Temporary pay reduction at current job - What to report on job interviews? (job application, application)

[ruhkus]

The company I work at is going through rough times and reduced everyone's pay by almost 8% (temporarily). This of course is also a large part of why I'm looking for work elsewhere.

When a prospective employer asks me what my current salary is, is there anything wrong with giving the pre-pay reduction salary?

The current company has indicated that this reduction is only temporary and hopefully will be in a better position next fiscal year to re-instate the salaries to the previous level.

[MSchemist80]

I would simply not tell the prospective employer about the pay reduction.

[hnsq]

How does it appear on your paycheck? Companies handle this two ways:

1) Net pay stays the same, and the 8% decrease is a line item taken out of the check.
2) Net pay decreases by 8%

If your company does #1, report your old salary, if it does #2, report your new salary.

[TFW46]

I think honesty is always the best policy. You'll have an opportunity to explain about the temporary decrease in salary,

This happened to me in the late 1980's. My small company decreased our salaries by almost 50% (that's not a typo). Another company contacted me a short time later about a job and I put the truth about my low salary on the job application. The hiring manager told me that he was impressed with my honesty. I got the job and a 100% salary increase.

[kodaka]

I would probably report the lower amount if asked and indicate in my cover letter that the reason for my job search is the wage cuts.

[Hemlock140]

I agree, if they ask for your current salary give the regular amount and in parenthesis the temporary reduction.

[Tober138]

Just be honest. Note what your slary was and also explain how salaries were reduced by your company for financial reasons.

[Charles]

You pretty much have to be honest because many (most?) employers want a copy of your most recent pay stub.