totally random question

not really.

when negotiating for a new job, can your potential new employer ask you for copies of your current pay stubs?

this hasn't happened ... yet. I'm just wondering.

I've never heard of that :shock:

can they? yes

do you need to provide them? no

will that prevent you from getting the job? likely


I don't lie about my salary, but if I am seeking a big increase, I have done the research to back it up....know what is competitive and be able to show the value that you'd bring to the firm.

also, if you are in any type of sales capacity, it's common practice to be asked to see your W2 forms so they know you've been earning money (likely by meeting quota)

i wouldn't give a possible future employer my pay stubs
but... this will probably mean you won't get the job

which if you're iffy about being asked for pay stub info,
maybe it's karma saying don't take the gig

well, have only been asked for info from it. gave the info but said I was uncomfy providing the whole doc.

thankfully, they bought it, and offered me the big bucks, without having to show proof. I'm in happy land.

I'm pretty sure it is legal for them to confirm specific salary information with your old employer.
Congrats on new job!

Yeah it happens. No biggie - not much different from new guy calling old guy to confirm salary or having to prove income to a prospective landlord.

Congrats.

Gah. While I would never lie about previous salaries, it presents me with a huge problem when I have to explain why I've been grossly underpaid in the past. I've been in a situation where I was deliberately underpaid (I was being paid less than the people I was supervising!) and not able to do anything about it, yet now, when I apply for new work, I know that employers will use my previous salary to justify continuing to underpay me even though the market rate of my skills is higher.

ugh!

Lil - you're not the only one who that has happened to. Do your homework and know what the market rate is. Stress that while you learned a lot in your last role, you also realize that you were paid considerably under market rate...then stress the value that you are bringing to the new place.

Oh yeah, I've done that, but still...

While I've been able to talk my lowest paying agencies into giving me raises, I'm STILL not earning in parity with the people I was formerly supervising.

Gah! And the fact that I work for several other agencies that DO pay me market rate doesn't seem to register or matter.

Lying is just a bad idea. I've worked for places (mostly in financial services) where lies have caught up to people even after a year in the job, and each time they were fired ....even though they had been doing a good job.

thankfully, evidence will show there was no lying on my part. hurrah! I just didn't feel like giving them my info. if they pull it, they'll find I actually made more than I claimed to, to them, this year. and yeah, I can say that definitively now. yay me!