What do I do if a recruiter, employer or job application forces me to disclose my previous salary?

“Trevor, what do I do if a recruiter, employer or job application forces me to disclose my previous salary?”

Ah, the salary history trap - like being asked to show your poker hand before the cards are even dealt.

It’s still way too common. You hit “apply” and boom - there it is. A required field asking for your previous salary. And you’re stuck thinking: “Do I answer honestly and risk being underpaid, or do I push back and risk looking difficult?”

Here’s what I tell job seekers:

Your past salary is not your worth or your current value.

It reflects what someone else could afford - or was willing to pay - under their own biases, budget and structure. It has nothing to do with your current skills, your value today, or the market conditions.

But recruiters and employers still ask. Why?

Because it gives THEM leverage and advantage.

If you were on $115K, they can offer $125K and feel generous - even if the role’s worth $145K+. It’s not always malicious - sometimes it’s just easier than doing proper benchmarking.

And it happens more often than you think.

- Glassdoor research shows 67% of candidates feel pressured to disclose salary history.

- And 70% of recruiters admit that knowing your previous salary influences the offer - even when it shouldn’t.

This is how people get stuck in underpayment cycles - especially women, migrants, older workers and those who took a step back for personal reasons.

So what do you do when the question is mandatory?

If it’s a required field in an online form, put in a market-aligned placeholder - not necessarily your actual past salary. Something that reflects what you’re targeting based on market value.

Use market salary guides published by large recruitment agencies - they know what the market is doing...and they publish it publicly!

And when asked in person?

Flip it.

Boldly ask them:

“I'm flexible. What is the role paying?" or "What is the budget for the role?" Put them under pressure to give you an answer first.

Remember, this is a negotiation, not a confession.

You’re not being difficult. You’re being smart. You’re steering the conversation back to what matters: value, contribution and fairness.

If you’ve ever accepted a lowball offer because you disclosed too much too early - you’re not alone. But you can change the game next time.

And if an employer insists on using your past salary as a starting point, that’s not just a red flag - it’s a warning sign that they might not value what you bring today.

You are not your last payslip.

You are your potential, your track record and your current capability.

This is a pretty common problem that most of us have gone through. How have you handled it. Put it in the comments to give help to others or seek help.

We're all here to help each other get a fair deal.

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