Salary History

Looking at journalism and PR jobs, they often ask for salary history/requirements in addition to everything else. How do you handle this? The reason I might be interested in another job is because I don't make anything right now. Do you lie about your current salary, ommitt this from your application packet or be up front that gas attendants are making out better than sports writers these days?

 

Before writing anything down, or saying how much I make, I always totalled my hourly (or salary) wage, mileage, overtime, freelance work and bonuses from the entire calendar year before. I then divide it all by a 37.5-hour work week (gives you a bigger number than 40 hours) over the course of a year and say that's what I'm making per hour. Technically, you are.

Then, if the prospective company matches it or offers more, you come out ahead.

 

shit man, keep shooting for the stars.

 

Or just staple copies of your last five W-2s to your resume.

 

Never give a salary history, if you can avoid it. They can't legally require you to disclose it and you give up any negotiating power you might have if you get an offer.

 

And just add a line in the cover letter that salary is negotiable.

That way it looks like you were paying attention to the job description and what they wanted from you. And it doesn't tie you down to a number.

 

With your formula, I'm making five bucks more an hour. Should I tell my wife I just got a raise?

 

No WSKY, spoil yourself.

All I'm saying is this: I've done it three times now, and all three times the new place paid more per hour (in actual salaray, before mileage etc.) than the last place did with all income combined.

 

Good points by the early responders.

The reason they want to know your salary history is to determine if they can get you for the job at less than they are planning to pay for it.

Never, ever, ever give salary history in an initial application for a job. Do what Hank mentions to acknowledge you are following directions

Otherwise, you may as well show up at the inteview in a pink siut, clown shoes and with a yellow post it note on your forehead reading either 'patsy' or 'fool'.

 

FYI, a lot of places have gone to online applications (not so much newspapers, but things like state govt, universities, etc), and salary history is a required field. Your app won't send unless you fill it in. But the purpose is the same: To see how cheaply you can be had. Definitely factor in your OT, bonuses, freelance work, etc., to get that number up. It gripes me when places know what their salary range will be but withhold it from the ad and say "NA" or "negotiable."

 

Absolutely the way to do it... When I made my last job switch (several years ago...), they asked me how much I was making. At the time I was making about $42K, but had made about $8K in freelance and radio so I said, "I made $50K last year." They then offered me $57K to start, which I'm guessing is more than it would have been if I told them my salary was $42K.

 

yeah, i never mention salary history. plus, the other tip is if they make you an offer and it's more than you expect, go ahead and try negotiating for some extra vacation days. those are usually easier to give away than a raise in pay.