[frak_your_couch]

Just curious, why would you tell them your current salary? In salary negotiations, wouldn't that give the employer a substantial advantage in bargaining?

I've been asked this before in post-interview negotiation, so evidently this is somewhat common practice. I always respond with, "I'll tell you that if you give me a salary breakdown of your engineering positions by experience level." They always back off at that point.

[parfe]

My salary is public information and easily discoverable. I'd rather be the source of the information than let a nosy HR rep base an offer on my current salary on the sly. It's not information I can keep secret.

I know what salary I want, so it's not like it matters anyway. Plus their low-ball offer gave me an insight into how they value their development team. If they didn't think I was worth what I was asking, fine, don't hire me. But if they're just looking for budget coders I'm happy to stay where I am. They already had two outsourced coders. The idea of joining their staff knowing they undervalue talent and are willing to hire from the 3rd world to replace me was not tempting.

[fleitz]

Likewise on references, oh you want references? Give me some references for your previous employees.