Are companies really requesting salary histories? 5

[Lion06]

Because of some personal issues, I've been looking for employment in a different geographical region. I haven't sent out any resumes yet, but I've noticed that every website I visit asks for salary history to be included with your resume. Is this common? This was not true when I was looking for a job after graduation 5 years ago.

I don't have too much of a problem providing that information, but I honestly feel like it's kind of irrelevant. Honestly, if I were to be offered what I'm making now or 5% more, I feel like we'd be getting off on the wrong foot when I pretty much tell them to pound sand by actually saying that my current salary is not a reflection of the value I bring to my employer, but more of a reflection of the economy as a whole. I would also say that I really have no interest in them basing their salary offer on my current salary, but would think it should be in line with their needs; the value, technical knowledge and ability, and work ethic, I bring with me; and what the going rate is for someone with my experience level (not that it's that much, but I'm not a fresh grad). I just feel like that's really starting the relationship off on the wrong foot.

Any opinions?

 

[ScottyUK]

Treat the low paying outfits as being a stepping stone to somewhere better. If a company can run their business on what is virtually transient labour making their way to better-paying opportunities then are they wrong to do so? If a company needs employees with years of task-specific or site-specific knowledge then they will probably have to pay a little more to retain their staff.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[berkshire]

Scotty,
Look at McDonald's restaurants, they have built an empire doing just that. I am sure that more than one Engineer posting on this forum, has worked at McDonald's to get some quick cash before moving on to greater things.
B.E.

 

[ScottyUK]

Greater things than McDonalds?



Burger King!!


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[berkshire]

Alright alright, Maybe I should have said White Castle.
Another of the same breed, home to starving students working their way through college.
(Sign posted in bathroom "Flush twice, Burger King is a block away")
B.E.

 

[Waidesworld]

Look at bars and restaurants in the US. I worked a bar for two years, made $35 a shift and the rest was all tips. On a normal night I'd get anywhere from $60-$200. But the labor cost the owner sweet F.A.

drawn to design, designed to draw

 

[YoungTurk]

I've run into this as well. (See my previous thread:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=264767&page=1

)

Its even more interesting when its a web application program that requires input. Didn't like it, but I ended up rounding up and proceeded. I can't imagine what variations they get from these forms, but I'd love to see. Someone on the other thread even postulated they sell the data to the salary websites !?!

From the above stories, its clear that these HR "tactics" can backfire on the companies that use them, so its seems like a questionable practice at best.

But, then, consider the source. We all know a few engineers who do some pretty boneheaded things, and some of them are in charge of engineering organizations. Should it be any surprise, then, that some HR groups use distasteful tactics that might not result in hiring the best people for the job?

 

[Tunalover]

Waidesworld-
What does F.A. stand for assuming you can spell it out in this forum?

Tunalover

 

[ScottyUK]

tunalover,

The 'A' stands for 'All'. You can possibly guess what the other letter signifies.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[GregLocock]

Fanny.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[westheimer1234]

the last company that interviewed me even check my credit history and asked for my social security number.
i didnt get hired =(

 

[corus]

A politer meaning of FA is Fanny Adams, or more correctly 'sweet fanny adams', to mean 'nothing at all'.

ex-corus (semi-detached)

 

[Lion06]

Westheimer-
Just out of curiosity, what in the world does your credit history have to do with your competency as an engineer? Did they tell you why this was important to them? Of everything I've heard on this forum, I think that takes the cake.

 

[YoungTurk]

The credit check is becoming more common as well. I think the logic goes something like good credit = stable employee/low risk, not that I approve of the practice. Have seen the same on application forms for some major aero companies.

Basically, these HR professionals are going to go all KGB/CIA on prospective hires until they can't get anyone willing/desperate enough to submit - or the law/government intervenes.

Pee here, put your social security number on this form, give us personal and professional references, current salary, list all social networks and handles, report to the local precinct to be fingerprinted, go here for a medical exam - yes, I've seen and submitted to this all. What's a guy to do when you want/need a job?

I heard talk in the news of a bill to ban the credit check. But alas, it wasn't based on privacy, it was because it would make it harder for people to get off of unemployment. Here's a link:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...11107626180.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_RIGHTTopCarousel

 

[steellion]

I think that extrapolating that someone with poor credit is a bad/unreliable employee is really a stretch. I'm fine with background checks, but they shouldn't do credit checks as part of the application process. I have great credit, but it's easy to see from the article how there can be a downward spiral if you lose your job, can't pay your bills, then can't get another job because your credit suffered.

 

[westheimer1234]

SEIT, no i didnt ask but i did google it online why companies do that.

for the record though "credit check" wasnt the reason why i didnt get the job.. another engineer was

 

[BillBirch]

I don't respond to salary history requests, but if pressed, reply that it is confidential information within a contract between my previous employer and myself. In responding, I would potentially be breaching that contract, or as a minimum, guilty of passing on confidential commercial data. You may then ask the retorical question - "Is this the sort of employee you want - one who is loose with company secrets?"

On a similar note, I reverse the situation on employment agents who asks for a salary expectation or day rate, asking them what is being paid. Confidentially most will say what the incumbent workers are on, saving all a lot of time wasting.

I genuinely believe most employers are not out to screw you for a few dollars and will pay what the market rate is, but in one job that I took in desparation, the company had recruited a bunch of verge-of-retirement expats who wanted to defer their retirement and were working for peanuts, thus lowering the bar for the rest of us. I believe in naming and shaming - Ipedex from France was that company.