When to Disclose Salary History and Requirements

The point at which you disclose your salary history and requirements can have quite a major effect on the compensation package you end up receiving if you should receive a job offer.

Ideally you should delay any mention of your salary requirements for as long as possible. If the subject of your salary requirements comes up in the first interview, try and give this question a general answer rather than disclosing an exact salary range. For example, say that you expect fair compensation, or that your salary requirements are flexible.

An interviewer who raises the question of salary during an initial interview is not necessarily interested in making you an immediate offer. The initial interview is an information-gathering process for both sides, and they might just want to test the way you react to the question. It’s usually best to delay answering the question for as long as you can. You’re not in a good position to negotiate a favorable compensation package in the first interview, simply because you are not the only candidate for the position. It’s more prudent to wait until subsequent interviews—ideally until you are the only candidate under consideration. If you can delay salary negotiations until then, you’re in an ideal position to negotiate, because the employer has already decided they want you for the job.

Sometimes, however, you don’t have the option of choosing when to disclose this information. If you’re asked to include your salary history and requirements in your application, there is really no way of avoiding it. You can choose to omit that information, but if you do, you risk having your application overlooked.

Including information about your salary history is fairly simple. The only important point is to be truthful. Responding to a request for a salary requirement is more complicated, as you have several different options. You can:

• Provide your salary requirements
• Provide a wide salary range
• State that you expect fair compensation
• Say that your salary requirements are flexible
• Say that you’d rather discuss salary during an interview
• Provide only a salary history
• Include no salary information at all

The problem is the employer might be screening applicants whose salary requirements are too high. In each situation, you risk being screened out if your requirements are either too high or not disclosed at all. Most of the time, it’s best to do some research on market value for your position then provide a salary range.

Related Link: Use our Free Salary Calculator

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Also, please review our Free Interview Tips section.  If you need more help, please consider using a Career Counselor.