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How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary - Jobs/Vacancies (3) - Nairaland

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Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by GeorgeTheCoder: 9:30am On Aug 10, 2019
Don't discuss your salary.

Don't share your social media accounts.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by mindtricks: 9:32am On Aug 10, 2019
alBHAGDADI:
One thing Nigerian HRs and recruiters need to respect is the privacy of job seekers. It's intrusive to ask or compel a job seeker to state the salary his previous company paid him monthly. They ask this question just so they can know how to price you down below what the vacant role is offering. Or perhaps to know if you will be demanding far more than the role offers.

The best way to beat that stupid question is by telling those who ask tje question that such is confidential, which is why you won't want to disclose it.

If they press further, tell them that the reason why it is confidential is because your previous company kicks against present and ex-employees of theirs revealing their salary structure.

If they press further, tell them it won't be fair on your previous company if you reveal the salary structure just as this prospective company won't like to see an employee or ex-employees of theirs exposing their salary structure to others or on social media. Make sure you say all of these with an innocent face and watch how the nosy people will change subject. smiley

Nonsense. They can't state the amount they want to offer you because they believe it should be private for now, yet they want to know about your previous salary.
Very much on point.

1 Like

Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by alBHAGDADI: 9:41am On Aug 10, 2019
qanda:
This approach will be for a beginner. Some prospective employers even request for payslips from previous employer. Above response is too dramatic...I strongly discourage it.

I think what is important is for the job seeker to know his/her relative worth and do your homework to know the average salary scale for that Industry or Job role.

Come to think of it, let's say you earned N50,000 at your previous job, and you are aware the role you are interviewing for can pay N200,000. Must you tell the interviewer you earned N50,000

If I am to advice, the appropriate answers to consider are:

1. "I believe you have a rate for this job role"
2. You probe... "How much are you offering for this position"
3. If you have done your homework or know your relative worth, "I have a salary scale between N150,000 - N200000 in mind" or you name the minimum salary you can accept.
4. "I earned N100,000 at my last workplace, and believe I deserve a better compensation, if they paid me more, I may still be with them"

Bottomline is that you should know your stuff. Make sure you are valuable, an asset, resourceful..that is what counts.


Whenever you attend an interview, go there with a mindset that you are there to help the company achieve their goal, they need you as much as you need them. So be composed and confident.

This is one lie which will burn you later when you get the job and you are asked to bring your credentials. Part of the documents they will request for is the employment letter given to you by previous company, and it usually contains information like terms and conditions which includes salary. They do this to verify if you are actually who you say you are.

If you told the HR you earn N100,000 at your previous work place whereas your employment letter show N60,000, they will deny you the job because you are dubious. No company will want to employ a shady employee. It's such that forge document to dupe the company.

Your approach is dubious and fraudulent. HRs are smart.

But the approach in the OP is perfect because it tells the HR that the job seeker is smart and knows his worth. If the pay they are offering is good, it should be left to the job seeker to accept it, reject it or even request for more.

You see, if the job seeker successfully keeps his previous pay private and he gets the new job, the HR will be marveled when he discovers that he actually earned way lesser than they offered him. This the HR will find out from his credentials which must contain his employment letter from previous company. That alone will tell the HR that they employed a smart person for the job who will wriggle himself out of a tight angle to get his desire.

1 Like

Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by Humility017(m): 9:43am On Aug 10, 2019
qanda:

Sorry about the low pay. Be on the lookout for opportunities and leave your current employer as soon as possible.... low is relative though. My assumptiwon is that your pay is below N150,000...if that is correct.. how many years of experience do you have -2 or 3?

Bottomline, the best way to get a pay raise in 9ja is to leave your current employer.
it is even below 100k though I am less 1 year on the job. ...
I prepare bids and tenders mostly for NNPC, UN and government jobs and know little on NIPEX for now...I am still learning though.

it has not been easy considering that I don't have a science or engineering background but I also do some admin and HR duties at work
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by Higgies(m): 9:54am On Aug 10, 2019
qanda:
This approach will be for a beginner. Some prospective employers even request for payslips from previous employer. Above response is too dramatic...I strongly discourage it.

I think what is important is for the job seeker to know his/her relative worth and do your homework to know the average salary scale for that Industry or Job role.

Come to think of it, let's say you earned N50,000 at your previous job, and you are aware the role you are interviewing for can pay N200,000. Must you tell the interviewer you earned N50,000

If I am to advice, the appropriate answers to consider are:

1. "I believe you have a rate for this job role"
2. You probe... "How much are you offering for this position"
3. If you have done your homework or know your relative worth, "I have a salary scale between N150,000 - N200000 in mind" or you name the minimum salary you can accept.
4. "I earned N100,000 at my last workplace, and believe I deserve a better compensation, if they paid me more, I may still be with them"

Bottomline is that you should know your stuff. Make sure you are valuable, an asset, resourceful..that is what counts.


Whenever you attend an interview, go there with a mindset that you are there to help the company achieve their goal, they need you as much as you need them. So be composed and confident.
An interviewer said I should come with my payslip for the last three months, whereas I've never been a salary earner.
so I don't have a payslip.
please advise me on how to go about it.
The interview is next week.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by Roon9(m): 9:54am On Aug 10, 2019
memeguy:


Think na? If you had rusted at home after graduation, you wouldn't have a previous salary.

Baba "thinking" is a luxury for some peeps
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by ikorodureporta: 9:55am On Aug 10, 2019
alBHAGDADI:
One thing Nigerian HRs and recruiters need to respect is the privacy of job seekers. It's intrusive to ask or compel a job seeker to state the salary his previous company paid him monthly. They ask this question just so they can know how to price you down below what the vacant role is offering. Or perhaps to know if you will be demanding far more than the role offers.

The best way to beat that stupid question is by telling those who ask tje question that such is confidential, which is why you won't want to disclose it.

If they press further, tell them that the reason why it is confidential is because your previous company kicks against present and ex-employees of theirs revealing their salary structure.

If they press further, tell them it won't be fair on your previous company if you reveal the salary structure just as this prospective company won't like to see an employee or ex-employees of theirs exposing their salary structure to others or on social media. Make sure you say all of these with an innocent face and watch how the nosy people will change subject. smiley

Nonsense. They can't state the amount they want to offer you because they believe it should be private for now, yet they want to know about your previous salary.

it's even more stupid for job seekers to be asked " how much are you expecting as salary"
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by AntiWailer: 10:10am On Aug 10, 2019
Higgies:

An interviewer said I should come with my payslip for the last three months, whereas I've never been a salary earner.
so I don't have a payslip.
please advise me on how to go about it.
The interview is next week.

You must have lied in your resume.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by AntiWailer: 10:12am On Aug 10, 2019
ikorodureporta:


it's even more stupid for job seekers to be asked " how much are you expecting as salary"

Nothing stupid about it.

It is to set expectations right and know if it is worth wasting their time.

If you are looking for 250k non negotiable for a job that the max is 150. it is better the process ends there so nobody waste time.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by doublecross(m): 10:16am On Aug 10, 2019
adecz:
sad



You are teaching a job hunter how
to go and argue with his potential employers abi??


sad
it is not arguing. everyone has a choice and a right so take it or leave it. you either let them use your empty head or be smart
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by ikorodureporta: 10:18am On Aug 10, 2019
AntiWailer:


Nothing stupid about it.

It is to set expectations right and know if it is worth wasting their time.

If you are looking for 250k non negotiable for a job that the max is 150. it is better the process ends there so nobody waste time.
.in today's job market, do u really have a say? when people are looking for even 50k job.
So u'l go & overprice & loose d job?? when u'r not a contractor
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by Higgies(m): 10:19am On Aug 10, 2019
AntiWailer:


You must have lied in your resume.

Smile.
I don't tell lies.
I've over 10years experience in the particular field, it's what I've been doing since I was 15yo.
It has been informal all along. Now a company needs someone with 2years experience in the field, so I applied.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by AntiWailer: 10:21am On Aug 10, 2019
Higgies:

Smile.
I don't tell lies.
I've over 10years experience in the particular field, it's what I've been doing since I was 15yo.
It has been informal all along. Now a company needs someone with 2years experience in the field, so I applied.

Ok then explain to them it was contract and no formal payment structure.

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by duality(m): 10:24am On Aug 10, 2019
qanda:
During my most recent interview, the company MD asked a question about the previous works I have executed successfully, I gave an idea... but he wanted me to mention the exact project titles (has to do with oil and gas industry tendering).

I told him I don't cram project titles and that I can reference them from my laptop. I went further to tell him that the questions he is asking me is not what demonstrates if I am fit for the job.

He was quite for a moment and asked what questions would demonstrate I am fit for the role. I said, 'I think the question you should ask is, 'what do you do when you receive a tender?', 'what steps do you take while responding to a tender?', the interviewer gave me a nod to answer the questions I suggested, I did and got the job.

I am sharing this to emphasize you need to be confident during interviews (you must be polite too) and know that the employer needs you as much as you need them. Just show them that you know your stuff and that you are the right fit for the job.


My HOD would have told you. "That means I'm talking nonsense and? "

You'll find yourself in the defense line
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by alBHAGDADI: 10:24am On Aug 10, 2019
AntiWailer:


Nothing stupid about it.

It is to set expectations right and know if it is worth wasting their time.

If you are looking for 250k non negotiable for a job that the max is 150. it is better the process ends there so nobody waste time.

But when, out of your desperation, you tell them you earn 60k, they will immediately offer you 70k even though the amount they pegged for the role is 150k.

Clearly, it is not for them to know if it is worth their time as you say. It is for them to price you down. If it's to not waste their time, why don't they just tell you straight ahead what the role offers? Some are even decent enough to state it right from the vacancy advert.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by alBHAGDADI: 10:26am On Aug 10, 2019
duality:



My HOD would have told you. "That means I'm talking nonsense and? "

You'll find yourself in the defense line

Instead of going on the defense line, just continue with whatever you were explaining. The HOD will suddenly realized he's asked a stupid question that requires no answer but only designed to prevent you from concluding your point.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by zone51: 10:27am On Aug 10, 2019
alBHAGDADI:
One thing Nigerian HRs and recruiters need to respect is the privacy of job seekers.

Nonsense. They can't state the amount they want to offer you because they believe it should be private for now, yet they want to know about your previous salary.

I said mine, they tried to negotiate but I stood my ground on my expectation. undecided undecided

They later called the HR of my former place without my consent but fortunately, I had confided in him my plans to leave the company with the salary range I told them.

He gave it to them as I explained and gbam, they called me to come for acceptance letter 3days later. It's over a year I have joined and I'm happy. cheesy wink

I don't want to believe in what op wrote. All that matters after being good at what you do is the GRACE OF GOD. cool

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by whirlwind7(m): 10:41am On Aug 10, 2019
Davoneskay:
E be like job no deh hungry u. To say u don rust for house after graduation, u for know wetin deh do u.

Of you don "rust" for house, then it means your previous salary is non existent, or not an issue. You got nothing to lose.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by CsRockefeller(m): 10:49am On Aug 10, 2019
AntiWailer:


All these children.


Where do you people see all these rubbish from ?

Once u give me that response, that is the end of the interview and trust me I hire the smartest dudes in my industry.

If u know ur worth u can be earning 60k currently and make up Ur mind without 250k u are not moving

You make it clear that current is 60k u expect 250k and it is non negotiable.

As for those who will like to lie, Ur 3-6 months pay slip would be asked for before u are given offer. They will see that the potential hire has no integrity and value

What if I don't have a pay slip? My current workplace doesn't issue one, they just pay you like that.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by AntiWailer: 10:50am On Aug 10, 2019
alBHAGDADI:


But when, out of your desperation, you tell them you earn 60k, they will immediately offer you 70k even though the amount they pegged for the role is 150k.

Clearly, it is not for them to know if it is worth their time as you say. It is for them to price you down. If it's to not waste their time, why don't they just tell you straight ahead what the role offers? Some are even decent enough to state it right from the vacancy advert.

Then u tell them 150 or nothing.

It is very simple.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by CsRockefeller(m): 10:50am On Aug 10, 2019
airsaylongcon:


Are you saying that you don't get a payslip that states your earnings and deductions?! shocked

At my current workplace, they don't issue one to any of the staff. I am even the Accountant.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by AntiWailer: 10:50am On Aug 10, 2019
CsRockefeller:


What if I don't have a pay slip? My current workplace doesn't issue one, they just pay you like that.

You show evidence of payment from ur salary account.

Trust me any decent organization will require that information and verify before giving u any offer
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by alBHAGDADI: 10:51am On Aug 10, 2019
AntiWailer:

Then u tell them 150 or nothing.
It is very simple.
Remember, they won't tell you the amount the role offers
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by CsRockefeller(m): 10:53am On Aug 10, 2019
AntiWailer:


You show evidence of payment from ur salary account.

Trust me any decent organization will require that information and verify before giving u any offer

Okay. Thanks.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by AntiWailer: 10:53am On Aug 10, 2019
alBHAGDADI:


Remember, they won't tell you the amount the role offers

You dnt need the amount the role offers.

You know what u want. What u currently earned , what Ur mates earn.

You should know au much is enough for you.

The answer is simple.

"Currently I earn 100k but for this role I am looking at anything withing 200 and 250"

Telling me u cnt answer, ends your chance instantly .

It comes out as very rude
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by Juwohn: 11:03am On Aug 10, 2019
qanda:
This approach will be for a beginner. Some prospective employers even request for payslips from previous employer. Above response is too dramatic...I strongly discourage it.

I think what is important is for the job seeker to know his/her relative worth and do your homework to know the average salary scale for that Industry or Job role.

Come to think of it, let's say you earned N50,000 at your previous job, and you are aware the role you are interviewing for can pay N200,000. Must you tell the interviewer you earned N50,000

If I am to advice, the appropriate answers to consider are:

1. "I believe you have a rate for this job role"
2. You probe... "How much are you offering for this position"
3. If you have done your homework or know your relative worth, "I have a salary scale between N150,000 - N200000 in mind" or you name the minimum salary you can accept.
4. "I earned N100,000 at my last workplace, and believe I deserve a better compensation, if they paid me more, I may still be with them"

Bottomline is that you should know your stuff. Make sure you are valuable, an asset, resourceful..that is what counts.


Whenever you attend an interview, go there with a mindset that you are there to help the company achieve their goal, they need you as much as you need them. So be composed and confident.

Everything above looks good except the part where you intend to say you may still be with your previous employer if they offer more compensation. It paints a picture of a money driven employee and you're indirectly telling your prospective employer that you will leave them again if your current job increases your salary or you get a new offer. Although it's the truth anyway, they don't want to hear that except you're really a "Zuckerberg" or "Edison" that every organization is dying to have in their team

1 Like

Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by kernniejay(m): 11:07am On Aug 10, 2019
adecz:
sad



You are teaching a job hunter how
to go and argue with his potential employers abi??


sad
polite and formal arguments are often necessary, if you dont do that they will take you for a daft.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by Offpoint: 11:27am On Aug 10, 2019
Raydos:
If you earn 100k in your previous job, Just tell the interviewer you will like to be earning 10million, At least if they want to cut it down, it wont go past 4 million
Wee wee get back to you go be your middle name � �
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by qanda: 12:28pm On Aug 10, 2019
alBHAGDADI:


This is one lie which will burn you later when you get the job and you are asked to bring your credentials. Part of the documents they will request for is the employment letter given to you by previous company, and it usually contains information like terms and conditions which includes salary. They do this to verify if you are actually who you say you are.

If you told the HR you earn N100,000 at your previous work place whereas your employment letter show N60,000, they will deny you the job because you are dubious. No company will want to employ a shady employee. It's such that forge document to dupe the company.

Your approach is dubious and fraudulent. HRs are smart.

But the approach in the OP is perfect because it tells the HR that the job seeker is smart and knows his worth. If the pay they are offering is good, it should be left to the job seeker to accept it, reject it or even request for more.

You see, if the job seeker successfully keeps his previous pay private and he gets the new job, the HR will be marveled when he discovers that he actually earned way lesser than they offered him. This the HR will find out from his credentials which must contain his employment letter from previous company. That alone will tell the HR that they employed a smart person for the job who will wriggle himself out of a tight angle to get his desire.
'I hear you Sir'. Meanwhile, for the sake of clarity and if you comprehend the part you quoted, the N100,000 stated is a variable that meant the amount an individual earned from his/her previous employer.

That said, I have worked with 8 separate employers and in position to advice individuals who are willing to listen and learn.
Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by qanda: 12:29pm On Aug 10, 2019
Juwohn:


Everything above looks good except the part where you intend to say you may still be with your previous employer if they offer more compensation. It paints a picture of a money driven employee and you're indirectly telling your prospective employer that you will leave them again if your current job increases your salary or you get a new offer. Although it's the truth anyway, they don't want to hear that except you're really a "Zuckerberg" or "Edison" that every organization is dying to have in their team
I quite agree with you. The interpretation will vary. It can also mean you know your worth. Individuals who want to play safe can leave that part out.

1 Like

Re: How To Reply When Interviewers Ask About Your Previous Salary by qanda: 12:36pm On Aug 10, 2019
alBHAGDADI:


This is one lie which will burn you later when you get the job and you are asked to bring your credentials. Part of the documents they will request for is the employment letter given to you by previous company, and it usually contains information like terms and conditions which includes salary. They do this to verify if you are actually who you say you are.

If you told the HR you earn N100,000 at your previous work place whereas your employment letter show N60,000, they will deny you the job because you are dubious. No company will want to employ a shady employee. It's such that forge document to dupe the company.

Your approach is dubious and fraudulent. HRs are smart.

But the approach in the OP is perfect because it tells the HR that the job seeker is smart and knows his worth. If the pay they are offering is good, it should be left to the job seeker to accept it, reject it or even request for more.

You see, if the job seeker successfully keeps his previous pay private and he gets the new job, the HR will be marveled when he discovers that he actually earned way lesser than they offered him. This the HR will find out from his credentials which must contain his employment letter from previous company. That alone will tell the HR that they employed a smart person for the job who will wriggle himself out of a tight angle to get his desire.
.....Bros no serious organization will ask you for your previous employment letter. Don't waste your time with micro organizations. I am curious, are you a recent graduate?

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