Salary History - The Confusion Continues -- Help appreciated!

[FergieTCat]

As I mentioned a few days ago, I was asked to provide a Salary History on a job application, and I am still confused.

I found my Social Securities Benefits Statement. But ... there are some years where I switched jobs mid year. How do I accurately reflect what my salary was at each job? There are a few instances of this, and I honestly don't remember my exact salary with overtime from one job or another. Do employers frown upon approximations? Some of these jobs are from more than 10 years ago and I don't have the tax returns. I checked one tax return, and it really didn't help because it didn't break down my total salary between base, overtime and bonuses. Also, do I include overtime and bonuss, or just the base salary?

Can anyone give me advice from an employer/interview point of view? I'd hate to be disqualified from a job because my salary history is inaccurate.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Cyndiu]

Speaking for myself, (I am Director of HR at my company) when I ask this I'm looking for base salary, so if you worked 40 hours perweek for 52 weeks in a year with no overtime, you take your hourly wage and multiply it by 2080 and that's the number they're looking for. Example: Hourly wage is $11.00. Annual salary is: $22,880.

 

[princesspiglet]

I am an HR Manager. When we ask for salary history we are looking for a range, not an exact estimate. For example, if you are applying for an administrative assistant job, you would put: My salary has been in the range of $35K-$45k. You want to be honest, but you don't need to say that you made $7.50 at one job, $10.00 at another, etc. We only ask about salary history so we know if we can afford to hire that person or if we can offer lower than "market" value and if their salary history falls within the postion's range. We have a 3 stage tier: beginner, market and competitive. There is usually a $10k difference in bottom to top. Regarding overtime, you need to calculate what your base pay was and add an approximate amount for overtime. However, do not put what you have made at every job for the past ten years...I would take one look at the application and throw it away. We honestly don't care what you made from one job to another, just what you are used to making. You could state, "I have been accustomed to making from $9.50 to $13.00 and hour in my previous employment" and leave it at that. If you have any questions, please feel free to pm me.

 

[Cyndiu]

Princess Piglet's response is right on.

 

[karebear1]

Donna-Just wanted to wish you good luck on the interview!

Let us know how it turns out!

Karen

 

[FergieTCat]

Thank you for the responses!! And thanks Cyndiu and PrincessPiglet for explaining the concept to me.