[Closed] Sticky Interview Questions - do I divulge this information?

So.. you want to avoid answering them?

Local laws, local rules for the job you are applying for, or did I miss the question?

What position is in jeopardy? (in your mind?)
You current job, or your 'positioning' for the new job?

Those are std question as far as I'm aware (well here in the UK anyways)

PS: They'll probably ask for proof of the salary.. so don't just make it up

Fairly standard practise to answer them, those points you don't agree with you're going to have to provide a response as to why you won't divulge that info?

I don't understand - which answer(s) will jeopardise your position?

[i]how do I answer these questions without jeopardising my position?[/i]

honestly?

I'd probably tell them what salary I would move for, not what I'm on but (in the uk at least) employers have a duty to establish your right to work in the country. Family etc I can see as relevant for them in terms of cost of moving you to another country?

Yes until they make an offer.

As I'm concerned salary and family situation to be something they would use to rule out candidates or in this case me.

I know recruiters tend to ask these questions so they don't pitch people for jobs where the salary expectations etc don't match up, it would be a waste of everyone's time.

As for the other stuff, I'm not sure. Any real reason you don't want to divulge this info? Have they made you an offer or is this part of the interview? I can see why you maybe wouldn't want to give salary info as it might be used against you.

jeopardising your negotiating position?

Don't exaggerate as they'll ask your current employer to verify salary details as part of the reference won't they?

Have you told them you're a british citizen or something daft?

Don't get it.

My main question would be what country?

I've got a few friends over in Dubai and it's amazing the stuff that they can ask there versus what you can ask in the UK. A friend in recruitment was telling me that you were able to specify sex and nationality (although this was a couple of years ago).

Presumably some of the information they've requested will go towards some of their decision making process? For instance previous salary and marital status might influence their pay offer? Notice Period lets them know when you can start. Citizenship might give an insight into visa difficulties (if they exist)?

Simple fact is, they probably won't make an offer until they have that info..

All perfectly legitimate questions I think.

BTW I've applied for jobs where upon getting them I have been asked to prove the salary I quoted during interview by providing my tax return. If you said in an interview I'm on X and then when joining your P45 showed otherwise they would be entitled to terminate your employment.

EDIT: quick note as to why these questions may be illegal/unacceptable;

Family Situation: concern about discrimination against homosexuals
Citizenship: concern about racial discrimination

Why it's legitimate, family situation could impact you desire to move, citizenship impacts whether you can work legally and/or how easy it will be to get you a work permit. Salary they want to know whether they can afford you and/or what offer you are likely to accept. Notice period, if its long they may not be interested in you as they want someone to start promptly.

I'm a bit lost. What's the problem and what's the dilemma?

Someone you want to work for has asked some very basic information and you're not sure wether to share it?

Ah right, my mate used to always use his bosses salary in interviews not been caught out yet. But then his bosses might have keener to get rid op=f him than he was to leave. HTH

Z1ppy - no intention of making up the salary numbers - jeoparize positioning for the new job.

wwaswas - understand what you are saying but I was always under the impression that this should be a latter stage of the process.

I can't see that there's anything contentious there, apart possibly from the "family situation" one - that would be shaky ground in the UK, especially if you are a woman of childbearing age, but as someone said, if it's an overseas role, is there potential accommodation / relocation arrangements that they would need to start planning for, which might make it a legitimate thing they would need to know?

I'm still at a loss as to what you think would be jeopardised unless one of the answers is "married, no kids now, but we're planning to have several over the next few years"?

Stabilizer - Not sure why telling them y'r a bitish citizen would be daft?

Jambalaya - I know they can check your P45 and I have no intention of pulling numbers. But I've moved between different countries and I've yet to see where they ask for your tax return from another country? but I suppose there is always a first.

Given the views out here I guess I shall just pony up the information

@thestabilikzer - with regard to your mate's story how is he going to wriggle if/when he's called into a meeting upon starting his new job by his new boss and told - "I've seen your p45 and it's obvious you've pulled a fast one / lied during the interview process. What have you got to say about that ?"

@tusk - I think just giving them the info is the right thing to do, salary is most potentially controversial as they may try and negotiate once they've seen it but if they want you they have to make you a good offer. I am only mentioning the fact they can ask to see proof so as warn not to be creative. I work in a business where people can be pretty creative with pay numbers and employers are wise to that so they reserve the right to ask for proof (mind you I see the CEO of Burberry in on £10m a year so perhaps I should be in handbags 😉 )

Not sure I fully see the problem.

I would when emailing them the information say something like.

My family is fully behind the move and excited about the new opportunity.

and that they should not contact your current employer until a firm offer is made and agreed.

"I've seen your p45 and it's obvious you've pulled a fast one / lied during the interview process. What have you got to say about that ?"

Any number of reasons those numbers wouldn't stack up and in reality, the chances of this (them actually doing the maths on your P45) happening are slim:

Unpaid leave / sabbatical, promoted to current role or had a substantial pay rise part way through the year, proportion of earnings payable as a bonus at the end of the year...

For anyone actually worried about this scenario, just time your move for early / mid April, if you've not had pay from your old job in the current tax year, you won't have a P45 that's any use to the new employer and they need never see it.

edlong - I work in an industry which is notorious for ruling women out of certain positions cos they go on to have children and take time off work. God forbid if a man takes more than a week off paternity leave. Perhaps a slightly different scenario but there a ton of prejudices when it comes the 'family situation'

But I think MSP has worded it quite well.

unless your working for a one man band - chances of your boss seeing your p45 are slim to none.

HR maybe - Payroll likely.

multi mega corp being able to string it together and see your white lie..

anyway as has been said - what im on at time of move is irrelevent and its what you need to pay me to move to you that is the number you'll get. - although when asked that is what i say im giving them. Happens all the time in my industry.

as for the family situation question - a friend of mine had this during a relocation interview - pertinant question being are you married . he answered no - just living together.

job offer came through and under relocation package he found it was just for one....called in about it and they said - your not married so we are not willing to pay for your girlfriend to move...... had they been married - no problem.

they got told to ram their job.

[i]All perfectly legitimate questions I think.[/i]

And tbh for a senior and/or high salary role something you'd want to know even for a UK role.

Asking for your salary, notice period and citizenship is all legal and reasonable in the UK. Asking about your family starts to get very murky.

Chances of finding an HR person who is numerically literate and could interpret a pay slip / P45 is close to zero.....

I ask these questions in job interviews (well HR does normally) as they are relevant to selecting the right candidate.
Sorry if you find them intrusive but I find they help.

Next week making final selection between candidates for a position based in Germany and 1 has to relocate his family. I'm fine with that but it's important topic to discuss because if he & his family are not really up for it we're all going to be disappointed in 6 months time.

Yep, all fine things to share. The family question is important if your moving a big distance for the job. Especially if they are paying some of it.

I'm curious which industry this is though..

You've been flown abroad for an interview, so you are pretty close to getting the job. In that situation, as the interviewer, I would be asking the same questions. The reason being to ensure that the package I put together is appropriate for the candidate. No point offering schooling and a four bed house for a single guy, in which case I'd just up their basic salary. As regards what you are on now, you should stick with the facts - never lie in this situation - but also word it strongly that you are looking for an increased package to e.g. Recognise the step up your are taking with this new role and to incentivise you to move away from the UK, recognise the skills set you bring to the new job.

Out of interest, what country? Likely makes a big difference to what you get as there will be some element of pegging this to local market rates. Within Europe that is good news if you're moving north, but bad if you're moving south.

All this said as a Brit who has just moved to Australia from Denmark and has been hiring expats from all countries for the last eight years.

edlong - Member
I don't understand - which answer(s) will jeopardise your position?

POSTED 14 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

"My [samesex spouse] will come with me" = "she/he is gay"

"I am an Israeli/Turkish citizen" = "he is probably Jewish/Muslim"