Reasons You Should Never Reveal Your Past Salary At A Job Interview In Nigeria
Reasons you should never reveal your past salary at a job interview is something every potential employee should read and always adhere to during any job interview. As a job applicant, you should know that there are varieties of questions that you will be asked during the job interview.
These questions include, “what are your qualifications?” “Why are you leaving your last job?” etc. no matter the type of question that you are asked during a job interview, never reveal your past salary in the interview room.
You should know that your salary is a measure of your market value according to Richard Philips, a coach, and owner of Advantage Career Solutions in California. Once you reveal your past salary, it gives your employer an idea of the salary that he should pay you.
Related: 10 common interview questions you must know
You should know that it also has the power to break or make the deal of your employment. If the amount is higher than what the company can afford, then there is no need to take your interview any further.
You should also know that it also gives the employer an edge in the salary negotiation process.
According to Richard Philips, the employers see it as going to a poker game where you as the potential employee show all your cards and the employer will not even show one of his/her own. No matter what, never reveal your past salary at a job interview.
Never reveal your past salary at a job interview considering these points
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Your Salary Is Your Personal Business
According to Nick Corcodilos, a headhunter in silicon value for many years says that it is none of the employers business to business to inquire about the past salary of their potential employees.
There are even times that the application form will have space for the potential employee to disclose his/her past salary. Even though it is marked as compulsory, you should know that you don’t need to fill that space.
Related: How to effectively hire the best employees in Nigeria
Knowing that your past salary is your own personal business is the number one reason you should never reveal your past salary at a job interview.
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It Is Within Your Right
You should know that an employer has no right to demand details of your private finances, while you, on the other hand, have the right to know the details of the salary for any job you apply for.
Knowing that it is your right to keep your personal financial information to yourself, you should never reveal your past salary at a job interview. You are within your rights to politely ask the employer to tell you the salary range for the position that you have applied for.
When you fill the online application form and you are not allowed to leave the past salary space blank, just put a dash there. If you are required to put in a numerical value, just put in a series of zeroes.
At that point during the process of the interview that you asked for your salary range and the interviewer doesn’t know, you should not get upset or criticize the interviewer personally. You can instead offer your own salary range for which you can offer your services to the company.
This can always open another channel of dialogue between you and the interviewer.
If an employer persists and insists that you reveal your past salary, Nick Corcodilos is of the opinion that you simply offer to help the employer assess your worth by considering what you have to offer to the company.
Never real your past salary at a job interview no matter how persistent the interviewer is. You can also demonstrate your value by having an open and honest negotiation based on what you can do for the company.
If the employer still demands to know your past salary, you should just walk away. Never take part in a negotiation that you are already on the losing side from the beginning. You should know that it takes courage and confidence to walk away from a job prospect, but considering your future, it is necessary.
If you know that you are not sure of your professional value, you should go online and verify that before applying for any job in Nigeria. I strongly advise you that no matter what happens in the interview room, never reveal your past salary at a job interview. It is for your own good and benefit.
