Never Disclose Your Previous Salary When Negotiating a Job
Most hiring managers expect you to ask about the salary in your second interview , but if you do, they can turn the question around and ask you about your own salary history to get an idea of what you are willing to take. This is why you should not share with them what you have done before.
Telling a potential new employer about your current or past salary gives them a head start in negotiating their offer to you. Redirecting that conversation, especially if the hiring manager or recruiter is pushy, can be awkward, but it matters a lot. There are a couple of phrases in US News that you can use to rethink the salary conversation as quickly as possible:
“I am keeping this information a secret, but the range that I am looking for now …”
“My previous employers have always considered this information confidential, but I’m looking for …”
“I do not share this with anyone other than my accountant, but I am looking for …”
If those exact phrases aren’t your style, work them up to come up with something that conveys the same message and sounds more natural to you.
As with any negotiation, you must look confident. Forbes recommends that you conduct market research and carefully compare your skills and experience with what is stated in the job description so that you can be confident that you will be of great benefit. If you can, draw a clear line between what you offer and the impact on the company’s earnings and strategies. You want the person you are negotiating with to focus on the future rather than your past salaries.