Carragee Consulting

How to answer “What was your last salary”?

Sample dialog to politely but firmly tell HR that its absolutely none of their business what you make/made in a different business context with a different employer.  Its A) confidential and B) not relevant.  

“[INTERVIEWER]: I can do that, but I can’t help but notice you’re avoiding my question. Do you want to share your last salary with me?

[SELF-RESPECTING APPLICANT]: I really don’t, because that information isn’t relevant to our conversation and frankly I’m not going to ask Josh what he paid the person who had this job before me. You’ve got confidential information that you can’t share, and I’m in the same position. Over the years I’ve had royalty arrangements and incentive programs and base salaries that all made sense for me and the organizations that paid me at the time. I wouldn’t expect any of those arrangements to map to your situation, and that’s why I like to check the salary for each new gig against what I need to earn.”