HOW TO ANSWER WHAT WAS YOUR LAST SALARY
Wednesdays are for #RNRAjiraTips . Today we have covered for you on how to answer “What was your last salary ?” .
Interviews are an opportunity for the hiring manager to learn more about your professional experience and expectations for a new role. They may ask questions about your salary history for the several reasons including;
To determine how you fit into their budget:
Hiring managers have a budget for the role and they may ask you about your salary history to learn if your salary expectations fit within that budget.
To assess your current professional level:
If you ask for a salary far below what they offer, they may assume you aren’t at a high enough level for the position. If your previous salaries are far more than what they can offer, they may assume you’re too senior for the role.
We get it ,Salary is an uncomfortable subject although it tends to come up in most job interviews.
So how do you answer this question “What was your last salary ?”
Disclose your current salary and make your case.
Doing so shows that you’re candid and have integrity. Your response could be, “My salary is X, my bonus is typically Y, for a total package of just about Z.”
After you share the number, advocate for yourself. “You can make a compelling case about why you’d be willing to take less for something like opportunity or growth, or why you should make more,” .
Why you should not make up something ?
It’s not advisable to just pluck a figure out of the air. Some companies will do a follow-up to see if it matches with the figure you mentioned at interview. Whilst you can withhold this, it can create unnecessary stress. Additionally, some reference forms do have salary on leaving, as a question.
Instead of making up your own figure, you can try to negotiate with the interviewer that your prefer the focus to be more on the value you’re bringing to the company than past salary , forexample, “I’d prefer to focus on the value that I can add to this position rather than what I’m paid in my current role”.