CTO , thats differentJamesRL | 10/26/2006 @ 07:51 AM (PDT)
My personal attitudeZeppo9191 | 10/26/2006 @ 10:37 AM (PDT)
Politely dodge the qustion.tribeliker | 10/27/2006 @ 08:35 AM (PDT)
Employer Seeking Salary Historysabol67@... | 10/28/2006 @ 03:40 AM (PDT)
Who values you , salary history or qualifiation or exp ?Technowiz | 10/31/2006 @ 12:57 AM (PST)
There is a case where it can help the employeeFE | 11/14/2006 @ 06:01 AM (PST)
NewsFlashdavidclark@... | 11/14/2006 @ 03:16 PM (PST)
Well if you'd have told me that up frontTony Hopkinson | 11/17/2006 @ 02:34 PM (PST)

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