Reference help..........

norwichmuscles

Hey,

This thread is probably going to be quite controversial but I'll go for it anyway.

I've for a few jobs lined up for which I am more then experienced however the salaries are around £5-£7k more then I am currently on.

I am currently on around the £30k mark and the most I have ever got in an external move is around 10% (this seems to be consistent from what I have read elsewhere).

Now I have already checked with my employer and they have stated during a reference they will not volunteer salary information - however if a prospective employers asks for a salary they will seek my permission - if I don't provide it - then they wont give it.

NOW - I am going to find out exactly how my HR dept will communicate I haven't given permission to give my salary, e.g. Will they say on the reference 'We don't have permission to release salary' or 'Our employee has asked us not to provide that information'.... As this will make a huge difference.

With my company, we have online payslips which we can download via PDF....... What isn't hard for me to do - is get someone to photoshop a PDF file, so I can easily forward on paystubs to this effect that have been amended.

I know a P45 states earnings and tax etc - however I can always get around this by saying it has been lost and complete a P46 instead if I changed employers.

Now my questions:-

(1) If I lie about my salary, employer asks for paystubs - I provide them and then an prospective new employer asks for salary in my reference and it comes back that it is obvious I have refused to give this permission (my HR dept words it so it is evident I am refusing and not them).... How do I explain this and how can I justify this?

(2) Employer doesnt ask for paystubs but asks for salary in reference as above and again it is obvious I have refused to give this permission

I KNOW THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL, BUT ANY HELP IS REALLY APPRECIATED.

Sambucus_Nigra

They don't need your permission to release salary details.

I can't see why the faff; just tell them you are not willing to move jobs for less than £x due to the security you will be giving up, and leave it there.

If they get one whiff of a lie then you will be out anyway.

Torry_Quine

You're not going to get a lot of sympathy and help here I would hope and think. Your present salary is already a good one and lying is not a good idea. If the jobs that you are applying for have a better salary then I don't see the problem or are you saying that you won't get the going rate because your current job is less?

My advice is be honest as these things have a habit of back-firing badly.

norwichmuscles

Thanks for the reply.

My HR dept confirmed they wont release salary information without my consent - so they would contact me before providing it.

If I move from big employer to big employer with equal or better benefits then I cant really justify £5k for moving IMO.............

Sambucus_Nigra

norwichmuscles wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

My HR dept confirmed they wont release salary information without my consent - so they would contact me before providing it.

If I move from big employer to big employer with equal or better benefits then I cant really justify £5k for moving IMO.............

If I had that on a reference, I'd be calling the manager up and asking direct. It screams 'he's hiding something'.

If you can't justify wanting more, then why are you willing to lie and possibly be sacked for it?

norwichmuscles

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

If I had that on a reference, I'd be calling the manager up and asking direct. It screams 'he's hiding something'.

If you can't justify wanting more, then why are you willing to lie and possibly be sacked for it?

I work for a large company, so they may not even state 'employee has withheld consent' they may just not specify the information and not give a reason.... Our references are very very basic.

I just can't see a reason why I would with hold my salary information to an employer.... I cant think of a justified reason.

Torry_Quine wrote: »

You're not going to get a lot of sympathy and help here I would hope and think. Your present salary is already a good one and lying is not a good idea. If the jobs that you are applying for have a better salary then I don't see the problem or are you saying that you won't get the going rate because your current job is less?

My advice is be honest as these things have a habit of back-firing badly.

Yes, im saying I wouldnt get a £5k payrise.... Like a £3k max as I've only experienced 10% raises before... And i'd be wanting close to 20%.

Torry_Quine

norwichmuscles wrote: »

I just can't see a reason why I would with hold my salary information to an employer.... I cant think of a justified reason.



Yes, im saying I wouldnt get a £5k payrise.... Like a £3k max as I've only experienced 10% raises before... And i'd be wanting close to 20%.

I can't think of a good reason to withhold your salary to a prospective employer.

I may be thick here but it isn't a payrise as its a different job. If the new job is £5K more and they thought you were the best candidate why wouldn't they pay you that?

Sambucus_Nigra

norwichmuscles wrote: »

I work for a large company, so they may not even state 'employee has withheld consent' they may just not specify the information and not give a reason.... Our references are very very basic.

I just can't see a reason why I would with hold my salary information to an employer.... I cant think of a justified reason.

I can't think of a reason why you would withold the info. But that's not what I asked. I asked why you are justifying lying, but can't justify telling them you need £x increase in order to switch jobs.

Anyway - I suspect no matter what anyone says you are going to lie so I'll bow out now.

norwichmuscles

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

I can't think of a reason why you would withold the info. But that's not what I asked. I asked why you are justifying lying, but can't justify telling them you need £x increase in order to switch jobs.

Anyway - I suspect no matter what anyone says you are going to lie so I'll bow out now.

Not at all, if the feedback is asking for a £5k pay increase could be justified, then hopefully I could pitch for that.

norwichmuscles

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I can't think of a good reason to withhold your salary to a prospective employer.

I may be thick here but it isn't a payrise as its a different job. If the new job is £5K more and they thought you were the best candidate why wouldn't they pay you that?

Because I thought pay increases over 10% were uncommon.

Sambucus_Nigra

norwichmuscles wrote: »

Not at all, if the feedback is asking for a £5k pay increase could be justified, then hopefully I could pitch for that.

I went for one job, I was on £33k and I said that I'd be unwilling to move for anything less than an £8k increase and he offered me £50k.

Just say that due to job security in your current role, you would need an offer of £x to accept; usually they offer less than that and you negotiate from there.