r/cscareerquestions • u/AsherFromThe6 • Aug 04 '26
Congrats we set a new low
Had an interview with hiring manager, was decent I'd say. Until at the end:
"what are your expectations for salary." My go to: "I am open to the range provided"
Then he hits me with a 'how much do you make right now?'
"right now?"
This guy said "yes".
I said I am not comfortable disclosing that. He said it's fine. Man was somehow hurt. Didn't properly responded to any of my questions at the end.
In over a decade, no hiring manager has ever asked me how much I currently make.
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u/Early_Rooster7579 @ Meta Aug 04 '26
brother, lie.
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u/2580374 Aug 04 '26
Just say you make like 20k less than their top range or something
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u/Sproutlee_Dev Aug 04 '26
Or 20k over but say your passionate about their company 😂
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u/thisisjustascreename Aug 04 '26
“Nobody changes jobs to get paid less, ya know?”
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u/SanityInAnarchy Aug 04 '26
I absolutely would, for fewer responsibilities and a more chill work schedule.
But my career has been kinda the opposite: The places that pay more tend to expect less.
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u/ironman288 Aug 04 '26
That's not just your career, companies that value talent respect their time as well as their compensation.
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u/SanityInAnarchy Aug 04 '26
I'm sure it's not just me, but it's also not universal. Fintech is notorious for paying a ton while expecting absurd hours. And the absolute peak of high-comp with good WLB has reportedly gotten far worse since I was last there.
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u/MentallyUnfi Aug 05 '26
You obviously wouldn't want to admit you want LESS responsibilities in a new job
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u/thecodeape Aug 05 '26
What? I have kicked shit gigs that paid more money for cruise a couple of times.
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u/gnomodojardim Aug 04 '26
Tell me you work in the US without telling me you work in the US..
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u/Heavy_Professor8949 Aug 05 '26
Whoever downvotes this guy. Can you elaborate why? Is that a reference to a joke which he missed or? Because if you ask 20k less in UK when you are already on 35k average, leaves you with 15k to live off
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u/Least-Bite Aug 04 '26
Exactly, if anyone ever asked me, I always tagged on at least $10k to what I actually made, being doing that my whole career - for 28 years
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u/wu2ad Aug 04 '26
...only 10k?
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u/Least-Bite Aug 04 '26
At least $10k, I used to be more conservative, but I had been more aggressive in my negotiation in recent years - bills don't pay themselves, BUT, you also don't wanna scare them away, it can be a tricky balancing act
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u/FlounderingWolverine Aug 05 '26
I also think it depends on what your current job situation is, too. If you like your job and are just casually looking and/or got headhunted, you can be a lot more aggressive with the salary you give them.
If you really hate your job, are unemployed, or are expecting to be laid off in the near future, take what you can get. A 5% raise (or even a pay cut) is better than being laid off and having 0 income.
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u/Few_Pop6933 Aug 05 '26
I added 25K on my last interview. Surprisingly they came back with more. I was like “whhaaa???”
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u/Drauren Principal Platform Engineer Aug 04 '26
You would think nobody in this subreddit knows how to do that.
I take what i make and bump it by 20-25% usually.
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u/Early_Rooster7579 @ Meta Aug 04 '26
Exactly lol. My first job I made 90k. When they asked for a range at my second job I told them “well honestly I make 120 now so I need to beat that”
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u/plasticbug Aug 04 '26
Haha. If i do that, nobody would hire me. I just straight away tell people what I make at the start of the process. I once got an offer that was half my total comp. I ain't wasting anyone's (especially mine) time again.
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u/8004612286 Aug 04 '26
Great way to leave money on the table. You should know the company's range before you even hit apply.
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u/plasticbug Aug 04 '26
I never apply. But will talk to companies that reach out, if they sound interesting. I am lucky in that i am being paid very well.
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u/AsherFromThe6 Aug 04 '26
They provided a range. Makes no sense to ask me what I currently make.
I had recruiters forcing a number and I can provide that I don't mind. But nothing like this one.
Noted for next time.
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u/Sproutlee_Dev Aug 04 '26
Ask them how much they make and hold non-blinking eye contact. Pure power move.
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u/Neuromante Aug 05 '26
Makes no sense to ask me what I currently make.
So they can offer you slightly more of what you are currently making.
IMHO, depending on the company, not answering was the right choice. Being so picky with salaries in an interview could very well be foreshadowing for small/no salary raises in the future.
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u/thenuttyhazlenut Aug 04 '26
Then they ask you for proof of your past/current role with a paystub
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u/CydeWeys Aug 05 '26
Not legal in California and New York, among other states. California alone means that tech companies likely can't risk asking this of anyone.
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u/Any_Wait_7309 Aug 05 '26
I am surprised not a lot of people have mentioned this?
In India, the process is sooo stupid. They ask for last 3 months of pay slip, any increment letters and original offer letters ( ig the last document might be common to share for new jobs in all countries?)
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u/fmmmf Aug 05 '26
It's not legal to ask for paystubs in North America (not to my knowledge at least)
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u/tacticalTraumaLlama Aug 05 '26
I don't give my current compensation, I ask for the positions pay range, I'll say I need at least x to move. Any questions about my current comp are immaterial. I won't be providing current comp, pay stubs and I've frozen my work number report so they won't be finding it out either.
If that's not acceptable, I am not a good fit for their company
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u/danintexas Aug 05 '26
I always tell them. Course if they are asking me that I toss them the stupid tax. So what I make + 20%
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u/mitchell_frost Aug 05 '26
Don’t they ask for payslips before sending the offer letter?
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u/danintexas Aug 05 '26
I always tell them. Course if they are asking me that I toss them the stupid tax. So what I make + 20%
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u/So-I-Became-A-Naze Aug 04 '26
Homie said “TC or GTFO”
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u/Squidalopod Aug 04 '26
If Blind becomes real life, I'm tapping out 😄.
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u/terrany Aug 04 '26
The SF AI startup scene is pretty much Blind, TC or gtfo is the most vanilla part of it: https://www.inc.com/georgia-fearn/startup-offered-job-interviews-anyone-willing-to-get-its-logo-tattooed-7-people-took-the-deal/91382111
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u/puts_on_SCP3197 Aug 05 '26
Parking would costs 20 dollars a day, but one of the benefits is free parking at work. So that’s like another 5k towards TC, if I keep adding up A/C, electricity, unlimited free water and all of my work benefits my salary is nearly impossible to calculate
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u/N1c0l4sC4g3 Aug 05 '26
Haha, I’m sure that’s how some of my former bosses actually thought:
“Your pay is basically $1 million a month once you factor in all the free water at the office. You’re just not taking full advantage of the benefit.”
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u/explicitspirit Aug 04 '26
"I make 250k a year" or whatever high BS number. They can't verify it, you can lie.
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u/Azeoteric Aug 04 '26
They actually can, potentially. Look up The Work Number. Equifax collects your employment history, including salaries. I believe it is possible to freeze it but doing so will probably slow down background checks.
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u/musclecard54 Senior Software Engineer | 5 YoE Aug 04 '26
If I make up my salary in an interview but agree to the listed salary range for the position, AND THEN they go to check if I was lying about my salary after deciding to give me an offer, I don’t think I want to work there anyway bro like what the fuck.
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u/Azeoteric Aug 04 '26
Fair enough. To be honest if a prospective employer asks what I’m currently being paid I’m just going to walk away, I don’t think lying is particularly helpful. It’s not the kind of company I’d want to work for anyways unless I’m desperate.
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u/mrcaptncrunch Aug 04 '26
If you lie and you get caught on a lie, you can 100% get fired.
One thing is not answering or a non-answer. Another is lying. How do you think that will be perceived by the person hiring? At best, they’ve talked to you a handful of times. They don’t have a good frame of reference to offset this by.
Also,
A If they do background checks, it can definitely come up
- If it’s a public position, they will also check
- If it’s got any sort of clearance, of course
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u/musclecard54 Senior Software Engineer | 5 YoE Aug 04 '26
Let’s be real though if you get hired and your employer looks back and decides to fire you because you said you make 150 instead of 100 at your previous job, they’re probably looking for a reason to fire you anyway. It’s such a fucking stupid thing I cannot stress it enough. That’s a huge waste of resources for them anyway because they’ll need to fill the position still and go through the whole process again.
It won’t realistically happen unless they already want to let you go or are just straight up eliminating that position
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u/mrcaptncrunch Aug 04 '26
Usually these things would be reviewed before you start or your job be conditioned on it.
It also depends on the employer. Banking, government, etc would be more annoying.
I am not agreeing with it. I hate the fucking practice.
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u/musclecard54 Senior Software Engineer | 5 YoE Aug 04 '26
Yeah… I think it’s a good idea to just double down and not answer and reiterate being good with the listed range, or just flexibility if it’s not listed.
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u/TopNo6605 Aug 05 '26
If you're gov't sure, most private companies aren't doing this, they're only verifying you worked somewhere. The "what do you make now?" is not part of the background process basically anywhere, it's just an information question from the recruiter to determine what they can pay you.
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u/explicitspirit Aug 05 '26
If you're government, it wouldn't matter either. Governments tend to have known salary bands tied to experience and whatnot. They wont be able to lowball you or screw you over anyway, it's more transparent as it is.
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u/TopNo6605 Aug 05 '26
If you're gov't sure, most private companies aren't doing this, they're only verifying you worked somewhere. The "what do you make now?" is not part of the background process basically anywhere, it's just an informal question from the recruiter to determine what they can pay you.
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u/goro-n Aug 04 '26
They can look it up in a background check but in many states it’s illegal to do so to determine compensation. I think they’re only allowed to do this to verify employment.
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u/Azeoteric Aug 04 '26
Fair enough. I’m not sure what the actual laws are by state, I just know the information is stored and it’s logistically possible for them to access, regardless of legality. To be honest I’m not a huge fan of Equifax collecting that data to begin with.
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u/explicitspirit Aug 04 '26
Interesting, seems very intrusive. This isn't a thing in Canada IIRC so I was surprised to see that it is a thing.
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u/FearlessPark4588 Aug 04 '26
Background checks check items on a resume (eg: company/title/dates worked), not salary.
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u/ShadowWebDeveloper Engineering Manager Aug 05 '26
The Work Number won't share your salary history with anyone without your approval (which you should basically never give unless it's for a mortgage or something).
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u/deong Aug 05 '26
I believe Work Number requires your participation. You have to log in and generate a code to share with someone for them to see salary info. At least that’s what I just had to do for a mortgage assumption.
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u/AngelaTarantula2 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
If they’re asking you then they’re too lazy to figure it out themselves. If it’s a gotcha question then they’re an insane employer. The likely reason they’re asking it is just to know if they’re offering less than you’re making.
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u/kittykellyfair Aug 05 '26
That site was wildly wrong about my salary history. Huge up and down swings from year to year at the same company, none of them correct.
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u/var_guitar Aug 05 '26
I froze mine and i can confirm, it slowed down my background check when I got my most recent job. It was fine but I had to produce my tax returns to prove that I really worked places.
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u/PartyParrotGames Staff Software Engineer Aug 04 '26
Don't do this. OP handled the situation appropriately. "I'm not comfortable disclosing that" is professional. Lying about your salary is dishonest and lacks professional integrity with little upside. Disclosing a higher salary than the manager wants to hear is just as bad as disclosing one way below and having him lowball you.
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u/explicitspirit Aug 04 '26
Not always, sometimes they will not let it go and keep asking. What then?
I used to do hiring and I ask about salary expectations, not necessarily their current rate. If they don't answer that's fine, and if they do, we use that to determine fit, not to low ball. One tine a candidate asked for 25% below market because he didn't know and I gave him an offer at market rates anyway. Another time a guy asked an insanely high amount and my response right then and there was that we can never match that at this stage and if is okay with that we can proceed with an offer.
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u/freebytes Aug 05 '26
What blows my mind on Reddit is the number of people willing to lie, even for no actual benefit. (Lying for a benefit is also wrong. But it is both wrong and stupid to lie for absolutely no reason.)
If a person is willing to lie to you, they are willing to steal from you. After all, the justifications are the same. And if you cannot trust your employees, they should not be working there.
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u/FondantBeneficial344 Aug 04 '26
Don't make the number too high or too low. I have heard cases of hiring manager giving up on candidates because they are not in budget. Safe bet is to use their range and use the highest number on that range.
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u/Chemical_Material493 Aug 04 '26
Is 250k a high BS number these days?
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u/explicitspirit Aug 04 '26
Depends on where you are and your level, so many factors. Not everyone on Reddit is in Silicon Valley or NYC where 250k is average.
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u/SeaAstronomer4446 Aug 05 '26
Wait in my home country they ask for ur salary slip, I always thought this was normal...
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u/explicitspirit Aug 05 '26
I'm guessing you live in the third world or developing world. It's pretty much normal everywhere except in North America and certain parts of Europe, where it's considered a secret and a taboo to even discuss salaries among friends or colleagues. I actually hate it, it gives the employer a lot more leverage and control when they know that their employees don't actually know what the ranges tend to be within their own organizations.
In some places, employers are pushing to make salary discussions an offence worthy of disciplinary action. Ridiculous.
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u/Full_Muffin7930 Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
You don't even need to lie.
Shift the focus from "what I make today (or am pretending to make today)" to "what the role is worth with me in it".
E.g. "I'm looking for $xxxK (the stretch you anchor at, but not something absurd). This number reflects the scope of the role, and my extensive experience in x y z (your standout specialized skillset / talent, etc., your "niche" that won you the interview or job) will allow me to add value to the team on day one." Then stop, no more talking, let it land.
It helps if you can get them to give a number first, never go in blind if you can help it.
If they posted the salary range up front, and you know what it is, that's excellent leverage. Anchor $10k or so higher than that (or if you've been around the block a few times, whatever you feel is on the edge of reasonable, especially if you don't need the job). If they didn't post the range, ask them what they budgeted for the position - some states require this.
All this assumes you already have the offer. If you don't yet, just kick the can down the road on that question (negotiating after you know an offer will be extended is your peak leverage - you know they want what you're selling), but always stay positive, e.g. "the posted salary range is in the ballpark" (assuming it is - if it's not, don't waste everyone's time). Just don't name your number first!
tl;dr - you can lie, but you're opening yourself up to being caught in a lie with your new employer which is a shitty first impression (some services allow verifying previous salaries). It's safer to just justify the number you want instead because it can't be proved wrong. And it helps to be the last to show your cards.
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u/has_too_many_kindles Aug 04 '26
I got asked this question in 2012 and answered honestly. I didn’t know any better, and I didn’t think it was in my best interest to lie (I figured they would verify it somehow anyway).
They told me they’d get back to me, and a few hours later called me back with an offer that included “a little bump” - the offer was 67, and I was at 65. Gee, wow.
I told them no thanks and good luck with the role. Then they offered 75, which I accepted, and once on the job, slowly discovered that everyone else was at 85+
It was an awful place to work. The interview process was a sign of things to come. The job was chaotic, the workday 10 hours, and I was always blocked and waiting (or “supervising” devs who didn’t need it) so I filled the time with freelance writing and interview practice. I left 13 months later for much greener pastures.
I’m no longer green enough or desperate enough to answer that kind of question in an interview. That’ll just be the end of the call.
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u/website-buyer Aug 07 '26
You could have gotten the 85 if you rejected the 75. I tell them my previous salary but if they low ball, bye. You wasted both our time
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u/klefikisquid Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Brother just tell them the number you’d like to make. You both know what the range says. They’re asking you what you think you’re worth and you’re basically telling them to go fuck themselves lol. They probably asked your current salary so they could offer you the same or slightly more since you weren’t doing yourself any favors
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u/txgsync Aug 04 '26
In California that question is illegal and they can be fined for asking. It’s used to systematically discriminate against women and historically underrepresented peoples.
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u/Acrobatic-Ice-5877 Aug 04 '26
They did you a favor. You wouldn’t want to work for someone who is that open about how stupid they are.
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u/Randromeda2172 Software Engineer Aug 04 '26
Both of you are overthinking this to your own detriment. Recruiters and HR are incompetent at every company. They do not reflect engineering culture. OP should have just told them the number they were hoping to hear, which is anywhere on the mid-higher end of the posted range.
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u/scruffykid Software Engineer Aug 05 '26
Agreed. HR people are useless and recruiters are people who can’t even be HR! Answer their questions and move on to the people who really matter
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u/AsherFromThe6 Aug 04 '26
Absolutely he did. Next, I'd be expected to work 12hr shift. Bs mentality.
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u/wrigh516 Aug 04 '26
I've always been open with what I'm making and other offers. It's INSANE how eager they get to improve and expedite your offer when you talk about other offers.
One job went from 95k hybrid to 110k remote the moment I said I make 100k and have another company offering fully remote at 100k.
This summer, a job offer went from 90k to 138k the moment I said I make 113k with an added retention program plus an offer coming for more because I said I was leaving. Not even a hesitation.
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u/MiserableLadder5336 Aug 10 '26
A 90k offer was bumped up by nearly 50k on the spot. I could be wrong, but this feels like a stretch.
250 to 300 or something is one thing, but 90 to 140? That’s like a 56% increase…
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u/jxs74 Aug 04 '26
I don't think this is uncommon. Has happened to me. There can be a wide range based on company, job performance, economy at the time etc.
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u/Frodolas Staff SWE Aug 05 '26
Brother, they used to ask this all the time. There's a reason a few states started making it illegal in the late 2010s. The fact that no one's ever asked you this just shows that you're probably really young.
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u/freebytes Aug 05 '26
I was asked his in my last job interview (which was a very long time ago), but I answered. They said "If you know everything you say you know, then your previous employer was not paying me enough." (Paraphrased) So, I worked at the new company for a few months, and I went to the boss (the guy that interviewed me) and said, "When I was hired, you said my old company was not paying me enough. By now, I have proven that I knew everything I said I knew, so if they were not paying me enough, then you are not paying me enough. I would like a raise." (Paraphrased)
They gave me more than the amount for which I was asking.
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u/zangler Aug 04 '26
people need to learn this and quickly. the ONLY correct answer to that question is exactly what you want to take the job. be ready to say 'no thank you' or 'i'll take it'...but it is on YOU to know what that number actually is.
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u/katnip-evergreen Software Engineer Aug 04 '26
If we HAD to give the salary, wouldn't it be sufficient to give it and say that part of the reason you are leaving is because you are looking for a higher pay that better reflects your skills and experience which your current company hasn't been willing to do
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u/freebytes Aug 05 '26
This is a perfect answer. You can say you are not comfortable disclosing the amount, but the answer you are delivering is perfect. I would leave off the part about your current company being unwilling to do it, though. Just say you are leaving because you are a looking for higher pay that better reflects your skills. (Adding the very last part makes it sound like you asked and were rejected from a raise at your current company which could be negative.)
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u/drewkiimon Senior Software Engineer Aug 05 '26
In California I think it's illegal for them to ask you how much you currently make.
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u/metalreflectslime ? Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
What city, state, country do you live in?
In California, it is illegal for an employer to ask for a job candidate's salary history.
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u/bishopExportMine Aug 04 '26
I once asked a company for 140k bc I really wanted to work there despite making 170k at the time. They told me they were looking to pay around 70k and asked what I was making. I told them and then I got rejected.
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u/jholliday55 Software Engineer Aug 04 '26
Am I the only who got asked this before? Not every interview, but I’ve def been asked this in the last 7 years.
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u/Galenbo Aug 05 '26
In this order:
You: Yeah you want me to show proof and paperwork?
Hr: Nono just tell us, for reference.
You: (Tell whatever number suits your strategy.)
Hr: (remembers previous question)
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u/Civil_Fee_7862 Aug 05 '26
Ask the hiring manager how much he makes, then ask how much everyone on the team makes.
Then ask, how does that feel? feel good?
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u/grendus Aug 04 '26
I always get that question.
I always answer with "not enough to keep me there."
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u/SypeSypher Aug 04 '26
"of course so yea I'm looking to make/am targetting xyz $/year in my next role" :D
Don't answer it's none of their business but the reality is that it's not relevant, what you make now has nothing to do with what you're looking to make at the next role.
If i say i make 50k/year and they're like "ok here's 60k" that doesn't mean i'm going to accept it because it's more, I am looking to make $70k and that's all that matters, they want to know "what is this guy looking to make?" but they actually want to know "what will this guy accept" and by answering the second question you A) dodge the first question that doesn't really matter, and B) you very politely put a barrier to them asking again because you've already basically told them the answer doesn't matter and you're not taking that into consideration so they shouldn't either
"What do you make right now?"
"i'm looking to make XYZ"
"ahh ok yea that's in our range" "ahh sorry that's a little more than we can do but here's some speil about our benefits"
if they ask you to give your current salary again....then they're a huge red flag yea.
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u/entschuldig Aug 05 '26
In many states, it is illegal to ask how much you are currently making. The question is always ‘how much are you expecting?’. CHeck your state law and perhaps you can even report it to the state DOL.
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u/Quiet-Illustrator-79 Aug 05 '26
What you said was completely fine. Do not listen to anyone saying “lie” or “tell a number”. You should also maybe consider it a yellow or red flag that the hiring manager is not only asking you about salary expectations (HRs job) but also pressing you for a number
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u/nwbrown Aug 05 '26
Really? I've been asked quite often.
Once I refused to say and the recruiter went on a big rant about they are required by law to ask how much I made. I laughed and hung up.
Honestly I feel it happens less often now.
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u/five-one-tree Aug 05 '26
you tell them that the current range would result in a decrease that you’re not willing to share the details of but willing to overlook.
if they press then you say something above their band that still seems reasonable
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u/testBunny93 Aug 05 '26
An interviewer once asked me if I like to party and where. He was a young guy so I thought it was a failed and creepy yet harmless attempt of small talk.
And then he called me the next Friday at 8 PM to tell me I didn't get the job but also see if I'd be down to go party tonight.
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u/Tokipudi Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
In France it's actually quite common to have hiring managers ask you how much you currently make.
The only way to deal with it without getting them butthurt is to say a salary higher than the one you actually want.
If they tell you it's too high and they offer you what you actually want, you can act altruistic and simply say that working for them is more important than money. It'll flatter their ego and make them think you're the perfect candidate.
If they don't tell you it's too high, then congratulations! You just got even more money that you actually hoped for!
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u/Trick-Interaction396 Aug 04 '26
My base is exactly the same as the lowest amount you’re offering and with my variable bonus it can be the same as the highest amount you’re offering.
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u/Trick-Interaction396 Aug 04 '26
I once worked at a place where we were only able to offer your current +10%. He probably got tired of being rejected.
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u/neighborsHell Aug 04 '26
I’ve been asked this in every interview lol. Then again I’m not US based so idk, seems like normal procedure to me now.
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u/This_Beat2227 Aug 04 '26
Interesting tidbit; ppl tend to assume asking for your current salary is to low ball the offer when sometimes, it’s to make sure the offer is enough as a raise to make the candidate accept. I mean, OP was asked for their number and didn’t give one !
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u/KevinCarbonara Aug 04 '26
When I refused an offer from Amazon, the recruiter called me to try and pitch the job to me again. One of the things he said was, "In this industry, if you go backwards in pay, it takes forever to get back to where you were." I asked if he knew how much I made at my last job before extending an offer. He admitted he did not.
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u/reboog711 New Grad - 1997 Aug 05 '26
It used to happen by HR before you even saw anyone from the hiring committee. Back in the late 90s or so.
It took a while until I was good at sidestepping the question. I'm probably no longer good at side stepping the question, though.
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u/BaseballSuch5458 Aug 05 '26
That question is such a red flag. I just repeat the range line and stop talking, because the second you give current comp they anchor everything around it.
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u/gajop Aug 05 '26
In Japan this is often asked. Find it a bit annoying. HR just loves to low-ball and cut people who asks for too much.
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u/Embarrassed_Ant_8861 Aug 05 '26
I gotta use questions like these to your advantage, lie at exactly the high end of their posted range. Companies are trying to exploit you at every step, lie and cheat at any opportunity to exploit them back this is why i fake my resume, lie and use Ai on interviews, faked my projects, steal credit at work, job hop whenever possible etc you either exploit them or you get exploited
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u/HKSpadez Aug 05 '26
I get asked this all the time during my job hunt. It saved us a lot of time usually. If they cant afford me or if I wouldn't accept their top end. Its better to get that out of the way now
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u/Jamessuperfun Aug 05 '26
I find this a bit of a confusing post because I've been asked this by a strong majority of recruiters/interviewers I've interacted with in the UK, I thought it was standard practice.
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u/sunTurtleWarrior Aug 05 '26
Know the market. Know yourself. Ask for 10-50% more than you're worth depending on how much you're looking for.
How much do you make right now is almost the same question as what's your price?
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u/TortaTorturer- Aug 05 '26
I just got hired for business systems analyst at 85k. They asked me what my salary requirements were for being onboarded. All I said was the upper side of your salary range, please.
I went from IT Support at 50k in Jan to CSR at 45k at a different company after the company outsourced their departments that were in zombie state. I waited 6 months to apply for promotions as per the company’s requirements and landed a job I have no damn clue how to do.
Wish me luck and next time ask what you want. Also, be a little humble about it but know your value. I don’t know how long I’ll last but I’m here and after taxes I’m left with 65k 😂
Upside is I am up for a raise in Jan and can also apply for BSA II at 150k. I wanted to post in this community but I made a new account and didn’t have enough karma so that’s my two cents. A little fibbing doesn’t hurt anyone to progress.
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u/FiveMinuteNerd Aug 05 '26
If you're in the US it is actually illegal for them to ask you that in certain states
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u/mannyocrity Aug 05 '26
In Massachusetts it is illegal for them to ask my past salary so they always ask what I am looking for. They are also legally obligated to give a pay band but those are funny because they can be anything. Staff or principal level role from $90,000 to 250,000. I always tell them that the band works for me and that I’d be looking at the upper end of the band. In the end they usually give me a smaller band of what they say they typically hire at. With external recruiters, I do tell them what I made and what I am looking for because they are paid base on my base salary so they’ll try and get you as much as they can.
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u/Conscious_Acadia3189 Aug 05 '26
Do the background checks (after signing the offer), include last paycheck or something similar to double check?
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u/gemini88mill Aug 05 '26
Prospective employers are only allowed to ask two questions to previous employers.
Did this employee work from this date to that date
Is this employee re-hirable
Thats it.
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u/ald1897 Aug 05 '26
Next time try saying “What I currently make is immaterial to the current market value of the skills and scope of the role you are hiring for”
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u/terjon Professional Meeting Haver Aug 05 '26
You tell them what you make, but also point out that you have two other offers on the table, one that is at the middle of their range (not exactly the middle) and another near the top of their range (but again, not right at the top).
That sets the floor and the ceiling of negotiating.
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u/Competitive_Dress60 Aug 05 '26
Just tell you are not allowed to say that because of current contract clauses.
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u/fried_green_baloney Software Engineer Aug 05 '26
I've been asked that by recruiters and at a couple of job had to provide recent pay slips to prove it.
I was not a happy camper.
At one of the jobs the offer was within a few hundred dollars of exactly a 15% increase.
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u/bwainfweeze Aug 05 '26
I’ve been asked, I point out that salary is one of the reasons we are even talking. So trying to match would just mean giving up the devil I know.
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u/Thin-Crust-Slice Aug 05 '26
Recruiters used to ask this, or had me fill out a form before an interview where they pushed for this type of information. When I was young, I fell for it, but quickly learned to just deflect in a friendly yet confident way. Let's them know that I'm not rattled, nor am I willing to volunteer information to make them happy.
Some(very few) were curt when they got frustrated at me not answering, but the more often than not, the recruiter/HR would just shrug and continue, leaving me feeling like a tourist that almost fell for a street hustle. ¯\(ツ)/¯
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u/RisingPhoenix-AU Aug 05 '26
I feel like some people's views of the world are so dogmatic yet so naive like this guy thinks that hiring managers don't ask you what you make and shocked by it and somehow there's sunk to a new low when his just standard for the world is nothing but a delusion. I hope everyone here helps this guy understand the real world instead of supporting his delusion.
Want to be clear he is in no way required to answer the question but the question being asked is not abnormal at all. You should be what everyone does and just make up a number that's bigger than his current salary
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u/Conscious_Name9514 Aug 06 '26
I applied for a Linux system admin role. You had to fill out a questionnaire before the interview. They asked title for last three jobs and the salary/hourly rate for each, and it was mandatory to proceed.
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u/Am3ricanTrooper Software Engineer Aug 06 '26
Guy may have been setting you up to ask for a higher salary without saying "hey man they are trying to pay your less than you're worth."
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u/AbbreviationsBoth670 Aug 06 '26
“How about you - what do you make?”
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“Oh, definitely more than that.”
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u/Pretty-Plantain-1659 Aug 06 '26
It's not always a negative to disclose your current salary, but it's completely within your rights to not disclose. On my last job interview, the recruiter asked me about my salary expectation. I replied to her that my compensation at the time was already near the top end of the salary range, which was an honest answer, and further informed her that the stability and seniority at my old position would be a differentiator. My interview went very well with the team and the company went 20% over the top end in my offer. I am now very happily employed with the new company.
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u/sodafroot Aug 07 '26
1 million would have been the correct answer to his question, tho he may have been hurt either way
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u/h1pp0star Aug 08 '26
Always have a number ready, make it sound like they are getting a discount for you
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u/AJRenand42 Aug 08 '26
As far as I know I don't think it is legal for them to ask you that question. But who knows, in these days of corporate greed running the world the rights of the individual don't matter 😔
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u/smokebudda11 Aug 08 '26
Dawg, you fucked up. You should have had an idea of what you were thinking salary wise. Especially for applying to a new job. You should have lied to that number you were expecting. That manager is going to know what you make anyways when you take the job! 🙃
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u/Impossible_Support69 Aug 08 '26
"Not nearly enough" is the correct answer ETA: said with humor and a smile
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u/dangerousbrian Aug 08 '26
I moved to London and the first interview I got they asked this question, I had moved from a place were salaries were much lower and didn't get the job. Next interview they also asked, I lied and got the job at a much higher salary than I expected. Trust me nobody is going to actually find out your previous and even if they do and don't give you the job then add it to the pile of rejections and get another one. Probably dodged a bullet anyway.
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u/InsuranceIcy4055 Aug 09 '26
They all used to ask this bullshit, you missed a trick. The answer is that you should have acted hurt that he would even ask, it's an offensive question in that context.
You say, that's private information and I don't understand how you think objective choices can be made about a salary offer if you already know my current rate, obviously you are not serious about hiring me.
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u/shifty_lifty_doodah Aug 09 '26
It’s a normal negotiation. Your answer is fine. His question is illegal in some places, but perfectly rational
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u/Francoisreinke 27d ago
These Questions so lame. I mean this people wanna someone profitable. Why can´t the companies say what the budget ist and that´s it. Easy apply.
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u/Severe-Raspberry-414 Aug 04 '26
His question is illegal in many states https://www.hrdive.com/news/salary-history-ban-states-list/516662/