As a direct result of what I found out after I came here I am actively looking now. I had to put in my time for a year so my resume didnt look chopped up and that I job hop.

I think what makes this so hard for many of us is that it is easy to be “tough” when it’s not you are not the one involved. Under pressure, many of us end up doing things that we otherwise wouldn’t do or know is not in our best interest.

When it comes to negotiations, I also think that many people look at it as a win-lose event even though most of the books on the subject talk about making it win-win.

Approaching a salary negotiation with a win-lose mindset I think is a really bad idea for a number of reasons but primarily because when the negotiation is over, someone is going to be unhappy and that is not a great way to start what both parties wanted to be a long term and collaborative relationship.

Said differently, any employer who takes advantage of someone and low balls them to the point where the package they “sell” to a candidate is not “fair” or competitive in the marketplace will soon be discovered by the new employee. Once that happens, they are already on their way out the door and any savings the company got up front will more than likely best lost several times over as they go to replace the position.

A friend submitted me on a job as an internal referral. I didnt get the job and a few months later this company needed someone as a person quit. They liked me so I was offered the job.

Anyway the hiring company INSISTED on 5 years worth of pay stubs. I said I didnt have any. Than they insisted on W2′s. I said NO. I had religiously followed Nicks books and they work. Against my better judgement I relented and gave it to them.

Guess what they did? They literally offered me the same salary I made as a contractor. As they knew what I made for the last 5 years I had NO LEVERAGE.

After I got here I found out that not only did they bring me in a level below what I should have come in as but I was also underpaid.

The moral of the story is NEVER EVER tell them what you make. EVER. I wont make this mistake again.

This could be approached from another perspective if a firm but clear “I respect your right to ask, but I don’t disclose such things to anyone” is not respected.

1. I am in witness protection. My salary history was erased.

2. I need to know your salary because unless you earn enough to be my boss, I will have to reject you.

3. What was the salary earned by the incumbent or predecessor to this job?

4. If President Bush didn’t have to provide his previous salary, why should I? (Along those lines, notice how some candidates and their spouses disclose tax returns, while others adamantly refuse).

5. LeBron James didn’t have a salary history, but he wasn’t paid the NBA league minimum, now was he?