Should Jobhunters Reveal Salary Requirements?

With so many of us facing the prospect of hunting down a new job, I thought it would make sense this week to focus on how to get the most out of your job search. First topic to tackle: the sticky question of when, if ever, to tell a prospective employer what you want to earn.

Laurie Ruettimann at Punk Rock Human Resources addressed the salary-disclosure issue last week. She noted that Nick Corcodilos, of Ask the Headhunter, advises you to never disclose your salary to a recruiter or company during your job search, while Dave Hardwick disagrees-- and asked for Laurie's two cents.

Her take? She sides with Nick, who wrote:

"When you disclose your salary information, your negotiating leverage is gone. Your salary history is not any employer's business. Always decline to disclose, politely but firmly. No matter what they say, no matter what they threaten. In fact, be ready to walk away if they don't back off. It's not worth talking to a company that insists on having your salary info."

"Ideally, the job pays what it pays. If you are qualified to do the job, your salary history should not make a difference. Unfortunately, as a former recruiter and HR professional, I know that employers feel entitled to this information. If you refuse to provide this information, we are worried that you have something to hide. It is stupid logic -- not based on anything other than suspicion. Unfortunately, we all know that poor HR business practices and stupid assumptions will keep you from getting a job offer."

"The right answer to the question, 'What's your salary range?' is almost always some version of 'I'm not telling you.' The person who gives the first number sets the starting point. But if that's you, you lose. If you request a salary higher than the range for the job, the interviewer will tell you you're high, and you've just lost money. If you request a salary lower than the range, the interviewer will say nothing, and you've just lost money."