On My 3rd Interview: Employer Asking for Recent Paystub (job offers, employment, 2015)
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I've seen this subject posted before and I've read up on it quite a bit. Here's my situation, I currently make $73,000 /yr in Houston, TX and am on my third interview with another company that's asking for a recent paystub as one of the documents to bring with me for the onsite interview (Austin, TX).
When I initially talked with the recruiter he asked what my current salary was, and I said $84,000 (because I know this will determine if they lowball me or not, and it will weed out job offers I'm not willing to move for). I also said I'd be looking for a bit over $100,000 to be willing to move from the industry giant Houston and a great company to a new location. He asked if I would be willing to look around the $90 - 100k range and I said "well, maybe, depending on how good the benefits are and I would have to hit the high side of that". The fact that they called me for another interview shows that they are capable of giving me what I want I believe.
So fast forward and phone interview with the recruiter, a technical phone interview with one of the engineers at the company, and now I accepted an invite for an onsite interview on Monday (9/21). They asked me to bring an array of documents such as a copy of my degree, an application form, etc. But they also asked for a "recent paystub (for compensation verification)".
Now I'm trying to decide how to proceed, as far as I've researched, here are my options I'm aware of:
1. Deny them the paystub (say something like "salary compensation information is considered confidential by my current employer)
2. Give them the paystub (Justify my salary exaggeration by saying that was with bonuses)
3. Forge the paystub
As much as I don't want to be shady, I know if I show them my true salary that HR will have a certain percentage they're "allowed" to give and they will lowball me. I know I'm not willing to relocate for anything less than $90,000 and I'm shooting for 95,000. I'm not overly concerned with them turning me down because I have a great job where I am, and that's why the offer would have to be substantially better for me to be willing to move.
What was so wrong with saying you make $73,000 , but are only willing to move for $90,000 ? Then you wouldn't be in this pickle, correct ?
I suppose if you said it was $84,000 with bonuses, they make ask you to bring in your W2 on the 4th interveiw.
Maybe someone there is very familiar with your place of employment, and is calling your bluff ? perhaps someone that used to work there ?
I wouldn't lie , what if you get fired 3 months after you move, because they found out you lied about your previous salary ?
Yes I know I got myself into this pickle. But like I said, I'm not overly concerned if they turn me down, I just was shooting for the stars to see if it would happen.
And they aren't calling my bluff as far as I know, the note that said bring a paystub was a part of a copy/paste email they send to interviewees along with other document requirements so that's just standard for them.
I don't think my previous salary would be something ever brought up again after my first day of employment somewhere new
I would simply not bring it and say that you are there to see if you can help their business and are interested to understand what the value to them is. I have successfully done this three times now and am over the days of ever telling any HR what I currently make. Not gonna happen, ever again.
I think you should explain the exaggeration. But in the future, just be honest and let the company know what you're willing to move for. I definitely wouldn't forge a pay stub. I'm not aware of any dire consequences from doing so, but it just seems like a really bad idea.
Could you say that your base is $73K which is what the pay stub will show you and that you will be getting a 15% bonus after completion of project X or in January whatever, making your effective salary $84K for 2015 and that's why you gave them that number - in this case $73K wouldn't have been an accurate representation of your current salary. They can't ask you for something that is to happen in the future, right?
Actually my mother is looking for a job and she tells them her salary is base plus whatever she's been told her bonus will most likely be which is paid out in March.
3. forge the pay stub. If they have the low morals to bully you into revealing personal information they have no right to in order to put you at a negotiating disadvantage you owe them nothing in return. Use Photoshop or whatever and forge the pay-stub.
3. forge the pay stub. If they have the low morals to bully you into revealing personal information they have no right to in order to put you at a negotiating disadvantage you owe them nothing in return. Use Photoshop or whatever and forge the pay-stub.
How did they "bully" OP into giving the info?
Great idea to followup a lie by fabricating another.
I would simply not bring it and say that you are there to see if you can help their business and are interested to understand what the value to them is. I have successfully done this three times now and am over the days of ever telling any HR what I currently make. Not gonna happen, ever again.
This is interesting that you've done this multiple times. I was under the impression that this would greatly hurt my chances. I wasn't sure if perhaps HR has certain guidelines to follow and require a hard number to work off of. Could you give me an example of how this went for you specifically?
On second thought, why not just hand them your paystub like it's no big deal ? hold a poker face. ..
If they bring up why it doesn't reflect the higher salary, just look at them and say " my bonus isn't on there"
and then say " anything else ? "
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