My Current Salary is NunNa....

So a friend of mine (wink) is currently in an active job search and has been greatly successful at reaching the initial screening. You know that first call, when some gate-keeper rattles through a list of scripted questions to determine whether or not the candidate will proceed, that's the one.

Generally, at some point in the blah, blah, blah, of the initial screening the candidate is asked "What is your current Salary”... to which my friend would like to respond “My current Salary is Nun-Na”… Nun-Na your business!

I don't even tell my mother my salary....

The screeners explanation for the need for the answer is "we don't want to waste each others time and effort." And I could fully appreciate the question. But who's time is being considered when the same question is mandatory to complete an on-line application? On-line I would just put $1.00 and go to the next question...this was a live call.

So my friend stated his appreciation for the consideration and asked if the screener would be open to sharing the budgeted salary range for the position? The screener said that she could not share that information. Ah Ha, so what is the real objective of the question? 

So my friend responded with the standard song and dance i.e. “ I would like to table conversations around compensation until I have a better understanding of the role” or “I would like to table any conversation until I have had a chance to present a value proposition relative to my background”…you get the idea.

To which the screener replied…”I can’t forward any candidates without knowing their current salary.” So the interview was over.

Now many would say “Just give them a number”…but why should I? Your offer should be based on the current market for my experience etc. I guess it was a defining moment for my friend...I am sure he didn't know that it would be the end of the interview...it was the principle.... Try paying a bill with principal.

Yeah, yeah he could have researched the current market and responded with a range estimate for the position, but that’s not the point. Nor does it add to the satire or social observation in this situation. Remember, the point is the Principal.

Simply stated…my current salary is irrelevant, unless I (I mean my friend) unknowingly just happen to have applied for the exact same job that he is currently doing. And even if that was the case, I am not convinced that he would be offered the same exact salary. But I digress.

Now there are a number of explanations on why this information is important and how to effectively respond to such a question. All to which I say…Bull-Shirt.

You know, the response you would have if you actually saw a bull in a shirt…or maybe the response you would have if you saw an ad for a Line of Designer Shirts for Bulls.

Neither would make much sense…and I think that was the point I was trying to make about the explanations as to why my (I mean his) current salary is important. Or maybe I just stumbled on a clothing craze for Bulls?

Bull-Shirt aside, the question to ponder is “Did you call to evaluate my Current Salary or my Current Qualifications?”

G.W. Think about it…I did.