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Topic: Responding to salary history question
| Author | Message |
| s_sanaru | Posted – 2/2/2008 10:35:52 PM | show profile Does anyone have any good advice/experience dodging the question of salary history? My history as a designer (in publishing) is that its not necessarily a linear progression from low to high, yet I imagine that is what a lot of people asking for that history are thinking. I am afraid if I tell people today what I was making at one high-paid position back in '02 they will automatically screen me out of the process, thinking that I would expect similar. I am fully aware of how much things have changed since then and would be willing to take way less. In a weird twist, this past position (creative director) seems to have excluded me from a lot of possibilities even though I have tried to make it clear that I am fine with working under someone. Any help appreciated--thanks. |
| nandy | Posted – 2/3/2008 10:13:32 AM | show profile I agree, in design, rates go up and down and if you freelance, your income can range from an all-time high to an all-time low from year to year. Designers who need the benefits of a staff job also tend to take jobs that underpay them because there are fewer of those jobs around, it seems. I also think it's not really a "history" that they want. Surely, my next potential employer doesn't want to know what I made at my first design job in 1973. I think they should be honest and say, "we really want to know the bottom line you're willing to work for." So I would turn it around a bit and say your salary requirements are $xx,xxx+, but it's subject to negotiations and job requirements. |
| ConfidentDesigner | Posted – 2/3/2008 9:52:54 PM | show profile In my experience, it's best NOT to be the first one to name a salary, even if they ask. If your quals are good and they like your portfolio, they'll contact you, regardless of what they say about salary reqs. Do not be the first one to name a salary. That's just not fair to you or them...all jobs are different! |
| s_sanaru | Posted – 2/3/2008 11:21:53 PM | show profile Thanks for the advice. I agree with never bringing that up on your own, but in this case they have made that request to me separately. Its a little weird getting the request before you have met anyone there, but that's the deal. A lot of places now even ask for it with the cover letter. I really think this is the state of things right now--lowest bid gets the work. Everything else is a distant 2nd. |
| foodlit | Posted – 2/4/2008 1:53:46 PM | show profile | email poster No, it's not all about the lowest bid at all. It's about getting the right level person. For example, as a creative director you will be viewed as too senior level both in terms of experience and salary if you are applying for a straight designer position. The fear and it's a valid one is that as soon as a better, higher paying job comes along, you'll leave and they'll be back to square one. It happens all the time. The salary question is asked to make sure you're in the range, so your time and the companies time is not wasted. If you suspect that you are much higher than the range for a job and don't want to be ruled out, you can avoid the salary history question by stating, "I was well paid in my last position. For this role, I'm flexible and would be looking in the 60's or 70's (or 80's 90's...) When you state it that way, your range is 20k, but sounds better than saying 60-80k. And you always want to mention a range where the low end is actually the mid to high end of where you want to be, because the number they focus on is the low one, so want that number to actually be a number you'd feel good about receiving. Hope that helps! Pam (I work as a recruiter) |
| Hanschak | Posted – 2/4/2008 2:35:47 PM | show profile I concur about the lowest bid. That seems to be the main concern now more than ever. I have heard this directly from a publisher that used me only after they had originally tried to get a lower bid for help with a redesign, then were stuck in a bind. As soon as I completed the work (very successfully, by all accounts) they looked for someone to fill the spot at a few dollars less to manage the project on a regular basis. Also agree that the salary history question is unfair. Design jobs are not like other jobs in other industries: if you are making 100K at one position, you might make 60K at the next. There are not enough senior and creative director positions to go around that anyone can think that going from one to the next is a given. You have to roll with what is out there. Publishing jobs, especially in design have little of the security of other jobs and you often may need to take what you can and make sacrifices if you want to stay working. |
| stanton | Posted – 2/5/2008 2:23:11 PM | show profile One of the main advertisers on MB for design jobs in publishing lists their CONTROLLER (the financial person) as the contact. What do you think that says about hiring priorities? |
