Recruiter asking for my current salary?

Question

Hi,

I applied for a new job which has exactly the same job spec as the job I am doing now, but the salary advertised is MUCH higher..

however I'm confident I can do that job better than anyone else.

The recruiting agent is asking me what I am earning now

I have been avoiding to answer this but he's asking again

I'm afraid that when I tell them that my current salary is very low they would think that I don't have the right experience.

or they would try to negotiate a lower salary than the one mentioned in the job ad.

What should I do?

Your advice is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

Tell him honestly everything he wants to know about your current salary, qualifications and experiences. And the salary you want for the new job. You are his principal and it is his duty as an agent to negotiate the best salary and deal for you. And only when you are offered the job will he be paid for his work.  

Answer 2

Just tell them that your current jobs pay doesn't

justify all the work you are doing and that is why you are looking . You may also say based on the duties he has told you would be required to preform on thier current position you would be looking for x amount of compensation

Answer 3

I would bump up your salary a bit, its not like they are going to ask you for proof, but at the same time kind of level with the recruiting agent, and tell him your concerns. The agent is supposed to be helping you, plus they earn their money by taking a % of what you get paid, so its in their interest to get you a higher salary!

Answer 4

Tell the truth. Obviously, someone isn't going to quit there job to make less money except for the experience. They just want to make sure you're not expecting to make more than they are willing to pay. Say you make 40,000 a year now and they want to pay 35,000 they aren't going to want to hire you because you'd be making less than your accustomed to. I doubt they'd negotiate less than advertised unless its commission.

Answer 5

It's a standard question. Not to find out if your paid a lot less, but if your paid more than they will pay.

It's highly unlikely that the employer will make a judgement on what pay you currently get, but they may take a view that if you're paid a lot less you're not that good.

The answer is ... lie.  Most people do. The new employer will never find out, it can't be included in a reference. Make it somewhat less than the new salary, that way it looks like your moving partly for pay reasons. However don't say that in the interview, leave it unspoken. Say it's a better job, and one more suited to your level of skills.

Answer 6

Unless you are going to join them on day 1 of the financial year, you'll have to give them a P45 if you get the job. So they'll find out if you lied and that won't be a great start in a new position. Tell the truth but emphasize how much you feel undervalued in your current job.

Answer 7

Lie. Tell them the salary is close to the one offered by the new job. It is no big deal - it's not like you are inventing qualifications you don't have is it. Good luck