Will be speaking to recruiter from recruiting firm today. They ask about the comp I am looking for. Do I tell them how much I make? It’s on a higher end. Last recruiter I spoke to I gave a range but I believe they thought it’s a bit high. I don’t want to lose any opportunities and if needed can take a bit of cut. My whole department is about to be laid off due to reorg. I need to find smth fast.

I would recommend stating, “thank you for asking, I’d like to go through the interview process prior to giving a range. I am positive we can come to a comparable range then.”

I would give them a range but also state that I’m flexible and open to negotiation depending on the overall compensation package (ex. Insurance, 401k matches etc) and the responsibilities of the role

I'd give the range I'm looking for but also explain you're willing to negotiate because there are some other things that offset salary (generous PTO, good benefits, retirement match).

As an example, I recently interviewed at a public institution and while the salary was in the mid-point of my range and acceptable, healthcare was free and there were very generous retirement benefits (10% automatic funding, gov't pension after X years)

“no employer has ever felt that I was overpaid.”

“I am comfortable with a significant part of my earnings being tied to performance [or, what I accomplish for my employer]”

Ask them what range is budgeted for the role.

Depending on the state you work in, the recruiter may not be able to legally ask you for your comp (NY for example). The problem with telling an employer that you are willing to accept a lower comp level than you currently make (especially if they know you are looking to leave due to job instability) is they may think you are just looking for a temporary safe haven and will leave in a few months if something closer to your current comp becomes available.

Do not give a range. Especially in the first rounds. They eliminate candidates if comp expectation is out of range and you cannot explain why. Wait till the latter stages then do give a specific number, i.e. I’m looking at gross comp 400k more (whatever the number is). Shoot for the moon, it’ll make you stand out, and you’ll be surprised how often you get it.

Integrity is important.
It advisable to be honest and truthful

I would be honest with the recruiter and let them know you are open to a different salary based upon the whole package.

I recently took a new position. When asked about compensation, I told them where I was, but that I was more interested in the job than the compensation. I also told the recruiter that I didn't want compensation to be the reason we stopped talking. I now have a great position at about 12% less, but it was well worth it to me.

I know the specifics of the position vary from firm to firm so I'm hesitant to give a specific number but from my research a general competitive range of x-y. Blah blah blah your awesome... if budget for the position is in that range I'd love to continue this conversation.


*I'm lucky enough to be in states that make salary ranges mandatory. Title inflation is rampant in job listings.

Never show your hand before its time. Talking compensation prior to an interview or during the first stage interview is the worst hiring practice! Not a culture you want to work in, ever! Hiring is about cultural fit and vetting that aspect as a priority, then the terms.

never tell how much u earn rule of thumb. just say company policy doesn't allow to do that

This is a recruiter. They’re on your side. Those saying to keep it from them is ridiculous. It would be one thing if you were on the low end, but you’re not. Tell them the range that you would be happy with and then be sure to tell them that you’re willing to work with the firm if they can’t match what you’re looking for. Be flexible, but know your limits. With a recruiter, be honest. They can tell you if your expectations are off kilter, and will if needs be.

First, I’m sorry you’re in this position.

Second, having gone through this myself just over a year ago, I’m going to share some unsolicited advice about the topic you asked about, and a couple of others.

First, try to discern exactly what you know and what you don’t. When are those layoffs coming? Next week, next month, obviously, it makes a difference in terms of your planning and runway.

Do you know people at your Org who were previously laid off? They can be an invaluable source of information regarding things like severance packages and the like. Trust me when I say that nothing creates a fraternity or sorority faster than having a common experience of being laid off by the same company.

Next, recognize that there have been a lot of layoffs in financial services lately. There is no shame in getting laid off from a bank or other related company right now. It’s happening a lot as you know. It’s not about you.

Regarding your question about recruiters. The way I usually approached This was to ask specifically about the range for the job. I usually couched it at the end of the first conversation as not wanting to waste their time going forward. Believe me, recruiters are being cut right and left. They don’t have time to waste either. That said, I would try to go into that conversation with a decent understanding of what the market for the role pays. If you are forced to give an answer regarding salary expectations, you can give a wide range the bottom of which should be more like the top of where you actually want to be. What you’re looking for is overlap in your needs and theirs from a financial perspective.

Lastly, don’t panic. You will be OK. Things seemed bleak for me at times. However, I did have a bit of runway where I knew the layoffs were coming. By the time I actually got to the meeting at which I was laid off, I was about a week away from having three different offers in hand. I had approximately four months notice that those layoffs were coming, because I had heard whispers of a particular time frame.

Very best of luck. I’m rooting for you. It will be OK.

You should share your range with the recruiter. They dont want to put you in front of the their client if your range is outside the budget. They will see interviewing only to find no agreement on compensation as a waste of time. Give numbers that you can live with and mention flexibility

First stop selling yourself short, and second why are you having anything to do with a recruiter. LinkedIn is a far better medium to use, as most or all employers have an account with them, and many will want you to list your profile on their application. Use Indeed.com, just make sure both the content on LinkedIn and Indeed are the same, or you will look ridiculous. Be honest with the job alerts as to how far you really want to drive/travel, whether you want to relocate, the positions you really want to be in, and what you really need to get by and maybe save for emergencies. I've had dealings at one time with 9 recruiting companies, 7 I never heard from ever, 1 I fired because of verbal abuse and wanting me to use a resume with fake experiences to get an interview (I fired the recruiter and his company after that), and 1 sent me on such awful interviews (1 where two women interviewers laughed at every one of my experiences, another was told I don't know how to read a simple credit bureau/the person talked to me like I was a child/when I told them I have 8 years in a finance company in which I'm familiar with reading all 3 credit bureaus, they had no info which shocked the recruiter because she supposedly told them otherwise), so I fired that company, too. Let the job alerts do the work for you, and get rid of the recruiter because the only person that can advocate for yourself is you. LinkedIn has courses (with a paid membership) that can go to your Continued Education requirements if that is something you're concerned about, but otherwise you can use the skills and have a certificate to show for it. You can learn Microsoft (anything you want to build or learn for the next job opportunity), human resources (to get an idea of what some business are doing/using to hire to get an edge into the job market), and other things, as many places like to see someone with continued personal development. Also given how close it is to the holidays, you might start getting real about them. Use church thrift stores to shop for those immediate to you (spouse/children/parents/parents-in-law only) as you can find nice things and is usually cheaper than Goodwill, just wash and use disinfect in the wash before giving them, and clean and sanitize the children's gifts. Tell them that things will be different because of the layoff, the child(ren)'s pediatrician of how to break the news to them, because if you keep it a secret it will cause more problems than you're trying to prevent. Payoff any loans, and take money out of your 401k to do so to get it out of the way. Do all auto maintenance according to the vehicle's mileage to keep it running. Start storing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and only get as much that your family can eat in only two days time. Get sparkling apple cider for New Years, just do yourself a favor and stay home. You don't want to go to other people's homes and be the focus of their condescending attitudes and comments on all of the holidays!