Experience with stretching the truth about your salary to potential employers?

**ZORBA5150** · 03.31.07, 05:57 PM

I am looking for a new job (I still have my current one). I was thinking about lying by about $5-10k how much I am currently making. However I read in a job search book, that sometimes once you're hired, the new employer will contact the old employer to verify your compenation total and possibly fire you once this difference is discovered. Anyone have any experience doing this? or know of any similar situations in which someone was "outed" like this? I don't know of any. I've been told $5k is nothing to look into or verify- meaning, as long as you are within the range expected within your position in that industry you'll be fine.

**Mikey Metalhead** · 03.31.07, 06:14 PM

I dont know of ANY compay that would give out personal compensation data to another company or individual.

but not sure lying is needed, state it as your required salary, not current salary.

**DoHalen5150** · 03.31.07, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Mikey Metalhead

I dont know of ANY compay that would give out personal compensation data to another company or individual.

but not sure lying is needed, state it as your required salary, not current salary.

That would be a violation of privacy laws or something. Basically If your old company gives any of that info out, you'll have a sweet lawsuit against that company. The only info they can give out by law are the dates of employment.

However, the company you are interviewing with can ask you for current paystubs to verify what you are currently making. So if you don't give them the stubs, they'll think that you have something to hide.

**darthadv** · 04.01.07, 12:37 AM

[QUOTE=DoHalen5150;758889]That would be a violation of privacy laws or something. Basically If your old company gives any of that info out, you'll have a sweet lawsuit against that company. The only info they can give out by law are the dates of employment.

However, the company you are interviewing with can ask you for current paystubs to verify what you are currently making. So if you don't give them the stubs, they'll think that you have something to hide.[/QUOTE]

this is the biggest risk about lying... your prior company probably wouldn't give out your compensation, but there are many companies that do ask for current paystubs... although it's hard, you have to try to negotiate your next pay rather than chance an embarassing or deal-killing situation... typically, for a lateral move, you're usually able to get 10-15%... when you're looking to move up a level, you should be able to get into that salary range provided you're qualified for it... if you're not sure about ranges, check out www.salary.com

**MikeL** · 04.01.07, 01:18 AM

What a surprise--Zorba has absolutely no ethics. Aren't you involved in the handling of other people's money?

**ZORBA5150** · 04.01.07, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by MikeL

What a surprise--Zorba has absolutely no ethics. Aren't you involved in the handling of other people's money?

I have no ethics? You don't know me from Eddie Van Halen. You just painted yourself as a judgmental condiscending asshole. - is that accurate? People lie about that stuff all the time. I haven't yet. I am underpaid at my current job; I want what I deserve at my next one.

**graeme** · 04.01.07, 06:33 AM

Just fucking lie. If nothing else, it's fun.

**ZORBA5150** · 04.01.07, 06:38 AM

I registered with a recruiter, and I did not lie.But now it'll be tough to get what I feel I deserve. They along with the employer use the truth against you and try to save $

**mikeno55** · 04.01.07, 09:43 AM

[QUOTE=ZORBA5150;758844]... However I read in a job search book, that sometimes once you're hired, the new employer will contact the old employer to verify your compenation total and possibly fire you once this difference is discovered. .QUOTE]

If any of your previous paychecks were handled by ADP, your future employer might have access to this information because ADP has a background check service. Not sure if they disclose prior compensation (even though they have that data), but it looks like they investigate everything else...

http://www.adphire.com/screeningTools.html

**jeff spicoli** · 04.01.07, 10:16 AM

The recruiter isn't going to use your salary against you. They get paid a percentage of your new starting salary. The higher the salary you get, the more money they stand to make.

I will give you some advice about being placed by a recruiter. Make sure you can shoulder the load. Most likely, you'll have to be at the job for 2 or 3 months before the recruiter gets paid his/her commission. A lot of companies will use that time as a trial period. In the last year, my company fired at least 2 people that were placed by recruiters within 2 months because they weren't working out and the company didn't want to pay the recruiter's fee.

Mikey is spot on. Just because you told the truth about your current salary doesn't mean you can't also have a required new salary. And don't make the interview process all about how you feel you're underpaid. Make it seem like you're fine with where you are, but that you're just exploring what else is out there. If they want you, they'll make it worth your while to come work with them.

**darthadv** · 04.01.07, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by jeff spicoli

The recruiter isn't going to use your salary against you. They get paid a percentage of your new starting salary. The higher the salary you get, the more money they stand to make.

I will give you some advice about being placed by a recruiter. Make sure you can shoulder the load. Most likely, you'll have to be at the job for 2 or 3 months before the recruiter gets paid his/her commission. A lot of companies will use that time as a trial period. In the last year, my company fired at least 2 people that were placed by recruiters within 2 months because they weren't working out and the company didn't want to pay the recruiter's fee.

Mikey is spot on. Just because you told the truth about your current salary doesn't mean you can't also have a required new salary. And don't make the interview process all about how you feel you're underpaid. Make it seem like you're fine with where you are, but that you're just exploring what else is out there. If they want you, they'll make it worth your while to come work with them.

this is spot on...

i'm also exploring opportunities, and would say that you shouldn't resign yourself to just one recruiter... you'll find that recruiters vary greatly in the quality of job leads they have... i had one trying to talk me down from what my required starting salary would have to be to switch, before even looking for a position for me, which would amount to about a 10% increase on my base... this, compared to others who said that they would look for positions that could increase my pay by 20-40%...

the whole point is to sell yourself on your skills, don't harp on any negative feelings that you may have about your current situation... also, your salary level may just be related to where you're working geographically (e.g., suburban locations vs. one in the city, if that's relevant), so definitely do your research and spin it positively...

**JasonG5150** · 04.01.07, 12:06 PM

don't ever lie about anything like that, they always get caught

**ZORBA5150** · 04.01.07, 04:56 PM

I just work for a cheap company. In fact they had done some market research and found that to be true. They are in the process of "adjusting" our salaries. I'm still going to look for a better company and pay.