My last job I was on £50K plus bonus. I have been doing some interim work and recently starting looking for a new role. I have been offered an interview for a job advertised at £80K plus bonus.How should I answer the "what was your last salary" question?

Why not tell them "It was £75K plus bonus"?Then when they get all personal and want to check up in detail on you, tell them that your former salary is a matter between you and the taxman only, and they should respect your right to privacy when it comes to such personal matters.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=salary+negotiationalso, here's a brief version of my time tested formula: "Based on the market rate for my skills and experience my target salary is £80k. Sorry, wasn't that your question?"

someguy, you've just given me my favourite new website.

I think you should tell the truth - you can quote a figure for your overall package which includes bonus, and that will be higher than the £50k salary, and you could also add on company pension contribution as part of your overall package, but I wouldn't lie about your basic salary - when you start, you'll need to submit a P45 and they would see then how much you earned: I'm not sure of the consequences, but would you want to risk it, when you could get the job on merit? If it's advertised at £80k, and you have the right skills and experience, it may be that your previous job was underpaid; your interim work experience significantly boosted your skills and capabilities and you earned the pay rise, or that the potential job is just incredibly well paid.

For those who say you should tell them your current salary, are you commies or something??? The man has a right to PRIVACY. How freakin' rude and commie-like is it to expect someone to tell you the fine details of their personal financial situation? It's none of their freakin business! All they need to know is can you do the job for a price you can both agree on? They don't need to know your mortgage size, salary, mileage on your car, colour of your knickers, size of your d1ck, amount of your last bonus, or anything else that any reasonable person would consider private information.

If I ask you your latest salary and you tell me 'Right to privacy etc etc' your application will STRAIGHT in the 'unlucky' file.Tell me it was £50k, you were undervalued at that and to prove you went interim and got employed and retained at £xxx per day. Then shut up. IF you are challenged then what someguy said.If you lie to me, Kroll and P45 will tell me and I will have to review your application but to be honest, if you've sold yourself properly and the hiring manager still wants you, I'll offer you £65, 70, 75 till we get a deal.I get quite a few people in your situation, enough to know that you're probably credible and actually worth the money.Stick with your guns and don't protest too much.

If I were him, I wouldn't lecture you about 'right to privacy' etc. I'd just tell you what you want to hear! So £75K as my last salary it is!As for checking up, well you wouldn't get my P45/P60. I'd just say put me on an emergency tax code (standard practice if these forms are in the post, eaten by the dog, whatever) and take care of it via my own tax return at the end of the year.As for Kroll (whoever they are - some Experian type outfit no doubt), the best they could be able to tell you is that they weren't able to verify my salary. Unless they have some magic and secret access to HMRC's tax database, that is.It is a sad day when recruiters basically leave you with no option but to bullsh1t to them.

Commie, if you saw the report we get, you would sh** yourself, I promise. Its a bit naughty because we have to have them for our FS guys, but we stretch it across the group.I actually said NOT to lie. Just tell the story as it is and don't be ashamed of it, just be sure it stacks up. Whats wrong with that?As I said, I got lots of guys looking for a jump, some dreamers, some have a great case.

I'm sure Kroll are very thorough in their checks, but quite frankly, all they can really report on is information they find in the public domain. There's some information on this planet they just don't have access to. My salary being one of those pieces of information. Now I'm sure they can possibly make a guess at it based on what they can find out about me in the public domain, but unless somebody actually tells them and breaches confidence, there's no way they're able to know it. After all, contrary to what a lot of you commies out there might believe, not all of us work for large multinational firms where pay scales and grades are common knowledge. It's so commie-like to think that certain companies hold a central database that knows more about everyone then they themselves do.Anyhow, I still don't think it's good to tell a future employer that you're currently on say £45K if you're going for a job that pays £80K. You may well be perfectly capable and experienced and qualified enough to do the job - but as soon as they hear about the pay discrepancy they will either pigeonhole you as being in a different league or will hammer you in negotiations.

A few different opinions! I think best bet is to add in all the benefits such as car allowance and quote it as £65K plus bonus.I am reluctant to exaggerate too much as the interview is with an agency (retained assignment). Sods law is the next role they have is perfect for me and I then look too expensive.

qa makes a good point - you should always be thinking beyond the next interview. Which is why market rate is the least controversial, best response. Unless they are extending a formal offer the salary talk should be best kept vague. I've commented at length on this elsewhere but suffice it to say if you give a range and you are a good fit for the requirements on paper they will give you a pass on the exact number. However, outright lying will make you look like a fool - Kroll check or no Kroll check.

Definitely don't lie, and only exagerate if you can back it up if quizzed for detail. For exampe, quote an end figure that includes base, personal bonus, company bonus, car allowance, pension, gym membership, and even perhaps estimated salary payrise if you were to stay. Anything to get that figure high, but also being able to explain it if they want proof.Jimmie Danielswww.itbodies.co.ukYour Online IT Department