How do I handle salary questions on job applications?

Karen Choper: Many job applications especially online applications now have sections for salary history or what your most recent salary was or what your salary requirements are. For the online applications, many of them are structured in such a way that you have to put a number inn, in order for the application to be accepted. That is you cant leave it blank and you cant write a word in.

If it happens to be a written application, you might just say on salary requirements they are negotiable or salary history, say competitive or market rates. So fill in the application words instead of numbers that indicate that you’ve read the question and that you think this information is adequate for their needs. The fear here is that they’re going to think that you’re being difficult if you don’t actually provide them with a number but I think that’s a lower risk than indicating salary that’s either going to get you eliminated or diminished your leverage at the end.

So on applications to the extent that you can, don’t include anything on an actual salary number. For those online applications, you want to do as few of them as possible but if you have to list a salary number. Go with the one that you think is going to be most advantageous for you, so if you want them to pay you a lot of money, give them the highest salary that you’ve earned. If you want them to consider you because you think this job is going to pay less than the job that you’ve made, you may want to go with a salary figure that was a couple of years ago to make you a more attractive candidate and that’s the best you’re going to be able to do.