The Riley Guide: Resumes & Cover Letters

Disclosing Salary Requirements

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I received the following request via email:

Can you explain or give me sample of replying to an add for a job in which they request you mail/e-mail resume, cover letter and salary requirements?

Asking a job applicant for his or her Salary Requirement is a sticky issue. Some employers even ask for your Salary History, which is an even stickier issue. What if you ask for more than they are willing to pay? What if you have been underpaid for several years? Will this new employer keep up that tradition just because it's how it has been for you? Here are a few articles on why these requests are made and how to deal with them.

With Salary Requirements I'm personally in favor of the "respond with a range" idea, but in order for you to do this you must know what that job in that region typically pays. Visiting some of the Salary and Compensation Sites we have listed will help by arming you with the right information.

Divulging Salary History, Nick Corcodilos (AskTheHeadhunter.com FAQs about Salary)

"Employers have no business asking for your salary history."

Keep Your Salary Under Wraps, Nick Corcodilos (AskTheHeadhunter.com)

"If your value is really a function of judgment and need, why would any employer care what you've been earning at your last job? Good question, and one I'm asked all the time by people who are rightly perplexed when a personnel jockey insists on knowing their salary history." For all of you who wonder how to handle the "please state your salary history" inquiry from a potential employer, Nick tells you why he believes this question is unreasonable and how to politely refuse to disclose this personal information (advance preparation is key).

Responding to Requests for Salary Requirements or Salary Histories: Strategies and Suggestions by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. (QuintCareers.com)

"[...] let's examine why employers ask for these things. Most often, the simple reason is that employers want an easy screening device to help sort applicants, and those applicants with a salary requirement too low or too high are discarded. Other times, the employer is looking to save money by hiring a job-seeker at the low end of a salary range. In either case, it's not really fair to the job-seeker."

Disclosing Salary Requirements and Salary History by Alison Doyle (About.com Job Searching)

"If you are asked to include your salary history with your resume, you could ignore the request, but, that means you could risk not getting an interview.[...] When salary requirements are requested, you have a little more flexibility."

Should I Disclose Salary Requirements? Erisa Ojimba, Certified Compensation Professional (Salary.com)

"The bottom line about the bottom line is, if the job is right for you and you're right for the job, there is a fair salary range for the job that represents good-faith negotiation by both you and your employer. The salary negotiation sets the tone for how the employer will treat you in the future."

What Is Your Salary History? Carole Martin (Monster.com)

"Asking someone, 'How much money do you make?' is considered a rude question in most circumstances. Normally, the answer would be, "None of your business." But when applying for a job, especially one you are interested in, the question is common and you may find yourself at a loss as to how to answer. The best way to deal with it is to defer the subject until you have more facts." Ms. Martin then shows how to defer this discussion until you are in an actual interview, but she also advises you have that history ready to present.

Ask the Experts: What are your Salary Expectations? (CollegeRecruiter.com)

"The cardinal rule is: the first person who states a salary, loses."

Ask the Experts: Getting Asked for Salary Requirements (CollegeRecruiter.com)

"There are two times when most employers will ask you about salary: in the job posting and in the interview. When replying to want ads that ask for salary requirements or a salary history, I advise my clients to NOT answer directly. Reason? Answering this questions will only hurt your chances."

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