Employer wants proof of employment by paystub/W2

[JS80]

How would providing a "really, really old pay stub" showing "much lower pay" provide a) proof of CURRENT employment and b) help with negotiating a salary higher than your current salary? The advice he gave was nonsense.



Repeat after me: it is none -- NONE -- of their business what you currently make. When a company asks for salary history, they're trying to filter you out and you never give it to them. Instead, ask them the salary range for the position. If they won't give that to you and still ask for your salary, just tell them the range of pay you're looking to make in the new position. If they still insist, tell them to get bent.


OP, just give a paystub and black out the numbers.

If I'm hiring a sales director who claims he hit 150% target and was paid $300k in commissions, you bet it's my business what they really made.

 

[spidey07]

If you lied and they find out you're going to lose the position.

You NEVER, EVER tell a prospective employer what you make. It is none of their business and has zero bearing on what your pay for the position should be.

It's the worst mistake you can make in your career.

 

[JS80]

You NEVER, EVER tell a prospective employer what you make. It is none of their business and has zero bearing on what your pay for the position should be.

It's the worst mistake you can make in your career.

Never say never.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

If I'm hiring a sales director who claims he hit 150% target and was paid $300k in commissions, you bet it's my business what they really made.

No, it isn't your business what he makes regardless of what you think. As the hiring manager, it is your job to assess the candidate and find out if he is worth what he's asking.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

You NEVER, EVER tell a prospective employer what you make. It is none of their business and has zero bearing on what your pay for the position should be.

It's the worst mistake you can make in your career.

Bingo.

 

[Patranus]

How exactly have you been hired by a company without negotiating salary?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

How exactly have you been hired by a company without negotiating salary?

My guess is that they are going to extend an offer contingent on the background check and then they'll negotiate from there.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If I'm hiring a sales director who claims he hit 150% target and was paid $300k in commissions, you bet it's my business what they really made.

A employer within the same field has the ability to verify such information without asking for a pay stub.

Some information can be asked of the prospect; others via the bgood old boy network.

 

[Miramonti]

You NEVER, EVER tell a prospective employer what you make. It is none of their business and has zero bearing on what your pay for the position should be.

It's the worst mistake you can make in your career.

Yep, it's even worse than impregnating the boss' underage daughter.

 

[randomrogue]

He might not live in the USA and be hired but negotiating his contract.

 

[Phoenix86]

If I'm hiring a sales director who claims he hit 150% target and was paid $300k in commissions, you bet it's my business what they really made.

Bullshit.

You check references to verify.

Even then past pay has little if anything to do with current worth. Employers should figure out if the person is WORTH that much, then pay or get someone else.

 

[Stuxnet]

My guess is that they are going to extend an offer contingent on the background check and then they'll negotiate from there.

OP says he's already been hired. To me, that means offer extended, accepted, and now just waiting for the start date to arrive.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

OP says he's already been hired. To me, that means offer extended, accepted, and now just waiting for the start date to arrive.

Well, if you're right, then the company is trying to call him on something -- possibly his salary if he mentioned it in an interview. That's another reason to never tell anyone what you make.

 

[spidey07]

Yep, it's even worse than impregnating the boss' underage daughter.

That only affects that one job.

By releasing salary information to employers your entire career's earning potential is significantly reduced. You will be constanly low balled and you'll think "I guess this is all I'm really worth" and will NEVER be paid what you truly are worth.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

That only affects that one job.

By releasing salary information to employers your entire career's earning potential is significantly reduced. You will be constanly low balled and you'll think "I guess this is all I'm really worth" and will NEVER be paid what you truly are worth.

That's exactly right. Companies are the ones hiring these positions and they know very well what the salary range is for a particular position. Instead of playing games by lowballing people, maybe they should exercise proper diligence during an interview and pick the PROPER candidate and pay the candidate what he/she is worth? If the salary the candidate requests falls outside of the approved range, the company can either negotiate, try to get the higher salary, or not hire that person. It really is that simple.

 

[piasabird]

Send them Your military Orders/Contract or DD 214. Copy of your last efficiency report.

Military Pay is so confusing.
Base Pay
Meals allowance
BAQ Family Housing or single Barracks (Housing allowance equiv)
Clothing Allowance (Every 3 years)
Insurance Costs
Medical fees (if you use base hospital)
Retirement
VA

A lot of these costs are hidden But the Military pays them for you. Them military use to have some kind of statement about what you would be paid for doing similar work in a civilian setting.

So explain to your prospective employer that you also expect a meals allowance, Free Housing, Clothing allowance, and free medical care, and a %100 Employer Paid Retirement plan!

 

[Miramonti]

That only affects that one job.

By releasing salary information to employers your entire career's earning potential is significantly reduced. You will be constanly low balled and you'll think "I guess this is all I'm really worth" and will NEVER be paid what you truly are worth.

Employers frequently ask a prospect what they currently make, and more often than not imo, atleast a range is given. I don't see a problem with that, especially if both parties do their research on what the proper compensation ranges are for the position. I can see where it could be limiting, but it could also help a potential ee.

 

[spidey07]

Employers frequently ask a prospect what they currently make, and more often than not imo, atleast a range is given. I don't see a problem with that, especially if both parties do their research on what the proper compensation ranges are for the position. I can see where it could be limiting, but it could also help a potential ee.

Read the book how to make 1000 dollars a minute. It truly changed my career and should be a must read for any professional. It explains the game very simply. And that's all it is, a game.

You never give a number first, that's the cardinal rule.

Think about it as a car. You ask the saleman "what do you want to sell this for". A good salesman would say "it depends on what you want to pay for it".

 

[Stuxnet]

Well, if you're right, then the company is trying to call him on something -- possibly his salary if he mentioned it in an interview. That's another reason to never tell anyone what you make.

I think you've hit the nail on the head... if an employer starts asking for additional paperwork after the fact, stuff is about to go down

 

[Miramonti]

Read the book how to make 1000 dollars a minute. It truly changed my career and should be a must read for any professional. It explains the game very simply. And that's all it is, a game.

You never give a number first, that's the cardinal rule.

Think about it as a car. You ask the saleman "what do you want to sell this for". A good salesman would say "it depends on what you want to pay for it".

Fair enough.

Btw, how's that $60k/hr position working for you?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Read the book how to make 1000 dollars a minute. It truly changed my career and should be a must read for any professional. It explains the game very simply. And that's all it is, a game.

Hey, thanks. I think I'll buy that book.

 

[JS80]

You guys are funny with your absolutes. They are general guides but there are plenty of specific situations where the strategy fails.

 

[Vic Vega]

I've been asked over the years what I was previously paid and always graciously declined to answer.

If they push the issue I usually say something like, "What I made in the past isn't important, what you're going to pay me is. Let's talk about that."

I've interviewed for exactly one job in my life which I didn't get, and I know it why. I wanted more money than they wanted to pay. Fair enough. I was already employed at the time and in no hurry to leave anyway so it didn't really matter.

I'm not saying my answer will work for you, but it's worked for me over and over.

 

[Stuxnet]

I've interviewed for exactly one job in my life which I didn't get

Similar story here, except I've never really been bothered by being asked to divulge my salary. I do, however, make clear what I expect to earn going forward. Something along the lines of "if I were happy with my current compensation package, we wouldn't be talking right now" does the trick. I've always been hesitant to get into pissing matches with HR, since they can be some of the prickliest people in the company (my present company excluded - they're awesome here).

So... in short: "I'm making $x, but I need $y to consider moving forward."

It's just like buying a car, and in either case I don't really care about throwing the first number out as long as I'm able to convey my conviction of not budging.

The whole approach just seems lest adversarial and inflammatory to me.

 

[Zeze]

You NEVER, EVER tell a prospective employer what you make. It is none of their business and has zero bearing on what your pay for the position should be.

It's the worst mistake you can make in your career.

I generally agree with this BUT,

If you want to work for that company, you do what they require. What's so hard about this?

If the company is lame enough to require your previous salary, then either oblige or pass on the job. You can't tell them what to do, nor can they tell you.

Take it or leave it.

/thread