Flip the Script: Don’t Share Salary Expectations

For those trying to avoid the 'so what is your salary expectation?” question, a quick reminder, at least in California, the recruiter legally has to answer if you ask in response "What is the range for this role?"

That pivots the conversation and forces them to answer and you don't risk undervaluing yourself.

I have used it several times over the last few weeks and it feels 100% natural. In one case, a recruiter offered a salary double what I would have stated as my expectation.

So, don't give your salary range when the recruiter asks, flip the script and ask "What is the salary range for this role?" You will be plesantly surprised.

More on the law

California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 168 into law in October of 2017. The law, which went into effect on January 1, 2018, prohibits California employers from asking about an applicant's prior salary. If an applicant asks, employers are also required to provide a pay range for the job. (For more details).