I got the reason for such questions about 10yrs ago from recruitment consultant on a U.S. TV show while they were discussing the topic on jobs, salary negotiations and reason while earn more than women on the same job in the U.S.
The scale fell off my eyes because some employers had interviewed me and used same technique before.
The answer the consultant gave was that the recruiters uses "your current salary to guage what they 'll pay you".
They would usually add "something " to what you told them and give that as your pay for the job.
It's all about the money folks, everyone is interested in his or her own pocket and profit.
If you ask me, I would say, tell them your company policy bars you from revealing it and in any case, the recruiter has a salary already pegged on that position with some flexibility if it favours them. So, tell them to give you what they pegged for position if they are impressed with your performance on the interview.
That way, you intelligently put them in tight corner too.
If anyone here wants to know exactly what that consultant said about men earning more than the ladies on same job, at least in the U.S according to the consultant send your question with a my quote.

joey150:

Can everybody own thier own company?

Can everybody succeed even if they went ahead to own their own company?

Like it or not people must work for people.. So long as the pay is right and you are being valued, there is no big deal in working for a firm.

True that, but If given the two options, which would you chose?

Those giving Osibanjo the credit back then, wont't like this news.

8701mayor:
I once missed the chance of working with a reputable consulting firm on time. After the tests, went in for the interview and the last question the chairman of the panel asked was, how much do u earn with your current employer? I gladly told him. Then I waited a week, two weeks, then after three weeks of not hearing from them, I contacted the recruitment manager and was told I wasn't considered cos my current salary was higher than what they are offering.

I felt so bad. Knowing there are other fringe benefits attached to working with the company. Really I felt bad. But I learnt my lesson now!

what's d lesson learnt, so I can avoid same mistake

ElsonMorali:


True that, but If given the two options, which would you chose?

If the resources are there and i have the vision and capital... Why not?

joey150:

If the resources are there and i have the vision and capital... Why not?

The trick is to start small. Everybody wants to eat out of an already cooked meal. Nobody wants to wash the pot and start cooking afresh.

ElsonMorali:


The trick is to start small. Everybody wants to eat out of an already cooked meal. Nobody wants to wash the pot and start cooking afresh.

You have to first recognise the fact that some people work better under supervision not everybody are good managers.

Not everybody can build from the scratch...hell even your house was built by somebody who specialises in building.

Trust me some people are better off working the normal 9-5 as a career.

How many small start ups eventually thrive? What happens next?

In summary..if you dont have the passion, vision, discipline and capital to set up shop...then don't bother.. Because having 2 out of the 4 wouldn't help much either.

Samyj247:
what's d lesson learnt, so I can avoid same mistake

To make a thorough findings on the pay scale of the prospective firm. Plus, to be professional in revealing one's current pay, this can be done stylishly by only giving a salary range e.g you could say at the moment I am within a pay range of 70-100k.

Dozi05:
They do that to weigh you. but the technique around it is to humbly tell them that you cannot disclose that your contract with your former company does not allow you to divulge such information. Instead ask them why they ask and if the answer is so they could know if they can afford you, then ask what range or what is the number they have in mind for an offer.

Oga, you'll just end up losing the job. Better to do proper research and mention something reasonable than blowing grammar.

1) When I used to do freelance, I woudl just tell recruiters not to call me for jobs that paid less than $X/hour.

2) When not doing contracts, I take it as my duty as a job seeker to know the industry and the pay scale (this info is out there).

Interviewer: What is your current salary?

Me: I currently earn $x/year before bonus, blah, blah, blah. But If I might add that it's not the basic salary that interests me as much as the totality of the compensation package.

Done.

If you're qualified and have a robust resume then they can negotiate with you. Remember guys, it's an interview, not an interrogation at Panti, be sizing up the potential employer as much as they are sizing you up too.

joey150:

You have to first recognise the fact that some people work better under supervision not everybody are good managers.

Not everybody can build from the scratch...hell even your house was built by somebody who specialises in building.

Trust me some people are better off working the normal 9-5 as a career.

How many small start ups eventually thrive? What happens next?

In summary..if you dont have the passion, vision, discipline and capital to set up shop...then don't bother.. Because having 2 out of the 4 wouldn't help much either.

you are quite right and i agree with you.

That makes my message instructive for the few who can but sell themselves short because of fear.

On a lighter note, incidentally, i specialize in building.

ElsonMorali:


you are quite right and i agree with you.

That makes my message instructive for the few who can but sell themselves short because of fear.

On a lighter note, incidentally, i specialize in building.

Ohh thats nice... What aspect of building?

joey150:

Ohh thats nice... What aspect of building?

architecture/bldg design

joey150:

Ohh thats nice... What aspect of building?

architecture/bldg design/ landscape design.

I have conducted interviews and I have never failed to ask people this question. The primary reason is to gain an edge over the interviewee ifbit comes to negotiating salary. I know the range that he/she is willing to accept, but he/she does not know the range that I am willing to offer. It helps me keep his/her salary down to the barest minimum. There are secondary reasons; like helping me to assess how innovative he/she is in avoiding the question (some answers are really impressive), see how dishonest the interviewee is (you always can tell when they are lying), assess how good he was at his former job, etc.

A hint though, if you do not have an impressive evasive response, and I am not going to write out any formats here, please just straight out tell the truth, then insist that you are worth more if they try to force you to stay within that range, and you are sure that it is less than you are worth. It also helps if you have done your homework and can access a salary scale for the post you are being interviewed for, within that organisation (don't try to match the salary of old timers though). This will help you to regain the lost edge when negotiating.

Nice points generally. However, one other reason that no one seems to have looked at is that if a Company is searching for executive management staff and on paper you are very good and you have answered all the questions correctly, but your current salary is way below what they pay their staff, chances are they see you as not exactly mature or fit for the current job. Some companies when they advertise will say, if you are currently below a DGM, do not apply. Others will go as far as saying if you pay check is below circa N12m pa do not apply while others pop that question in the interview proper.

Now a way to around this challenge if you have it is to start by saying that your pay in your current job does not exactly represent your value and what you bring to the table as you had inadvertently asked for the wrong figures upon your engagement. Building on that you can then say that your minimum threshhold for their offer if they make you one is Nxxx.

Pad it up by saying that the other pecks such as generating set, club dues, bonuses, DSTV recharge, Internet and phone recharge are not part (or are ) part of the figure stated above.

Lesson, nose around a bit to get a feeler of what they pay. For me, If i walk into the interviewers premises and see some brand of cars, i generally lose patience, excuse myself and walk away. Not recommended for upstarts though.

They are assessing you based on what they wish to offer.
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If an interviewee who impressed you during the interview ask for a salary range of 4.8M-5.4M while your firm pays 6.2M for the position.
What would you do?
How much would that affect the interviewee's chances of landing the job?
What salary will you present to the interviewee if you decide to give him/her the job.

Farmerforlife:
I have conducted interviews and I have never failed to ask people this question. The primary reason is to gain an edge over the interviewee ifbit comes to negotiating salary. I know the range that he/she is willing to accept, but he/she does not know the range that I am willing to offer. It helps me keep his/her salary down to the barest minimum. There are secondary reasons; like helping me to assess how innovative he/she is in avoiding the question (some answers are really impressive), see how dishonest the interviewee is (you always can tell when they are lying), assess how good he was at his former job, etc.

A hint though, if you do not have an impressive evasive response, and I am not going to write out any formats here, please just straight out tell the truth, then insist that you are worth more if they try to force you to stay within that range, and you are sure that it is less than you are worth. It also helps if you have done your homework and can access a salary scale for the post you are being interviewed for, within that organisation (don't try to match the salary of old timers though). This will help you to regain the lost edge when negotiating.

They need the information to see if you fall within the amount budgeted for the role, it's advisable that you dont lie cos they may demand payslips and tax record.

There's nothing wrong if your former pay is less, it can be used as a bargaining chip if you know what I mean.

Can u teach me online business that pay

rozayx5:


left for me only some certain jobs are worth doing

maybe the few industries that pay well and your salary can give you a comfortable life

life is too short spend ti waste it chasing change.. and start making wishes and regrets when your old

anything else id rather sit at home and continue my online biz

Could be for a number of reasons.
- Can they afford you?
- What would it take to convince you to cross over?
- They also don't want to overprice you. E.G U apply for the job of Team Lead, Marketing in a Corporation while you are a presently Manager on 120k monthly salary on another organization. But the available position is expected to be filled by the grade of Assistant manager (250 monthly), Deputy Manager (350k monthly) up to Manager (500k monthly).
They will find your present salary and if u are considered good enough, negotiate with you on the basis of salary. U may get employed as an Assistant manger with N250k i.e 100k above your present job whereas you could have gotten more than that on the same job.

- Will the new package not overwhelm you? (Recall Globacom placed an advert sometime back and set a minimum present salary limit that are
qualified to apply)
- Integrity test (Know a a few guys that eventually lost a new job because they lied about their previous grade and salary)

*** Tell the truth if you are interested enough in the prospective.
*** Convince them that you the addition they need to meet the desired end
*** Price yourself - they need you and you are available but at a certain minimum cost

Best of luck always Pal.

klevotino:
Can u teach me online business that pay

binary options

if you have the timeand capital

I also need to learn binary options. Currently a stock trader. Where do you reside?

rozayx5:


binary options

if you have the timeand capital

I wonder why interviewers like to ask about the salary I can take when they know the maximum they can pay. To me, this is deception.

rozayx5:


binary options

if you have the timeand capital

how do I start, and how does it work, and how do I recieve my fund direct in Nigeria...thanks

Zhirinovsky:
I also need to learn binary options. Currently a stock trader. Where do you reside?

Uyo

we have a trading Floor there

klevotino:
how do I start, and how does it work, and how do I recieve my fund direct in Nigeria...thanks

wire transfer etc

you can read more about it on google and babypips..com

SweetBoyFriend:

Because they want to scam you

If they're looking to pay you 90k and you tell them that your current salary is 70k, what do you think they would do ?? Tell you that they would pay you 100k ??

They would speedily hire you and pay you your little 70k

Don't mislead anybody here.

Interviewers ask for your current salary to see if you are earning above the amount they are willing to pay or to see if you are earning wayyyyyy below the amount they want to give.

If are earning wayyyyy below the amount they are willing to offer, you won't be considered for the role cause there will be some doubts as to why you are being paid that amount. Probably you are not skilled enough That's why you are being paid low.

Zhirinovsky:
If an interviewee who impressed you during the interview ask for a salary range of 4.8M-5.4M while your firm pays 6.2M for the position.
What would you do?
How much would that affect the interviewee's chances of landing the job?
What salary will you present to the interviewee if you decide to give him/her the job.

1. Smile in delight. Just kidding.

2. As to his chances of landing the job, it would depend on how he performs in other areas. His chances are not influenced by how much he asks for, except in small family-run organizations, or unless it is a huge difference. No big organization will want to lose a better candidate because of a 5% or 10% disparity between salaries. Hiring unqualified people is expensive enough.

3. The big question. It depends on how much he was earning before, which is why the question was asked in the first place, to see how low we can go, although you might think he has gone low enough already. It also depends on how much more qualified he is than others ready to take less. One thing I notice is that the employee will not be very committed to your organization when he finds out that he has been badly outnegotiated. We would have to consider that, depending on how sensitive his post is, how much input we need to put into his training etc. It doesn't do to induce resentment in a person holding a sensitive post. Sometimes it is better to surprise him with the standard amount, and earn his loyalty.

But truthfully, in most situations, if he is asking for that range, he is unlikely to get anything above it, we might even try to get away with less, probably the balance will be kept as a sort of reserve to give the organization leeway to offer him a 'raise' later, based on his performance. And all businesses are set up for the purpose of maximising shareholders' profit, so why pay more than we have to? It sounds terrible, I know, but this is the practice.

So, the decision will have to be made case by case. There is no general guideline. One thing I advice everyone applying for a job to do is, do your homework, so you will know what to ask for, and try to judge the kind of rapport your interviewer has with you. Also, before you go, make sure you know what your boundaries are, and how badly you want the job. All these are things that the interviewer will take advantage of to try to minimise your salary.

So that they do not pay you more than what you earned in your previous company

Emmaesty:
Don't mislead anybody here.

Interviewers ask for your current salary to see if you are earning above the amount they are willing to pay or to see if you are earning wayyyyyy below the amount they want to give.

If are earning wayyyyy below the amount they are willing to offer, you won't be considered for the role cause there will be some doubts as to why you are being paid that amount. Probably you are not skilled enough That's why you are being paid low.

Yes, you are correct but that was in the past not in todays economy.