When applying for a new job, candidates often face a challenging question: their current or expected salary. In the UK, employers are allowed to ask about current salaries, but applicants are not obligated to answer. To navigate this situation, experts recommend understanding one's worth, being prepared to discuss salary expectations, and focusing on skills and experience rather than past pay.
Louise Rod, a senior consultant at workplace consultancy Acas, notes that while there are no regulations preventing employers from asking about current salaries, they must ask all applicants the same questions to ensure fairness. Some companies have voluntarily stopped asking about past salaries to avoid perpetuating historical pay inequalities. This approach helps to focus on an applicant's skills, experience, and performance rather than their previous pay.
In the European Union, new regulations will prohibit employers from asking about previous salaries. In contrast, the UK government has focused on requiring employers to publish salary information in job postings. Experts advise job seekers to be prepared to discuss their salary expectations and to research the market rate for their role. This preparation helps candidates to confidently and fairly negotiate their salary.
When asked about their current salary, applicants can choose to disclose it if they feel comfortable doing so. However, if they prefer not to answer, they can instead discuss their salary expectations or describe their understanding of the role's salary range. Shazia Ijaz, campaign manager at the Equality and Employment Union, advises candidates to approach salary discussions "with realism, but also with confidence."
Ijaz emphasizes that candidates who have researched the market rate for their role and can articulate their value to the employer are in a stronger position to negotiate a fair salary. By focusing on their skills, experience, and the value they bring to the organization, applicants can effectively discuss their salary expectations.
To prepare for salary discussions, job seekers can research the market rate for their role, review their skills and experience, and practice articulating their value to potential employers. By being informed and confident, candidates can navigate salary questions in job interviews effectively.
Ultimately, experts agree that salary discussions should be fair, transparent, and based on an applicant's skills, experience, and performance. By understanding their worth and being prepared to discuss their salary expectations, job seekers can confidently navigate this challenging aspect of the job interview process.
Key points
- Candidates should research the market rate for their role to confidently negotiate their salary.
- Employers must ask all applicants the same questions to ensure fairness when discussing salaries.
- Applicants can choose to disclose their current salary or discuss their salary expectations instead.
