As Houston headhunters, Murray Resources knows one of the issues job candidates struggle with during the hiring process is when they’re asked to give a salary history. Many see it as invasive and don’t understand why a potential employer wants to know; others see it as an effort for the employer to sabotage their efforts toward a higher salary.

But the fact of the matter is that if you’re asked to give a salary history – and you don’t – then you’ll likely wind up out of the running for the job.

Fair or not, there are some valid reasons why employers request salary histories…and they’re not doing it to be difficult or not pay you what you’re worth. So what are they? Here’s a look:

• As a benchmark. Employers know you want an increase in pay and they’re not trying to sabotage you in that regard. However, they don’t want to offer an amount that’s well over the amount you were being paid before. For instance, if you’re making $45k per year, they assume that an offer of $50k would be satisfactory.

• As a performance evaluator. Employers want to see a steady increase in pay. Being able to demonstrate salary increases over the years tells them that you’ve performed well on the job. However, if you were making more or the same amount of money five years ago, and there’s no good reason (e.g. taking a year off to stay home with small children, etc.), then they’ll wonder why.

With that in mind, how can you maximize the salary negotiation process – so you wind up with a great offer?

• Know your worth. Know the fair market value of what someone with your experience and skill set should be paid in the Houston area. That way, if an employer offers less, you’re armed with the knowledge and information to press for more.

• Factor in benefits. When evaluating an offer, don’t just automatically discount it if it’s less than what you wanted. For instance, if the compensation package an employer is offering is $75k and your current compensation package is worth $78k, then use that gap as leverage to negotiate more salary or better benefits, such as a flexible schedule or dental insurance.

• Be honest always. And finally, whatever you do, be honest about your salary history. If an employer is interested in hiring you and wants to know your salary history, they can request a W2 from a past employer. And if you’ve lied about a past salary amount, then you’ve likely just killed your chances of landing the job.

Need More Help With the Job Search Process?

Let us know. As Houston headhunters, Murray Resources can not only help you find out about great job opportunities, but we can also help you navigate your way through the treacherous waters of a job search. Contact us today to learn more.