How To Handle A Salary History Request

Contributed by Jay Schroyer

When a potential employer asks you to provide a salary history, a lot of things can start running through your mind. Are they trying to get me at a bargain by pinning me to a specific number or are they testing to see how high I’ve set my expectations? Should I not provide a number, should I provide a huge range, or should I bite the bullet and spill my guts? There are a few things that you can do to help protect yourself when the salary history question is posed. If an employer has a specific number in mind, your salary history probably aren’t going to sway him or her too much, but these are some things that might give you the upper hand in compensation negotiation.

Divulge
If the position specifically states that all resumes submitted without salary histories will not be considered, then you really have no choice but to provide the employer with some numbers. You need to decide how badly you want this job and whether it’s worth the number gamble. If it’s just a whim and you’re only applying to test the market or to see how you will be received, then it might not be worth your time. Some people consider salary history a very sensitive issue and would rather not divulge or discuss when applying for a job for fear of who will see it. If it doesn’t bother you, then by all means, apply and let them know what type of compensation you have received in the past and what you would like to receive now. Try to match up the presentation of numbers. If your past jobs were in per hour denominations, figure out what they equate to in dollars per year as a salary. Just multiply your wage by 2,080 (52 weeks in the year at 40 hours a week).

Research
Know what you’re talking about by researching online. Check out salary.com to receive a free, zip code and position specific salary range. Chances are pretty good that the employer or the human resources department has done the same thing. If you pay a little extra, salary.com will also provide you with specific subsets within your profession. It will also take into account the number of people working at the company, your education, and other outside factors that can affect salaries. Don’t go into this ignorant. Spend a couple of minutes and save yourself a lot of hassle and embarrassment.

Order
In your cover letter, be sure to state your qualifications first before talking about salary history. Give the employer a good idea of who you are and what you’ve done. It will make providing your salary history and asking for a specific number that much more justifiable. A good location for your salary history and request would be the last paragraph of the cover letter or.

Range
Provide the employer with a wide range. If your research shows the position to have a median salary of $35,000 per year, then provide a range of $30 to $40k. Again, this all depends on how badly you want or need the position. If you really want it then there’s a chance that you would be willing to accept the lower range of the pay scale. If you’re afraid of coming in too low, bump the number up and provide a range of $35 to $40k per year.

Negotiate
Finally, after the salary history or request, make it known in your closing that in no way is this number or range set in stone. Let the employer know that this is the area in which you are looking, but that you are willing to discuss any offers of employment and compensation. Note that slary is negotiable on your cover letter. You want to seem confident in your choice of numbers, but at the same time you don’t want to appear demanding or difficult.

If the employer asks for a salary history and you really want the job, then it’s best to just go ahead and give them the information. Don’t fudge any of the numbers because if you get far enough to be interviewed and researched, they’ll find out if you’re lying or not. Also remember that what you write is what you’re using to get in the door. During actual face-to-face negotiations you can ask for specifics. Just get your foot in the door for now.

About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in English writing and communication.

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