Hey super star job negotiators

[y4m]

Since I am negotiating, accepting, and quitting jobs left and right this month, I'm in this frame of mind...

When you're early in the interview process and a recruiter or a business owner asks you what your current salary is, how do you answer?

I always end up answering vaguely but honestly, though I do roll in my bonus to inflate the total where possible.

Maybe I'm making a mistake even answering that question though...Is there a better approach?

[mfluder]

Is it bad I answer with I'm not sure... Frankly because I can't remember the number? Probably makes me sound like a moron lol.

But yes, I rolled my bonus into the estimate (I told them it was an estimate). Due to our generally step pay, while it's not widely available, its not super secret, so its hard for me to really come up with anything else honestly.

[Deleted]

Aug 30, 2012 13:17:15 GMT -5 @gypsy said:

Being totally honest, I've done it all. Fibbing always worked the best.

This is the best wording ever. LOL.

[dr.girlfriend]

I wouldn't outright lie...I know my DH has gotten jobs where they asked for his last two paystubs from his prior employer to verify prior salary.

[mfluder]

Aug 30, 2012 13:22:13 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Aug 30, 2012 13:17:15 GMT -5 @gypsy said:

Being totally honest, I've done it all. Fibbing always worked the best.

This is the best wording ever. LOL.

Ha, I do agree.

[Deleted]

My husband lies and says he knows a bunch of people who lie too. I thought they checked that but apparently not. My salary has been public for 6+ years so I can't lie.

[krystee]

My company calls the previous company to verify employment and previous salary, so being upfront is probably best. If it's low, just add that you've done research and X is a more typical salary for the role.

[atouchofklasse]

I wouldn't lie.

In your case of answer with the total amount of compensation at whichever job is higher (current or first accepted job) and state you are looking for a significant increase as an incentive to switch to a competitor/ new role.

[y4m]

Aug 30, 2012 13:40:49 GMT -5 swank said:

I think I missed something. Is this the new job or an even newer job?

Either way, congratulations!

I have a new job, and a newer job. Today I'm quitting the new job I haven't started yet to accept the even newer job, which I am super excited about.

I'm past the negotiation phase, but was just thinking about this because every time I get asked I wonder if I just screwed it up. Luckily, this time the guy just asked me about old job--I let him draw his own conclusions about what new job might have offered me, and he never pressed for details! New-new job pays about 75% more than old-new job, so I don't think I screwed it up too badly!

[atouchofklasse]

I think the biggest thing is to make clear you have a job and need to have an incentive to leave it.

[atouchofklasse]

Holy shit!!

[y4m]

It's more work and stress, and part of that money is commissions, so it's not guaranteed, but even the base is a pretty significant increase. I'm excited. But I really didn't mean for this to be an AWing post.

Mostly it's just always something I wonder about, and unlike salary negotiations, this question kind of comes out of the blue and you have to be prepared for it--I always feel underprepared.

[atouchofklasse]

You are not being an AW. That is super impressive. Congrats again.

I think these posts are SO important.

I would not have negotiated as strongly for my current salary without learning from Balky and this board.

[atouchofklasse]

Also I'm curious what you are going to do with all that money. Lol. Are you looking to buy a home? Fly first class back to SFO? Buy some delicious bottles of wine?

[y4m]

I'll roll it into our DP savings for sure! Mostly it makes me comfortable that we could afford our mortgage if something were to happen to DH's job. This puts us much more at parity income-wise.

[atouchofklasse]

That's a great feeling!

[litasail]

So excited for you - all awesome news! Is new-new job still in-house, or is it more consulting?

[y4m]

Aug 30, 2012 14:26:38 GMT -5 litasail said:

So excited for you - all awesome news! Is new-new job still in-house, or is it more consulting?

It's vendor side again, but it's sales rather than client-management. But not sales-sales, like go out and cold call and sell stuff. It's more like come tell this prospective client I found how you're an expert in the industry and you think the stuff we sell would work perfectly for them, and answer all the technical details a real sales-sales guy could never know. No quota to meet, just commissions to share in. But totally different from what I do now.

[litasail]

Aug 30, 2012 14:29:59 GMT -5 y4m said:

Aug 30, 2012 14:26:38 GMT -5 litasail said:

So excited for you - all awesome news! Is new-new job still in-house, or is it more consulting?

It's vendor side again, but it's sales rather than client-management. But not sales-sales, like go out and cold call and sell stuff. It's more like come tell this prospective client I found how you're an expert in the industry and you think the stuff we sell would work perfectly for them, and answer all the technical details a real sales-sales guy could never know. No quota to meet, just commissions to share in. But totally different from what I do now.

That's pretty cool - sounds like a great new challenge.