How to Fill Out Resumes and Job Applications
Don't Offer Salary History and Other Delicate Details to Employers
Oct 2, 2009
There is a growing practice among businesses today in which these businesses ask for a salary history either when requesting a person's resume or on an initial job application. As an applicant a person might not want to answer this question, or any other delicate question about past employment, but how does he avoid doing so? He stalls – the right way – because ignoring the question is a poor choice.
Don't Ignore a Job Application Question
Ignoring a question about salary history implies that a job seeker is not paying attention, or that he doesn't take the company's questions regarding his past work seriously. Ignoring application or resume questions can make any job seeker look rude and destroy his chances of getting a job before he ever even gets to an interview.
Rather than ignore a question put to him by a potential employer, he should remain respectful while declining to answer. If he's filling out a job application, he can write "will discuss at interview" or something similar in the salary box. If he's sending a cover letter with his resume, the job seeker should make sure to use that cover letter to address any questions that the company has asked, and that includes questions about previous salary or other specifics.
What to Say About Salary on a Resume or Job Application
If someone seeking a job doesn't want to directly answer a salary question he should simply state, politely but firmly, that he would prefer to discuss salary information during the interview. A large number of job applicants fear the idea of declining to answer an employer's question in a cover letter or on a job application because they believe it will stop them from getting the job.
A job seeker may find himself in a situation where he's being asked about salary history and he doesn't wish to discuss it until the interview. In most cases, he shouldn't be overly concerned about whether omitting the salary history and indicating he'll discuss it only during the interview will harm his chances of securing the position he's applying for.
Most companies that are interested in what someone has to offer as an employee based on his resume or application won't toss out his information just because he didn't give them a dollar figure for his past salary. Some employers specifically state that salary history is required to be considered, however. When applying for a job like that, providing the range the past salary was in (i.e. $25,000 to $30,000+) is often acceptable.
No matter what job a person is applying for and what information he ultimately decides to provide, he should make sure he's polite and respectful to the company he's applying to. He should also provide them with all the basic information they've requested–or explain why he's not. Honesty goes a long way when applying for any job. Samples and information regarding applications and resumes can be found online, and resume-writing companies are also available for someone who needs the extra help.
Resume Writing and Job Application Resources:
Resume Writing Tips and Salary Requirements
Help for Successfully Completing a Job Application
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