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Comment by gt565k | Hacker News Reader

Please tell me you didn't share your previous salary with HR :)

Also 8 vs 10 years of experience is not a significant difference so that HR can BS you.

They are moving quick on you because you're a solid candidate, and they are trying to close quick.

Don't let HR BS you, once you get an offer, counter them at 10-20% of where you want to be, or simply give them a range that you feel comfortable with.

You are the scarce resource, and at an advantage. They've already budgeted for the position at 2 levels above yours, so they have the money. No reason you shouldn't be able to get it.

Be firm, don't accept their lowball.

View on HN

> [...] give them a range that you feel comfortable with.

A side note: I don't get why providing a range is of any benefit, and I'm not talking about this particular situation. I wouldn't expect the other side to offer the top bracket if they know that I would accept the position for the lower bracket (I wouldn't specify the unacceptable lower bracket salary). What is in the setting that I don't see?

Giving them a range might not be the best idea, but if they are really pushing you for your salary, it's a good idea to just look up market value for your position and give them some sense of what you want.

Another approach would be to ask HR for what their range is, and you can confirm that it is within your expectations. Mind you, this is not the final negotiation, just a ballpark of where they can make you an offer. You should still be able to negotiate to the upper limit of the range once you're given an offer.

A range gives you some flexibility, whereas giving them your current salary, or just as single value, immediately anchors you to it.

> A range gives you some flexibility, whereas giving them [...] single value, immediately anchors you to it.

This is the part that I don't see: what flexibility? Except maybe for negotiating more paid holiday, but this seems to be specific to US, as the rest of Western world has guaranteed holiday by labour law.

Just wondering, how would you respond when being asked about your previous salary? I'm asking because I'm currently in negotiation with some companies, and being asked for your previous salary seems to be common practice.

"I'm not comfortable sharing my current salary. I look forward to this opportunity to add value to your team, and I want it to be a big step forward for me in terms of both responsibility and compensation."

If pressed on current salary:

"I'm not comfortable sharing proprietary information about how my current employer pays people."

If pressed on desired salary:

"I don't have a specific number in mind, and I look forward to hearing what you suggest since you know much better than I do what value someone with my skill set and experience will bring to your team."

I was pushed hard on this last time I was interviewing. We danced around a bit, with them requesting and me declining, until they said they must have my previous salary because it is their policy. So I responded that it was my policy not to disclose my salary. They couldn't argue with that, and I got the offer I was looking for (which I ended up turning down anyway, but that isn't the point.) This is in the UK, but I don't see why it wouldn't apply anywhere.

Thank you for your insight.

That just happened to me too (just accepted an offer for a new job). When they asked I politely told them I would not share that info, but I would tell them what range I'm looking for. It worked out fine.

I did share, despite being on HN. This was because my previous employers did verify my previous salaries, with one demanding a paystub prior to offer. I also met with HR prior to meeting the division head (he had to switch to last), so I was nervous about making a negative impression on site. It was a mistake, I know, but I thought I could just negotiate it back up since Glassdoor has made information public.

When HR brings up past salary as a justification for an existing offer, simply bring up that salaries are only a component of compensation and overall engagement. Tell them that you respect their viewpoint and understand whatever decision they come to, but you don't believe their offer matches your current market value.

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