In this week's issue
'How much should I ask for?'
During the course of looking for jobs, I have been asked what my current salary is and what my expectations are from my new position.
- By Daniel Ough
- Published: 23:27 November 27, 2008
During the course of looking for jobs, I have been asked what my current salary is and what my expectations are from my new position. Should I reveal my current salary or should I exaggerate it keeping in mind that the cost of living has gone up drastically in recent years? What is an appropriate response to a query like this? Please advise.
I feel that it is an unfair question to ask a candidate at an interview for details of their salary at their previous job. The candidate is presenting himself for the post that is on offer and that itself attracts a particular salary. What he was paid before is, in my view, irrelevant.
There are cases where a person has moved from his home country taking an overseas posting where the cost of living is many times that of his home country. In that case the salary needed just to maintain the same standard of living could be considerably higher than his previous salary. Equally, a person moving from an expatriate post, say in the UAE, and going to work in a developing country may be in a position to accept a significantly lower salary than he was receiving in the previous job because of a lower cost of living in the new country. To emphasise the point, the person should be hired on his worth to the company, not on the basis of his salary in his previous job.
This also can apply even when a person is moving to another company within the same country. For instance, I know of a situation some years ago where there was a shortage
of information technology engineers and employers were offering them a 50 per cent increase in their current salary if they would join the company. They considered it to be "worth it". Conversely, I know of one situation where there was an excess supply of teachers or nurses and the salary levels were driven down by the marketplace conditions. It boils down to a supply and demand issue.
How should you respond if an interviewer asks you what I consider to be an unfair question about your previous salary? It may be awkward and even embarrassing to decline to give the information, but to disclose it could also go against you for the reasons I have stated.
I recommend that you try to sidestep the question by answering in general terms, saying for instance, "In my last country my salary was X, but the cost of living was quite low. Here in Dubai I would expect to be paid in accordance with my current value."
Or conversely, "In my previous overseas posting I had to have an extremely high salary just to meet my costs, but clearly I would not be seeking that level of remuneration here because I realise the market wouldn't stand it."
It is a tricky question. You need to anticipate that you will be asked and rehearse your answer before you attend the interview.
Stick to what you intend to say without getting drawn into issues that could go against you.
- Daniel Ough, founder and director of sandpipercoaching.com and jobsearchhelp.net, answers questions related to careers exclusively for readers of Friday.
Write to: Jobhelp Friday, P.O. Box 6519, Gulf News, Dubai, UAE Fax: 04 3441627 ; E-mail: friday@gulfnews.com
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