Am i wrong for doing this? Salary

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Hello,


I'm currently looking around for different opportunities. So when a recruitment guy calls me and says what salary i'm on i'll say 10K, when im really on 5K. Then when they ask what i'm looking for i say 15K which to the recruiter seems 5K difference but really is a 10K jump.

Now i'm wondering how others play this game, is a matter of complete honesty or is it a matter or getting to where you want?

The reason i ask is because its simple. Companies don't to pay for a 10K increase in salary but i've heard many times from recruiters you are worth X amount so the easiest way to get that amount is to seem like you are getting a 5K raise and also offering the correct skills for the job.

The alternative route is I do contracting and earn a similar salary in contracting terms and then raise the salary in this way when being asked to go permanent.

Do you think this is okay "white" lie.. or is salary something that must be strictly honest?


Thanks!


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Not sure what others do in this circumstance, its always a bit of a game imo. They want to employ you for lowest possible number and you want the highest possible.

When I was looking I tried to take the stance that 'its confidential' or 'not relevant' and tried not to reveal my current package. Pushing then for the amount that I wanted/needed to make the move which is the key point.

Recruitment agencies particularly I wouldn't give a current pay figure to, simply a range I was prepared to look at, the bottom figure being the minimum I wanted to move.

Personally I'd never out right lie and say my salary was more if I was persuaded to reveal it, however, if you included any bonus/overtime/flex/pension/other benefits on top of your salary, round it up and give that as an approx figure, you'd probably be ok.

On contracting, it typically earns more then gets cut if you go permanant.

 

Umm think about what the P45 contains before you do anything stupid.

My view on this would be it doesn't matter what I am currently earning, what do you think "we" can get for me on the next role (remember that agencies get a cut on what you earn if you stay there for a set period of time, the more you earn, the more they earn).

 

When I am asked what I make, I normally respond "this is the salary I am looking for" that's it. I don't say this is what my salary is, or say "I don't want to disclose that information." If its an absolute must, then at most provide a range which they will usually settle for, let's say in Canada the range for a help desktop support is around 20-30K (canadian) so if I am in that range that's what I say.

Recruiters use this info to also negotiate sometimes (the good ones that is) so it all depends. I don't lie, I just don't give the exact amount, just a range. There's no reason for the recruiter to know exactly how much you're making.

 

Usually they will ask what you are looking for as what you are on doesn't really come into it.

In your term I may be on 10k and looking for fifteen, but for the right job may take 8k. What you are on just now doesn't matter, it is what you are looking for that matters.

 

Firstly nobody working full time in the UK should be on less than the minimum wage which is around 12k. If you are working in a skilled job you should really be earning a lot more.

Agents have no real right to any confidential information until you have a firm job offer, so tell them whatever you like, your desired salary range is all that matters.

Agents can also place people easier if they are cheap or they can potentially up their cut, they are not always going to do the best for you.

What you told an agent in terms of pay is not important once you get the job. Typically only payroll look at your P45.

 

in my old job I was earning £17,800 however when recruiters asked the question of what I am earning I would say £19k, so then they would quite happily tell me about any jobs in the £20k region... I am now earning £20,800 with a pay review in 6 months

 

With recruiters I tend to reverse the question on them - "What is the company offering for this position?"
If they genuinely have a role you may fit then they will come clean on the salary to keep you interested. From there have a discussion on what you'd be prepared to move for. Once you know what salary they are offering there is not much point in in pretending that your salary is higher than it is - you either like the job or you don't, the rest is down to interview!
In fact in today's dark times, most companies want staff on the cheap (plus an arm full of certs... ) so I'd be honest and aim for the middle of the salary range on offer to at least try and ensure a job interview.
G

 

No point undervaluing yourself, plenty people will do that for you, go for the top of the range if you know your stuff, they may be impressed you had the balls to ask top whack.

 

Can't remember if I had to give my then current salary when I was being offered the job I was in now, but I was asked what was I looking for.

It was a tricky question as the type of role can have a very wide rang of salaries, and there was no indication as to which ranges they were looking to pay.

I said a number, thought it was a touch on the high side but would have been a good starting point for negotiating, they came back with a bigger number so I just said yes to that as was more than happy.

I think if I were to be asked what I was on now in relation to a new role my answer would depend on a few things, who the company was, is the position vastly different/increased responsibility etc, a whole range of things that would influence how I would likely sell my current package to them.

An important thing to remember is it's not just about headline salary figures, what other benefits do you get now that you wouldn't want to lose out on pound for pound.

Things like car allowance, phones, pensions, holiday, healthcare etc.

I did have one recruiter approach me a while ago for a role and they did say they wouldn't put me forward at the top end of the range as the gap between what I was on at the time and the top end she thought was too much, despite the fact I'd explained I'd taken a big pay drop to do the role I was in at the time and having had the experience in the rather specialist area I was looking to get back up again ;) Luckily my current employer had no qualms at all with it.

Don't think I've had a P45, not on time anyway, in my last 2 jobs. Have just filled in a P46 to sort out the right tax code.

 

I do agree - however in the current climate, if I was on the bottom rung of the ladder, I personally would be a little more reserved. If I was happy where I am and another job came up that was similar, then yes I'd fly a kite on the salary demands!

 

Unless he is applying to work at the dinkiest little ma and pa shop then the person who processes the P45 is not going to be the same person who he interviewed with and the odds of that person seeing the P45 are negligible.

OP - If I I was in that position and the new role offered a lot more than I was currently on I would exaggerate my current salary else the interviewer may think they can get away with low-balling me.

FYI - the recruiter will tell their client what you're earning - so make sure you're consistent!

 

Hey this is James,
I think white lie may give you a little bit edge for getting good salary, but Organizations also take consider their cost that associated with the salaries of employees. So be careful about this when you speak white lie...

 

Your present salary is irelevant.
If asked, I say what I am looking for and what I might come down to for the next job. Never trust angencies with too much information. Placing someone in the job you are looking to leave is just as important to them as placing you in your next job.