How to Provide Salary History When You Don't Have One

Marina writes: This morning while browsing Quintessential Careers, I stumbled upon a fantastic section about Salary Requirements. [Editor’s Note: Responding to Requests for Salary Requirements or Salary Histories: Strategies and Suggestions.] I am looking at many jobs that ask for requirements and history. The problem I face is that I have no salary history. To give you the five-second skinny on my past employment history, I worked full time with a non-profit environmental organization (during my senior year of college, all together almost two years) that was horrible. They wanted me on staff, but it came with a two-year commitment, I just couldn’t put myself in such a situation. I left the position and organization on fantastic terms. I still am employed with them on a part-time per-diem basis.

So what should I do? When checking on a reference would a potential employer ask the referrer about what they paid me? Do I figure out my “yearly salary” by calculating my hourly? How do I address my non-fulfillment in my old position with out ripping on my supervisors?

The Career Doctor responds: Employers ask about previous salary history and current salary requirements because they are trying to accomplish a number of tasks — they want to see if you have had a steady progression of salary (and responsibility) in previous jobs; they want to see if your current salary requirements fit into the range for the current position; and they want to have salary-negotiation leverage over you in case you become the candidate they want to hire.

Given your situation, you have little to worry about. Employers do not expect recent college grads to have a strong salary history. Many of the first jobs students land after graduation are ones they continued from college or took in desperation to have a job — and in both cases, as you have learned, the students quickly realize it’s time to move on to a better job.

Don’t fret so much about the salary-history issue. On any occasion where you need to put a salary (such as a job application), just state “per diem.” Focus more on your next job possibility and the realistic salary range you want to be making.

As for possible reference checks, the conversation almost always focuses on your abilities and skills as an employee, not on issues of salary. So, as long as you have a good relationship with your current supervisor, you should be fine.

On a side note, we have more great salary-negotiation resources to Quintessential Careers. The first is an article, Job Offer Too Low? Use These Key Salary Negotiation Techniques to Write a Counter Proposal Letter. The second is a great tool: The Salary Negotiation, Compensation, and Job Offer Quiz.