4 ms·

Honest question. What do you do when the salary offer is contingent on providing w2 for verification of previous salary? Non sales role. I had a company I wante

Honest question. What do you do when the salary offer is contingent on providing w2 for verification of previous salary? Non sales role. I had a company I wanted to work for go through the whole interview process, get to an offer stage, and I offered my number first. They said no we can't do that but we can do this. 'this' was less than I was making currently, so I told them no. They asked for W2 to verify. At that stage I said hell no, no longer interested. But what would you do if the demands that?

freedomben 8y ago
Great question, and I'm not the one you asked, but here's my two cents anyway :-) I would likely do what you did and say hell no (tho this may lead them to believe I was actually lying, even tho I'd be clear that I felt it was an invasion of my privacy). If I really wanted the job for some reason (maybe I'm desperate, or their tech really is that 1337), and felt like they were asking in good faith (didn't want to be conned, especially if their market data would say I was already statistically way on the high end), I might counter by offering a previous paystub or something (w2 doesn't often tell the whole story, and can also give them more info than they need. Yes I'm paranoid). If I had lied tho? Well I might just cut my losses, knowing that it would be interpreted as me being guilty, but then again I would be guilty. I do wonder tho if somebody would resort to GIMPing their w2 or paystub to fudge the numbers? IDK. I couldn't do it without feeling like a horrible person, but I'm unusual.
paulcole 8y ago
When asked for previous salary I tell them my "current compensation". In this I include employer contribution to health care, retirement benefits, vacation time, office perks, etc. All of these are nebulous enough to where I can get to whatever number I want. If they really want to see my W2 it's probably not a good fit. As a jobseeker, I have to trust what an employer says and they're not extending me the same courtesy. I mean can I see the W2s of my coworkers to verify I'm not getting ripped off?

freedomben 8y ago

Great question, and I'm not the one you asked, but here's my two cents anyway :-) I would likely do what you did and say hell no (tho this may lead them to believe I was actually lying, even tho I'd be clear that I felt it was an invasion of my privacy). If I really wanted the job for some reason (maybe I'm desperate, or their tech really is that 1337), and felt like they were asking in good faith (didn't want to be conned, especially if their market data would say I was already statistically way on the high end), I might counter by offering a previous paystub or something (w2 doesn't often tell the whole story, and can also give them more info than they need. Yes I'm paranoid). If I had lied tho? Well I might just cut my losses, knowing that it would be interpreted as me being guilty, but then again I would be guilty. I do wonder tho if somebody would resort to GIMPing their w2 or paystub to fudge the numbers? IDK. I couldn't do it without feeling like a horrible person, but I'm unusual.

paulcole 8y ago

When asked for previous salary I tell them my "current compensation". In this I include employer contribution to health care, retirement benefits, vacation time, office perks, etc. All of these are nebulous enough to where I can get to whatever number I want. If they really want to see my W2 it's probably not a good fit. As a jobseeker, I have to trust what an employer says and they're not extending me the same courtesy. I mean can I see the W2s of my coworkers to verify I'm not getting ripped off?