This will be tricky for banks and hedge funds etc. These firms typically, in London at any rate: - never quote a salary (or even a range) for a job opening -

This will be tricky for banks and hedge funds etc. These firms typically, in London at any rate: - never quote a salary (or even a range) for a job opening - following many interviews any offer is always based on prior "comp", of which you will have to provide 3 years of info (base, bonus, deferred awards, retention awards, benefits etc) plus, of course, documentary evidence to support. HR departments start squealing if uptick is a greater than 20% increase, although some people do manage higher (anything over 30% is almost unheard of, except for a handful of big producers) - they go through your background with a fine toothcomb and check EVERYTHING you supplied on your CV and in the screening questionaires you have to complete. They employ specialist third party agencies to do the research on you. If you do not comply with this you simply won't get hired. It is universal and practiced everywhere in finance, I've never heard of anyone not being subjected to this.