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Update on post 115. Have you ever had a potential employer verify your current income?

26,586 3,338 February 8, 2012 at 07:25 AM in Question
I am in the middle of a potential job change. Today is interview #2. This is a technical interview. Yesterday, they sent me the link to fill out their application. They asked what my current "verifiable compensation" is. Why is that any of their business? I only see that as a possible negotiating tool for them. If I put my current salary, it could cost me $5k-$10k in salary for this new potential job. But, if I exaggerate it and they find out, it could cost me the job. The guy I know who is recommending me for this position (and who is also doing the technical interview today) told me to exaggerate it. So, I did. Have you lied about your current income? Anyone ever had a potential employer actually ask for verification?
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Joined Jan 2005
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moey
02-08-2012 at 10:04 AM.
02-08-2012 at 10:04 AM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
Care to elaborate on this mysterious employer salary network?
background checks have them I believe, although its hit or miss if its in your background check

Thats why you leave it blank your not lying that way.
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Joined Dec 2003
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> bubble2 26,586 Posts
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Original Poster
Mavtech
02-08-2012 at 10:31 AM.
02-08-2012 at 10:31 AM.
Quote from moey :
just leave it blank, if a company cares that much theres a good chance you don't want to work there
I tried to leave the form blank and I also tried to put $00,000. Neither worked. The form colored it in yellow and made me put something in to submit.
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Joined Jul 2009
Permanently Bland
> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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PaintTheSkyGrey
02-08-2012 at 10:39 AM.
02-08-2012 at 10:39 AM.
Quote from moey :
background checks have them I believe, although its hit or miss if its in your background check

Thats why you leave it blank your not lying that way.
Your salary is not public record. Neither are tax records.
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Joined Sep 2009
Gooooo Tigers!
> bubble2 13,969 Posts
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Curtieson
02-08-2012 at 10:40 AM.
02-08-2012 at 10:40 AM.
Quote from nizzy1115 :
guaranteed so long as the company is in the black
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Joined Jan 2005
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moey
02-08-2012 at 10:53 AM.
02-08-2012 at 10:53 AM.
Quote from Mavtech :
I tried to leave the form blank and I also tried to put $00,000. Neither worked. The form colored it in yellow and made me put something in to submit.
well you could put $1 although that may be considered arrogant by some employers
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Joined May 2006
Boating
> bubble2 21,228 Posts
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Piccaboo
02-08-2012 at 03:12 PM.
02-08-2012 at 03:12 PM.
Quote from moey :
background checks have them I believe, although its hit or miss if its in your background check

Thats why you leave it blank your not lying that way.
True and factual - a friend who is an Engineer inflated his salary when applying for a job - and there was a background check done - and it was discovered he inflated his salary - he did not get the job - and they stated this was the reason. Leaving it blank would have been a better option, and giving him room to negotiate his salary - rather than lying.

Do not believe your salary information is NOT out there somehow, someway - it is - you just don't know how to access it - HR does.

I worked in HR, and even if you check off do not call current employer - that does not mean they will not. It's you "requesting" that they do not - does not mean they have to "honor" your request - do realize that.
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Joined Dec 2003
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> bubble2 26,586 Posts
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Original Poster
Mavtech
02-08-2012 at 03:25 PM.
02-08-2012 at 03:25 PM.
I know they could call my current employer. But, I'm pretty sure that they won't. But, never knew about the background check having salary information. Let's hope they don't try to verify.

On the bright side, the 2nd interview today went well and he said he is recommending me for the 3rd and final interview.
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Joined May 2006
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Piccaboo
02-08-2012 at 03:29 PM.
02-08-2012 at 03:29 PM.
Quote from Mavtech :
I know they could call my current employer. But, I'm pretty sure that they won't. But, never knew about the background check having salary information. Let's hope they don't try to verify.

On the bright side, the 2nd interview today went well and he said he is recommending me for the 3rd and final interview.

Sounds like it is going well, and you were recommended by someone - so you got your foot in the door that way as it was - here's hoping you get the job and the salary you are looking for woot woot
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Joined Jun 2008
Life = YMMV
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teenbean
02-08-2012 at 06:07 PM.
02-08-2012 at 06:07 PM.
I wonder if the amount the back ground check salary is just using the information from your credit report? I know when I fill out my credit application, I don't always put the exact amount. (unless I'm applying for a mortgage)

At my work, HR won't even verify employement. I have to go to a website and authorize that information.
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Joined May 2006
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Piccaboo
02-08-2012 at 09:04 PM.
02-08-2012 at 09:04 PM.
Quote from teenbean :
I wonder if the amount the back ground check salary is just using the information from your credit report? I know when I fill out my credit application, I don't always put the exact amount. (unless I'm applying for a mortgage)

At my work, HR won't even verify employement. I have to go to a website and authorize that information.

Watch what forms you sign when applying for a Job - here is the method they use - I knew if I searched hard enough - I would find the method they are using - search and destroy Evil


Note the language in this document - specifically where it says you give them permission - and I'm sure when filling out job applications - at some point they slide this language into the paperwork - and people just sign off on it. As I said HR has a ways and means to get to the information nod


http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7050.pdf


All for the amazing price of $15.00 they can have your current salary information, once they have managed to get your to sign the paperwork, through the haze of other documents you are signing during the interviewing process.
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Joined Dec 2003
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> bubble2 26,586 Posts
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Original Poster
Mavtech
02-09-2012 at 05:11 AM.
02-09-2012 at 05:11 AM.
Quote from teenbean :
I wonder if the amount the back ground check salary is just using the information from your credit report? I know when I fill out my credit application, I don't always put the exact amount. (unless I'm applying for a mortgage)

At my work, HR won't even verify employement. I have to go to a website and authorize that information.
No salary info is on your credit report. This is why mortgage lenders have their own credit formulas. They ask you for verification of income to plug in to their formula.
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Joined Mar 2004
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brbubba
02-12-2012 at 03:24 PM.
02-12-2012 at 03:24 PM.
I don't see how this wouldn't be a form of hiring discrimination. As in you refuse to disclose non-standard private information about yourself so we're not going to hire you vs. someone else who is willing to disclose that info.
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Joined Dec 2007
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dodgeman
02-13-2012 at 10:02 AM.
02-13-2012 at 10:02 AM.
Quote from Mavtech :
I am in the middle of a potential job change. Today is interview #2. This is a technical interview. Yesterday, they sent me the link to fill out their application. They asked what my current "verifiable compensation" is. Why is that any of their business? I only see that as a possible negotiating tool for them. If I put my current salary, it could cost me $5k-$10k in salary for this new potential job. But, if I exaggerate it and they find out, it could cost me the job. The guy I know who is recommending me for this position (and who is also doing the technical interview today) told me to exaggerate it. So, I did. Have you lied about your current income? Anyone ever had a potential employer actually ask for verification?
i know my "income" for a job includes far more than just the pay itself. 401k matching, health, dental vision insurance, life insurance etc... so you shorted yourself in all likelihood only going 5-10K more, i would say its usually closer to 15k or more depending on how good the products are that they are providing. price health insurance for a family, i have yet to see a quote under 1k a month for quality insurance paid for not in a group plan. but i agree say they cant contact your employer, i also know in my state they legally cant tell someone what your pay is in that situation without a written signed doc YOU provided them.

Quote from Piccaboo :
Watch what forms you sign when applying for a Job - here is the method they use - I knew if I searched hard enough - I would find the method they are using - search and destroy Evil


Note the language in this document - specifically where it says you give them permission - and I'm sure when filling out job applications - at some point they slide this language into the paperwork - and people just sign off on it. As I said HR has a ways and means to get to the information nod


http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7050.pdf


All for the amazing price of $15.00 they can have your current salary information, once they have managed to get your to sign the paperwork, through the haze of other documents you are signing during the interviewing process.
am i the only one who refuses to sign things without reading them? at this point i take anything like that home to review at my leisure and if its important have my lawyer give it a once over. but thats just me i guess
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Last edited by dodgeman February 13, 2012 at 10:04 AM.
Joined Dec 2003
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Original Poster
Mavtech
02-14-2012 at 11:44 AM.
02-14-2012 at 11:44 AM.
I had the final interview yesterday. 1 hour with the director and 1 with the GM. They both asked a lot of the same questions. Both asked my current salary. I didn't like that. The good thing is that even with my exaggerated current income, she said I was underpaid. LOL!
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Joined Dec 2003
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 26,586 Posts
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Original Poster
Mavtech
02-14-2012 at 12:25 PM.
02-14-2012 at 12:25 PM.
Woot! Just got called with an offer!
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