Salary History And Salary Requirements.parts 3

Obviously, disclosure of salary history is to the hiring manager's advantage.

Do you have to provide salary history? Only if an ad states: "only submissions providing salary history will be considered," or other wording to this affect, and only then if it is a job you truly want to pursue. 

Without this strict wording, you can make your resume recipient aware that the information is available, and recognize the request, without actually disclosing the information at this disadvantage point, by indicating: "Full salary history will be made available once mutual interest is established," or "Full salary history will be provided at interview."

Remember: only mention salary history if it is a stated requirement of the ad. Never disclose this information openly without it first being requested.

For more information on salary negotiation, see Salary Negotiation Skills. This article will also give you good resources for researching pay scales within different positions and at different locations.

Salary Requirements

Unless an ad states that "only submissions including salary requirements will be considered," your best option is to address the question without actually answering it, by using a statement such as: “Salary is fully negotiable,” or “Salary is negotiable, dependent upon the responsibilities of the position.” If your skills and background are an obvious fit for the position being targeted, this will probably be sufficient. It also shows your reader that you did recognize the question and didn't simply ignore the answer. You'll place this statement toward the end of your cover letter.

In situations where an ad states “only submissions including salary requirements will be considered," respond to this request in your cover letter, not the resume. Provide a salary range rather than a single set figure. This will maintain room for negotiation during the interview and salary negotiation phases.

The lowest salary range should be the minimum you would be willing to accept in this position, as you understand its responsibilities to date (limited knowledge) - to the highest compensation you could expect to be paid in this position, within the industry and location (different locations provide different salary ranges). For more information on salary negotiation, see Salary Negotiation Skills - For Navigating The Tough Terrain. This article will also give you good resources for researching pay scales within different positions and at different locations.

If you don’t know what the location averages are for individuals in your position, it’s time to do some research. Talk to local recruiters or other hiring managers from companies in the industry. Research local statistics in your library. Utilize salary calculators online - I have a list of great ones on my Career job Resources page. Join a professional association or organization and do some networking (a good idea anyway). Or check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook to get the statistics you need on the targeted position, including educational requirements, national salary levels, working environment, and more. Just keep in mind that national salary levels may not accurately reflect local salary levels or what the current business market can bear.

Again, you'll provide this information toward the end of your cover letter, right before you thank your reader for his or her time and consideration. ( employment job )

By Sue Campbell