I'm gonna slide this piece of paper across the Table

How much store do you put in employers asking for a job candidate's current and previous salary details.

Whilst the question is entirely understandable, there would be several reasons why an employer shouldn't ask, and a candidate should resist answering.

1. The employer is likely to use this number as a valuation of the candidate. This is a valuation made by a current or previous employer, and has no bearing on the real value of a candidate for this job.

2. The candidate may currently be overpaid or underpaid. They may or may not be aware that they are not being paid the market rate (more often than you'd imagine), but that number could easily deter an employer by making them appear too expensive (and overqualified) or too cheap (previously exploited).

3. If a current and previous salary must be revealed, then it should only be done where the full circumstances and implications of that salary can be discussed fully.

4. Candidates will often accept a lower salary in the right circumstances, but this is seen as a character flaw and illogical by a prospective employer.

5. If a recruiter or employer cannot assess a candidate's ability against the requirements for the job and the current market rate, then that is a very poor show indeed.

There are more reasons, and I could go on.

When asked this question, I would expect that a candidate had prepared an answer which was specific to that specific job application, and not necessarily the absolute gospel truth.

Much more important is to ask what salary the candidate is looking for and will accept for the new job.