Advice on new job

sultan123

My friend works at a company and she is leaving. As a result she told her company I would be good fit to replace her and the interview process went smoothly and they liked me. When I got to HR stage they asked my salary expectations (without asking my current wage) and I gave a range. The HR person said the range I asked for was out of their usual range for that role (by about 10k) but would wait to see all other candidates before coming to me.

After a period of radio silence they have got back to me and said they want to put together their best offer to me but want to justify it. Strangely though they are asking for my current salary now.

My issue is the salary I am on is far less than the uplift I asking for this new role but the new role I have applied to is actually far more work etc so the comparison between my current pay and the offer from new company does not make sense?

Should I go back and give them my current salary or question why they are wanting to compare salaries of 2 different roles?

TheSpectator

What's strange about it? They think the going rate for the role is £10k less than you.

Without some context of your 'far more work' then maybe they think you have overstated your salary expectations? Is it £10k worth 'extra work'?

That said, they sound lime they want you, but not at any cost. How bad do you want the role. How much were they paying your friend?

Marcon

sultan123 said:

My friend works at a company and she is leaving. As a result she told her company I would be good fit to replace her and the interview process went smoothly and they liked me. When I got to HR stage they asked my salary expectations (without asking my current wage) and I gave a range. The HR person said the range I asked for was out of their usual range for that role (by about 10k) but would wait to see all other candidates before coming to me.

After a period of radio silence they have got back to me and said they want to put together their best offer to me but want to justify it. Strangely though they are asking for my current salary now.

My issue is the salary I am on is far less than the uplift I asking for this new role but the new role I have applied to is actually far more work etc so the comparison between my current pay and the offer from new company does not make sense?

Should I go back and give them my current salary or question why they are wanting to compare salaries of 2 different roles?

They aren't sufficiently keen on you to pay through the nose. If you don't give them your (accurate) current salary - which they will probably check with your current employer - it sounds likely they will look elsewhere.

Querying why they want that information will simply confirm to them that your 'salary expectation' was way above what you're earning now.

Hoenir

Gives you an opportunity to reset your salary expectations and portray yourself in a better light.  £10k (?) over the going market rate for a position probably explains the radio silence. Why aren't you earning that salary now if you are suitably qualified.  You priced yourself out. Get yourself in the door and prove your worth is a far better approach. 

DullGreyGuy

Do you know what your friend earned? 
What do you currently earn?
How do you feel your salary is? 
What did you ask for? 

At the end of the day it's a dance, they want you as cheap as possible and you want as much as possible. Giving a range of salary is always a bit odd as 90% of the time the most they will offer is the bottom of the range unless they think you are significantly understating your worth. Much better to give a number.

sultan123 said:

the new role I have applied to is actually far more work etc so the comparison between my current pay and the offer from new company does not make sense?

Should I go back and give them my current salary or question why they are wanting to compare salaries of 2 different roles?

In the first reply I'd circumvent the question and rationalise the salary. The highest income I've earned it was simple, I was working for two companies at the same time, I'd normally have to write one status report and hold one ExCo meeting but here I'd write two reports, one for each company and hold 3 ExCo meetings (one for company 1, one for company 2 and a joint meeting). 

Marcon

DullGreyGuy said:

Do you know what your friend earned? 
What do you currently earn?

Apparently upwards of £100K: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6408429/self-employed-and-vat#latest

Undervalued

sultan123 said:

My friend works at a company and she is leaving. As a result she told her company I would be good fit to replace her and the interview process went smoothly and they liked me. When I got to HR stage they asked my salary expectations (without asking my current wage) and I gave a range. The HR person said the range I asked for was out of their usual range for that role (by about 10k) but would wait to see all other candidates before coming to me.

After a period of radio silence they have got back to me and said they want to put together their best offer to me but want to justify it. Strangely though they are asking for my current salary now.

My issue is the salary I am on is far less than the uplift I asking for this new role but the new role I have applied to is actually far more work etc so the comparison between my current pay and the offer from new company does not make sense?

Should I go back and give them my current salary or question why they are wanting to compare salaries of 2 different roles?

With the exception of a very few things protected by law a prospective employer can ask an applicant what they like and expect a truthful answer. If you won't answer then they can draw whatever inference they please and act accordingly.

If you give a false answer, get the job and they later find out that would be grounds for dismissal. Technically it is also fraud.

TELLIT01

As long as the OP didn't lead HR to believe that the salary stated was their current salary it shouldn't be a problem.  As the OP stated, the new job is far more involved than the previous one.

sultan123

TELLIT01 said:

As long as the OP didn't lead HR to believe that the salary stated was their current salary it shouldn't be a problem.  As the OP stated, the new job is far more involved than the previous one.

In the first chat I had they did not ask what my current salary was.

Now all of a sudden they are asking although they are saying they want to make me a competitive offer

sultan123

Undervalued said:

sultan123 said:

My friend works at a company and she is leaving. As a result she told her company I would be good fit to replace her and the interview process went smoothly and they liked me. When I got to HR stage they asked my salary expectations (without asking my current wage) and I gave a range. The HR person said the range I asked for was out of their usual range for that role (by about 10k) but would wait to see all other candidates before coming to me.

After a period of radio silence they have got back to me and said they want to put together their best offer to me but want to justify it. Strangely though they are asking for my current salary now.

My issue is the salary I am on is far less than the uplift I asking for this new role but the new role I have applied to is actually far more work etc so the comparison between my current pay and the offer from new company does not make sense?

Should I go back and give them my current salary or question why they are wanting to compare salaries of 2 different roles?

With the exception of a very few things protected by law a prospective employer can ask an applicant what they like and expect a truthful answer. If you won't answer then they can draw whatever inference they please and act accordingly.

If you give a false answer, get the job and they later find out that would be grounds for dismissal. Technically it is also fraud.

It is impossible for new employers to check previous salary

sultan123

Hoenir said:

Gives you an opportunity to reset your salary expectations and portray yourself in a better light.  £10k (?) over the going market rate for a position probably explains the radio silence. Why aren't you earning that salary now if you are suitably qualified.  You priced yourself out. Get yourself in the door and prove your worth is a far better approach. 

Their market rate is not correct hence I have asked for 10k more to align with market.

My friend also has significantly less experience than me