Should I let recruiters know my current salary?

[rems]

Maybe they don't have to... but they might, there's no law preventing it. So it's best not to lie. If you get caught in a lie you can pretty much guarantee you won't get the job then.

I agree that you shouldn`t lie...but I think it`s best if you don`t disclose it at all.

[Redguard]

As one of the first responders, I realize that I advocated lying to recruiters, but I tried to qualify my statement by saying you should lie "within reason".

So, if you're making $50K as an analyst, don't be silly and say that you're making $80K. That's not within reason.

I said this because I have a friend at Robert Half and he showed me a document that's distributed to their staff annually.

It has a long list of positions (in Accounting & Finance), and a base salary range for each of those positions according to a company's revenues, size, and the rank of the position within the organization. It also includes a cost of living factor, by city, so that the salary can be accurately reflected according to where you live in Canada.

According to this document (in 2009), an analyst (Financial, Accounting, whatever, 1 to 3 years of experience) in a mid-size company (up to $250MM in annual revenues) should be in the range of $43,750 and $55,250. If you live in Toronto, multiply that by 1.042. If you have a grad degree or designation, add 10%.

That's a $12K range that you're working with!

So, if you're an analyst making $43/$44K and you tell a recruiter that you work for XYZ corp, have 3 yrs under your belt and you're making $50/$51K, then that's within reason.

The benefits?
- When (not if) they try to low-ball you for a salary, at least it will be one that's based on a higher salary assumption.
- Your fudged salary is still within a reasonable range, and there's no real reason for your "lie" to set off any alarms.

Someone said it earlier and they were correct. Recruiters aren't in it for you. They're working for the employers. You're just a commodity to them and if it's easier for them to sell you to a company at a cheaper price, they'll do it as long as they can close the sale quickly. But that leaves you at a disadvantage.

According to this same report, as a Sr. Analyst, I'm below the low range. People at my company have been complaining about their salaries for a long time. And I know the policy of our HR dept is to NOT disclose salaries to external parties. So I no longer have any issues giving recruiters a fake salary that fills on the midpoint of the range shown in this report.

[ullyeus]

I tell them but then I always make sure to ask the interviewer how much he makes, and I ask how much the manager the position will be reporting to will make.

[ullyeus]

They aren't ALLOWED to discuss your salary, if they do you can take them to the cleaners.

I can register a company called TooSoonJr Recruiting for $80 with the provincial gov't and start calling up everyone's employers and requesting that info....yea, that's not happening.

Can you explain why or cite an actual law? I've seen some companies that publish people's annual salaries...

[ullyeus]

I can't fathom why you guys wouldn't

The headhunters are working for you and themselves .. its a win win situation fi they can find you a place that pays better..

It's completely stupid to tell them you are making a higher amount because then they won't be able to find you a better placement

Besides, they know when you are lying, trust me.. you're not the first people they've spoken to in that position

absolutely incorrect and false for so many reasons.

[rems]

Can you explain why or cite an actual law? I've seen some companies that publish people's annual salaries...

are you referring to public employees that make over 100K?

[angekfire]

that`s not until the end of the interview process...and only if they`re serious about you as a candidate for the job. And they`ll call HR which I believe doesn`t have the privilege to tell them your current salary...only to confirm that you did indeed work there.

That is what I think as well.

However, as for revealing my current salary range, I have a good reason not to. Doing so breaches my current employment contract which states I am not allowed to discuss my salary. Telling a company this saves myself from having to reveal it, and also shows them that I will take my job & responsibilities seriously.

[BananaHunter]

Recruiters will generally try to find you a job that pays better than your current job. So if you are "overpaid", disclose it. If you think you are underpaid, don't disclose it.

I don't recommend lying about it. You never know when a lie is going to come back and bite you.

For reference checks, I believe employers are not allowed to disclose a lot of things, and salary is one of them. I think verifying employment period and position is the most they can ask. Of course, lots of smaller companies (with no HR) will end up giving away extra information since the person giving the reference is probably not an HR person and wouldn't know the rules.

[Redguard]

The question still remains.

Why is knowing a "past" salary supposed to be so damn important?

If a role says that it'll pay $60K, and you have to candidates (Cand.A who makes $45K and Cand.B who makes $50K) and both are qualified for the job, what sense is there in trying to change the salary on the guy who makes less?

Complete B.S.