Is it ok to lie about your salary in an interview?

[Brendan]

personnel.. geddit?

[Brendan]

you see because personal and personnel sound the same and this thread id about getting a job...

[Brendan]

ok I'm going to stop now.

[daizie]

lol brendan

[matthew123]

No it's not okay to lie about your salary, even if the motives are understandable, as I believe it forms part of the minimum reference most firms they take from previous employer (others being job title, start date and end date).

If they ask you what your existing salary is, just tell them that for confidentiality reasons you are not able to disclose current salary with existing employer - besides that, tell them you'd prefer a salary offer to be made on your credentials and interview performance not on a paypacket.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Tell them you are an altruist and just want to contribute positively to Society and the salary is not a consideration.

When they offer you the job tell them you have been offerred another post at xxx salary and can they match it?

[cupid_stunt]

Firstly LE-ish best of luck with both of your interviews, i hope you get offers for both.

Personally, i think you should lie as long as you can flesh out your zeroes. :) I always have.

That said as an employer and ex-employee, it's not an easy situation for you. Not impossible either.

As an employer, i'd be prepared to offer the market rate for a good candidate. However, knowing that there's SO many good people looking for work i'd do everything to keep my costs down. It's short-termism but hey i have a critical bottom line, sorry.

This would arguably include not picking the best person for the job but the person i thought could do the job competently at a cost that didn't move me out of my financial comfort zone. If you're a specialist at what you do then this argument doesn't exist as if you are an expert, people generally offer you money to work your mojo.

It's weird but i've found that the best person for 'the job' isn't always the best person for the company... Others will no doubt disagree

As an employee i'd quote the 'typical' market rate and include any benefits i currently receive: gym, mobile phone, rail tickets, expenses, health insurance. Also, if you have any special skills: First Aider, Sign Language, Girl Guide Leader etc etc, it's going to help tick some of those 'I need this person on my team' employer boxes. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: are you adding value or just ensuring that he/she has to increase their price to afford you?

Even though it's true most people change jobs for more money, i get the overriding impression that most people are simply aspiring to keep the job they're in at the moment.

But hey, what do i know?

[Huguenot]

Sage advice indeed Stupid.

I'd probably not lie, but try and pass off the current salary as a joke. As in 'I was doing work experience, I hope you're not going to hold that against me?'

I'd follow up, as Stupid says, with a reiteration of my strengths and contributions, and then ask them what salary my skills could attract.

[LegalEagle-ish]

Great advice, thanks everyone x

[KalamityKel]

Could you not use the present salary issue as the answer to why you are seeking employment elsewhere and the job you're moving away from was as a base to gain experience?

:)-D good luck with it all chook!

[Strawbs]

I definitely wouldnt lie as when they do the reference checking they will check with your HR dept which will verify things such as length of service, salary etc..

You could always make your recruiter aware that you are interviewing with another job that is offering X (this is where you can bend the truth) to use that as leverage if they like you to bump up the salary.. That is what I did with the current role I am with and got more than what I was on previously and what they were advertising the job for.

I definitely agree with whomever said about terming your salary package wise i.e. to bump it up a bit.

Good luck with your interviews, I hope you get them!

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Mixed emotions Legal.

On the one hand, obviously, it will be beneficial to lie as it will give you much needed practice b4 you start playing in a higher Legal League where that, er, talent, will be compulsory B)

On the other hand you could start a One-Person revolution and tell the truth, which, on balance, will be the correct thing to do>:D<

[cupid_stunt]

KK - Could you not use the present salary issue as the answer to why you are seeking employment elsewhere and the job you're moving away from was as a base to gain experience?

A general few points for anyone fortunate to get a job interview in these interesting times...

As hypocritcal as it sounds, employers do not like the fact that you're seeking a new job because you want more money, that's far too self-serving and lacks class.

As a well-balanced professional you're looking to expand, grow and consolidate your experiences. Money is still a dirty word to some, even though it motivates the majority if not all. My advice: never bring up money unless the employer does. Never talk salary specifics until a firm offer's on the table.

Also, Huge One as a new professional i would never 'joke' about money, too flippant and times are too serious. Even if you did work experience, make the employer assume you were getting paid for your efforts, even if you weren't. (E.g - I was responsible for the daily budget, staff resourcing and stock. My role? Assistant head cook and bottle washer etc) If i know you're doing a job for nada then why would and should i pay you my money to do the same job for me?

Anyway, with all this great advice i know LE-ish will do just fine. Knock 'em dead.

Right, that's enough FREE advice i better get out of bed and make some sheckles! :)

[snorky]

I think you8 will find that few companies/ if any these days will release details of your salary - you wil be lucky to get anything more than a basic statement of your time there.

Lie away

[Brendan]

Good luck with ?em this week LE!

And don?t lie please. You?re smart and tenacious enough to make it without becoming one of them. Be one of the good guys.

Sorry I know I shouldn?t try to impose my moral standpoints on others but I really feel that there is still place for decent principles in the working world.

If however you go down the other route I?m sure some of my colleagues could give some good advice on how to lie. A slimier bunch of Tory career politicians you could not have the displeasure of meeting. They spend their days boasting at the top of their voices about the lies they have told to get where they are. That?s when they aren?t expressing their disdain for the people that voted for them or anyone who isn?t a self-serving, right-wing, shitehawk with no social conscience.

Lying in the pub or on silly internet fora is a totally different matter though and a skill that when done well is an art which is a pleasure to behold.

[snorky]

Of yes, if you do lie and somehow get caught down, the line, you are stuffed / gross misconduct = das boot without compensation - when redundancy is looming, dont be surprised if employers use every trick in the book to get rid of people without any cost.

so its up to you really

[LegalEagle-ish]

Honesty seems to be more than just a virtue!

[LegalEagle-ish]

I had my two interviews today and only one asked me what my current salary was, but they also asked me what other commitments i have.

I explained that i do some gardening and grow food but that doesn't take up much time, but they pushed on, "what about children?"!

I thought it was illegal to ask women that question!

Anyway, i explained that i've successfully juggled having 4 kids with working for the past 23 years, so don't think i'll have any problems there!

Despite that little blood pressure raising question and the fact i was honest about my lowly salary, i think that both interviews went quite well.

I only have to wait and see if i get an offer!

[LegalEagle-ish]

I had my two interviews today and only one asked me what my current salary was, but they also asked me what other commitments i have.

I explained that i do some gardening and grow food but that doesn't take up much time, but they pushed on, "what about children?"!

I thought it was illegal to ask women that question!

Anyway, i explained that i've successfully juggled having 4 kids with working for the past 23 years, so don't think i'll have any problems there!

Despite that little blood pressure raising question and the fact i was honest about my lowly salary, i think that both interviews went quite well.

I only have to wait and see if i get an offer!

[Moos]

It is illegal to ask anyone that question, but depressingly common. They should not have asked you, and you should mention it to your agency (if you have one).

But sounds like you handled it perfectly - best of luck, LE.

[Moos]

It is illegal to ask anyone that question, but depressingly common. They should not have asked you, and you should mention it to your agency (if you have one).

But sounds like you handled it perfectly - best of luck, LE.

[Brendan]

Best of luck!

Hate interviews me.

[Brendan]

Best of luck!

Hate interviews me.

[Cassius]

Still be pleased that you still look young enough to even HAVE child issues..............

[Cassius]

Still be pleased that you still look young enough to even HAVE child issues..............