Salary History??

[fairyoftheglen]

So I'm applying for my dream job, but on the job posting they are requesting salary history. I just graduated college and have never held a real job before, I HAVE no salary history! I mean I've had a paid internship and I've worked part time at a few places, had an unpaid internship. So I do have the experience they want, but no real salary

Comments

[soykelmo]

I applied for a job that requested a salary history for the first time a few months ago, so I know how you feel about being confused about it haha. I just googled it to see what was standard or acceptable.

I graduated from college in '08, and I do have a salary history, so I just put mine on there. but for you, I would suggest putting your compensation history for all the jobs on your resume, whether they were paid or not. for your paid internship, include your pay, and for the unpaid one, just say it was unpaid. unpaid internships aren't uncommon, and if you have the experience they're looking for, it shouldn't be a problem.

personally, I think "a full salary history will be provided at interview" sounds weird and is kind of a cop-out, especially because you don't have a real salary history. it's like promising your interviewer information you can't ever give them, haha.

hope this helps :)

[machiko]

I sent a cover letter soemwhere where they wanted a salary history last week. This is what I did:

Hello ___,

[Normal cover letter text here]

Salary History:
Title, Place: Pay (put like, your hourly pay, or unpaid if it was)

Sincerely,
[your name]

I got a response and I have an interview this week, so I guess it worked. :P

[kutsiekittie]

I agree with this post.

I think it would be JUST FINE to list what you have earned in the past, nothing more nothing less.

That question is to let them know what range you will likely be looking to earn. Like if your positions have gone from $25k to $35k, then you are less likely to accept $28k at their position.

BE SURE to remember that they have a certain amount budgeted for your position, which is probably the "going rate" or "competitive" or in real terms, a little bit below the average pay for the position you are applying for. So research what it SHOULD pay you so that if you get the position, and they offer you something like $20k and make it sound great thinking you don't know any better, you can be ready to counter with the facts on fair compensation for that position. Not to be greedy but to be able to live on your wages.

[skittlebox]

Like if your positions have gone from $25k to $35k, then you are less likely to accept $28k at their position.

This is frustrating for me, because my last job was as a temp, but it was with the government and came with a rather larger salary because of it. I'm in NO WAY expecting that much money in a non-government job, but when I've been asked for a past salary they only leave room to enter numbers on the application form, nothing else. I often feel like the employers judge me and think I'd be expecting the same pay, but I can't lie and say I earnt less because finding the right salary info for my position is quite easy to do by looking on the government websites job pages.

[fairyoftheglen]

it's frustrating to me for the opposite reason. The most I've made in the past is $10 an hour, not enough for me to live on right now. It didn't matter then, it wasn't about the money it was about the experience. Besides that, I've done volunteer or minimum wage stuff.

[flying_canadian]

Tell them whatever they want to hear, you may also refer to annual national occupational statistics and provide them with average numbers.

On my mind, this question is not ethical and reflects potential employer from unprospective position. In general, employer clearly identifies your salary prior to interview and job offer, so you may try to negotiate, but be careful.

Also smart employers adjust pay rates accordingly to ones performance. My personal advise - look for such employers :)