Looking for a job rn and wondering whether I should be telling recruiters/Hiring managers my current salary. I did go through past posts on this sub, and opinions seem to be quite divided into the following two, so I am asking to get more clarity on this matter.
A) “Never ever ever tell them your current salary cuz they will most likely lowball you. If they insist then don’t apply”
B) “I told them my current salary and still got a huge salary increase so it doesn’t matter. Besides, hiding that information could be viewed as a red flag in Japan cuz it’s a standard question.”
Those who have got large salary increases in the past, which one do you agree with and why? Also did you apply through recruiters or by yourself?
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There is this saying I like: “For a negotiation to work, you have to be willing to walk away. Otherwise it is not a negotiation, it is asking nicely”. Whether I’m willing to share my salary depends on how much power I hold. I’ve have good results in both cases though.
– A ~100% increase when I moved from a dispatch company to a Japanese company. They required it, and I was willing to do what it take to move out. Luckily being a big Japanese company, they have a rigid salary policy and the amount I would receive was fixed based on my position anyway.
– Another ~100% increase when I moved to a gaishikei. They also asked for my salary and I provided that again, as I was not willing to walk away. They could low ball me and I would not be any wiser but they did not, which I’m grateful for.
– A ~70% raise when I moved to a big tech. I deflected their request and they didn’t push back. If they did push it’s likely I would provide my salary though, as they were my dream company.
– A ~30% when I moved to my current position. I also deflected their request, and this time I was quite willing to stand my ground. They also didn’t push back.
All in all, my take is not providing your current salary is the better option, IN A VACUUM. I’m only familiar with tech, but IMO all the following are more important.
– Aceing the technical rounds (doh!).
– Research the position, both to know a realistic salary range, and to craft a more convincing pitch why they should pay you more.
– Have more than one offers.
Personally I’m in camp B, but honestly there’s probably no right answer, and it’s going to be very dependent on the company, the industry, where you are in your career, how desperate you are to move, etc.
My career was mostly getting promoted internally but I did have one big move which came with a ~5m raise that was actually ~2m above my asking. I had to send in a couple of recent payslips and previous 年末調整. Really glad I did, boosted my career tremendously and I’m still working there, with steady raises and promotions.
I told them my current salary at the time. But I moved from ALT to tech company.
I’ve gotten a 50% increase twice in my career. The first one was a bit cheating since I moved from a non-sales role without a performance bonus, to a sales role with a performance bonus. My base grew only 10%, but my overall package grew by 50%. The second time this happened, I moved to position where the pay grade was simply significantly higher than my current salary.
I generally am upfront about my salary. If a company lowballs me, I would simply rather not work there.
From what I know in Japan its very common practice to base their offer on your previous salary since you know you should be happy with an increase no matter the job change. One time I decided to give it and got lowballed super hard. Another time I just lied and got a pretty big increase. I could be wrong but generally companies are not so interconnected that the department managing your taxes knows what you said you were making during the interview process. They will just want the official doc from your last company to file your taxes.
I did tell them, but I also shared the minimum needed compensation to hire me. They accepted even tho my base pay was doubled. The minimum I said was actually the salary I wanted, so everyone ends up happy.
Most likely you’ll have to submit your gensen choshu, so they will eventually find out your current salary anyways. So no point in hiding it. Just declare what you want and walk away if they don’t offer it. Good luck!
First jump was slightly more than double but that’s kinda cheating as I was a fresh grad recruit in a Japanese company and switched in my second year to gaishikei in manufacturing (not tech, yes manufacturing pays too, well sometimes… Well very niche ones.. Sigh).
Then another 30% to consulting (no, not the MBB, I play for longer game, not to burn dead in a year or two).
Then another 30% back as management role in manufacturing again, but then this is also cheating in a way because it was after a consulting industry..
I was always in the show them 100% my salary camp because I usually have a target I made clear to them regardless. So kinda fair both ways imo.
Funny story though, my first jump, the hiring manager was actually pitying me and he literally commented, damn that is very low, you need to come aboard asap. Which was very positive but kinda violated my confidence at that time tbh.
Another thing I haven’t seen people mentioning it, other than the previous salary based increase, at least in my personal experience age is also a huge ‘discrimination’ factor.
I may had those ‘huge’ raise and titles etc. but I’m in the lower band of those roles and everytime HR always gives me the age excuse thing.
Of course I’m comfortable anough with the pay in general but it’s just a shame, like, if you don’t want to pay me as much only due to my age, hence I’m ‘less experienced/younger’ than why hire me in the first place?
To your point OP, previous salary is not the law ballers cause, at least in my experience.
I told the recruiter my salary two times, still got a 60% increase twice.
Having multiple offers and not willing to budge is definitely something you want to do.