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When asked about your current salary, how do you answer?

I am currently sitting in a nowhere position and have a phone interview on Monday. I have a specific range that I am looking for and have relavant experience for this job. However, I am currently in a position that is not paying anywhere close to what I want- I took it as it was close to home for my kids and I had knee surgery and needed time to get to doctor and physical therapy appointments- besides it was a job with benefits. I am looking at a senior accountant/assistant controller position for a large company- I currently sit in a small company as a financial analyst that does nothing more than glorified data entry and administrative crap.

If asked about what I am making now vs. what I am looking for I get the what makes you think that you deserve that type of pay in comparison to what you make now? I do have the experience and education plus I have earned that before- but no one looks past that....

How do you handle this?
I don't really think that lying will help, I tend to try and by as honest as possible. Literally I have done what they advertised and was compensated for that.

As for giving them a range.....It would be a really big range; very unrealistic it would appear that I was asking for quite a bit more and willing to settle for a minimal amount....

As for why I would take this job I'm in, it was portrayed very differently than what has come to be. Since it is a small company, everyone is secretive with what they do for job security purposes. This would include the controller here; thus the reason that I'm wasting my education and playing his assistant. A pay increase was also included with the original offer, but sense cash flow is bad and my boss wants to look good by making his budget, raises are not in the near future for my department- as we are veiwed as pure overhead and really not needed.

Asked By: zibby97 - 7/6/2007
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
You have two ways to look at this. Either be up front and honest (usually my choice), or you can hope that the employer will not dig that deeply. By law they are only allowed to ask if you were employed there and title. Once you start getting into the particulars, the company will usually stop the answering process as they are entering dangerous territory.

A good and reputable employer will stop and want to listen to credible reasons. Especially if the position that you are applying for is of a higher caliber than what you are doing now.

They will not look at this as an apples to oranges type thing. If they do, then it is not a company that is not worth working for because you will have to fight for every raise, promotion and benefits that you could get. In most cases, these are the businesses that will leave you in a position to rot; regardless of your ability.

Good Luck.
Answered By: kam - 7/11/2007
Additional Answers ()
You obviously lie.
Answered By: Jake - 7/6/2007
First...look online at how much that position pays at other companies...it doesn't matter what you make now...ask for something close to what the average for that position....and if all else fails, simply tell them the truth that you need more money and you took the other job for the lifestyle benefits
Answered By: Daniel B - 7/6/2007
If they're asking current salary you need to give them the truth. companies do background checks and if you lie, it is seen that you're more likely to lie on the job and then cause some issues.
If they ask what salary you wish or were looking for then, you tell them what you were thinking and why. maybe you got your degree maybe you have the experience but have just been in this other positon because of some other reason. but that is the time to talk abut htat.
Answered By: brk - 7/6/2007
"I am paid with peanuts. Not the salted kind, mind you, but the stale, tasteless kind that makes you nauseated when it touches your tongue. Ideally, I would like to earn the gourmet roasted peanuts with almonds and cashews mixed in."
Answered By: cat_tacos - 7/6/2007
I was in the same situation and said the following when asked about my previous salary...

"My current salary is $xxxxx, which is one of the major reasons I am leaving the company. I feel it is too low for my skill level. Although the job paid poorly, it was very convenient for me while I was in school, but now that my situation has changed, I am looking for a more fair salary"

I was offered $20K over my previous salary. So, be HONEST (they will call to verify) and just be confident in what you want, as far as money is concerned.
Answered By: TwinkaTee - 7/6/2007
You can give them a range, and include your current salary at the bottom end. Or just tell them that since you're currently in a data entry position which you took to allow your knee to heal after surgery, your current salary really isn't relevant. If they still ask, say "I'm currently making $ as a data-entry clerk, however I'm looking for $$ as a senior accountant". The other option is to tell them what you were making before the job you're in now, assuming it was closer to what you want. Good luck!
Answered By: Vicster - 7/6/2007
You sidestep the issue of salary, you play up the positive that you can offer to the new company, your experience, your education, your desire to grow and help the company grow.
If it is a good company what you make now will not matter, if they decide to hire you they will make you an offer that will include a salary, if this salary does not meet your requirements ask them if they could increase it, you have to make that decision. Never work on a negative when doing an interview and you definitely feel that your current pay is a negative so avoid any mention of it. Now you say "what if they ask?" tell them that your current pay is not adequate based on your experience and that is why you are in the market and you are sure that they will make you a fair offer, in this way you have not given out any number but the ball is in their court. Anyway give a good interview, try not to be nervous and good luck.
Answered By: white61water - 7/6/2007
Shoot straight with them and say, I believe I am worth it, I can handle the job and have the experience. I took this position for the reasons stated above, and know that it is no longer working for me I need to move up. No one should base what they pay you in respect to what you are making now. The job you have no doesn't seem to be anywhere near what you would be moving onto. It's about the experience and knowledge of what you do. Apples and Oranges. Good luck!
Answered By: gymfreak - 7/6/2007
If they ask just let them know the facts. Since it is a small company they are generally known for not paying as much, and that is one of the reasons you are looking for another position. Also, you might indicate the other reasons you took the job in the first place.

A large company tends to allocate a certain pay to each position, so they already have determined how much they will pay, and it is likely closer to the going rate and therefore more than you were making anyway.
Answered By: FM - 7/6/2007
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