3 Phrases to Keep Your Current Salary a SECRET from Recruiters
Tags: salary, tips, career, advice
Published: 2020-01-08 19:54:46

You know what sucks? Applying to a job because you're underpaid, and then being asked by the recruiter, "What's your current salary?" as if they're not going to use that information to give you a lowball offer.

I want to tell you the secret to not giving away your current salary.

First, I need to acknowledge that it is illegal in some states in the US to ask about your current or past salary. [Here's a handy guide to check the laws in your state](https://www.hrdive.com/news/salary-history-ban-states-list/516662/).

That said, these tips might apply to other questions that you don't want to answer, so let's dig in to what you can do in these situations.

## Phrase #1

I want you to practice saying the following:

> My current contract does not allow me to disclose that information, and it's important to me that I keep my word

Make sure you've had a look at your current contract. Is there a clause about not disclosing your salary? 

---
#### "Pay Secrecy" Aside

Salary disclosure is a complex topic. One common misunderstanding is about "Pay Secrecy", which is a concept in the US dating back to [the National Labor Relations Act of 1935](https://www.nlrb.gov/how-we-work/national-labor-relations-actto 1935) and reaffirmed as an [Executive Order in 2014](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/08/executive-order-non-retaliation-disclosure-compensation-information). The short answer is that it is illegal for companies to prevent co-workers from discussing their own compensation with each other.

However, the law doesn't mean that companies can't require employees to not talk about salary *externally*. Read your work contract and see what it says for you.

---

## Phrase #2 

If you don't have a clause against disclosure, or if you are being pressured to disclose anyway, here's what you say:

> "I'm not comfortable discussing my current salary right now, however I am really excited about this role. I think it's a great fit. Compensation is not going to be a problem."

Focus on the next steps for moving forward, and how compensation is not a blocker for you.

Note: this has nothing to do with wanting a high salary and planning to negotiate later. Like I said in my [last post](https://dev.to/candidateplanet/6-reasons-candidates-don-t-negotiate-2707), application questions are not negotiations. Focus on getting interviews so that you get a great offer you can then negotiate.

## Phrase #3

If the recruiter continues to press you about the past, ask:

> "Can I get back to you about my current salary later?"

**Then never get back to them about your current salary.**

The question they should be asking is, "What compensation are you looking for?"

This is a great question for everyone to get on the same page:

- The recruiter is trying to figure out whether you're going to end up wasting their time
- You want to make sure you're not wasting your time, either

If a recruiter continues to pressure you about your past salary, move the conversation to what salary you're looking for:

> "I'm not comfortable discussing my current salary right now, but I can tell you what compensation I'm looking for in my current job search."

It's important to have a good answer for "What compensation are you looking for?" but I've reached the end of my time today, and will leave this post as a cliffhanger. 

Next week I'll dig into the specific numbers and phrases you can use to most effectively discuss compensation expectations.

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POST NOTES
☆ Compensation history laws by state: https://www.hrdive.com/news/salary-history-ban-states-list/516662/
☆ More info on "Pay Secrecy"

* National Labor Relations Act of 1935: https://www.nlrb.gov/how-we-work/national-labor-relations-act
* Executive Order in 2014: Non-Retaliation for Disclosure of Compensation https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/08/executive-order-non-retaliation-disclosure-compensation-information

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