12 Most Honest Reasons to Lie When Interviewers Ask Your Current Salary

What’s the key to a successful salary negotiation? If your answer isn’t “lying,” then you’re doing it wrong.
It sounds harsh, but it’s a cold world out there in the business world. One of my mentors made a general comment to me about working for a company you don’t own: “If you’re not getting over on them then they’re getting over on you.” He gave this advice to ease my guilt for lying about a sick day to interview at another company, but why stop there with lying as a career advancement strategy?
Here are the 12 Most Honest Reasons to Lie When Interviewers Ask Your Current Salary:

1. You’re underpaid

You can find yourself in this situation for many reasons, mostly when you’ve only worked for one company in your career. If you move up the ranks quickly at fixed promotion raises (e.g. 4% each promotion) but started out as cheap labor fresh out of college, your pay-to-delivered-value ratio tips heavily in favor of your company. This dynamic frequently results in people only being able to get the salary increase they want by changing companies.
Companies often like to use your previous job as a basis for their offer. Following that logic, if you think your salary is 20k below fair value and they offer you a 10k increase, you might be less miserable but you’re still miserable nonetheless. So give the interviewer a number you’re comfortable with as a starting point for negotiation and both sides can win. You’ll just win a little bit more.

2. You want to maximize your income

What if you’re not underpaid but want to make more than you do now? You might find an opportunity where a company needs you more than your current employer and you can get more money doing the same or similar amount of work. Who wouldn’t want that?! If you ask any HR person the salary range for a job, you’re going to get an enormous spread. Someone has to set the high bar, so it might as well be you.

3. Your target job commands more money than your current one

When the nature or responsibilities of the new job vary drastically from your current position, you may want to give a current salary number based on some strategic research on what your new job is worth to other companies. Using a tool like Glassdoor is great for getting an idea of where the sweet spot is for compensation for a job. You need to think about your salary negotiation this way: a 15% salary increase for 50% greater job responsibility and related stress isn’t a good deal for you.

4. You want to spend less time negotiating

The higher the number you give as your current salary, the smaller the gap is between what you make now and the number you want to hit with the new job. Less negotiating range means less time spent trying to squeeze as much money as you can out of the offer.

5. You’re losing vacation time with the new job

While some exceptions exist, you shouldn’t ever plan to come out of pocket when you change jobs. That includes money lost as part of moving over to a company that offers less vacation time than your current company. So what can you do to avoid this situation? You lie so your higher salary compensates for the time off you’ll no longer have. You might end up working more than you did before but at least you have a few extra bucks for your trouble. Who ever gets to take all their vacation anyway?

6. You have to leave a bonus on the table at your current company

NOBODY wants to feel like they didn’t get the reward they deserved for a job well done. If you think there’s even a chance the new company won’t pay a sign-on to cover your old bonus or let you push your start date so you can quit after the bonus cut-off date, you might want to consider tacking that amount onto the current salary number as a precautionary measure.

7. The new job requires you to pay for your own relocation

It doesn’t take much to find out when a company has a tendency to offer company-sponsored relocation packages. The question you need to ask yourself is why should you have to take a hit to your bank account because you, the best fit for the job, don’t live in the same zip code as the company? Spoiler alert: you shouldn’t.

8. You have great relationships at your current job

This gets tricky because relationships make the business world turn and directly impact your ability to scale the corporate ladder. There’s only one problem — you can’t take relationships to the bank to pay your mortgage, which might be the reason you started considering other companies in the first place.
Leaving the known relationships at your old company for a bunch of unknown ones is a risk you should make sure factors into the compensation package you reserve. You have to build up your network again which will at least temporarily slow your career ascent, so that little cushion to your salary you add up front will help bridge the gap until you get your bearings.

9. You’re not good at negotiating

Or maybe you just don’t want to waste your time negotiating. Either way, you know you won’t take the job for anything less than a certain number and this is the number you give the interviewer. It makes assessing an offer simple. They’ll either consider it or they won’t, and you can move on to the next pursuit.

10. Your new job requires you to work more hours

Sometimes you’ll run into a situation where the job is similar but the new company has less efficient business processes so it will take you 15% more time to do the job in the new environment. Do they think you’re going to volunteer to work more than before for free? Maybe, but they shouldn’t.

11. Your new job requires travel

Some companies will try to sell you on the breadth of experience you get when you travel the world. But you and I know, like relationships, experience doesn’t pay the bills. Besides, you’ll need some extra funding to pay for the family gifts you’ll need to buy to try to make up for all the things you missed while away on business trips.

12. Your new job won’t confirm the salary number you provide them

It’s none of the new company’s business what your old firm paid you and background checks don’t generally include verifying salary with your previous employer. Do with that information what you will. That being said, most recruiters have some sense of a reasonable number for the position on your resume (which you should NEVER, EVER lie on), so don’t get too crazy.
Bottom line: A good or service is worth whatever the market pays for it, so get your money while you can.

12 Most Timely Questions to Ask When You Have a New Job

It used to be the case that you had about 90 days to get “up to speed” and begin adding value at a new job. The expectations were relatively low that you would or could be able to competently do your job before that point.

Times have changed. The need to fast track the ramp-up time is greater than ever, and very rarely will an “employee handbook” or “how-to manual” answer the most important questions (if such a document even exists). But the nice thing about being new is that you can ask all types of questions and co-workers are generally quite gracious in responding.

In my own recent new job experience, I’ve found the following 12 questions not only crucial to my ramp-up, but in many cases also beneficial to those I ask.

1. Where is the supply cabinet?

And the coffee pot, creamer, copy machine, scanner, bathroom, emergency exit, front door key, and any other obvious but not always stated need for functioning in most offices. Get these things out of the way on your first day and you’ll feel less at sea when the inevitable ambiguities arise.

2. What’s your preferred mode of communication?

Some people like email, others prefer phone, and still others face-to-face. Find out now for as many of your key internal and external contacts as possible, and you’ll save yourself a boatload of frustration later on.

3. What are you working on?

This simple question accomplishes three cool things: you get a feel for the pace and type of work (both organizationally and with individuals), you show respect for your colleagues by taking an interest in their activities, and you can begin over time to identify potential gaps that might need to be filled by you (or overlaps that you don’t need to take on).

4. Where do folks work out, socialize, get coffee, etc.?

The social and cultural aspects of a work environment are as important (and frequently more important) than job descriptions, titles, and org charts. It’s while breaking bread or breaking a sweat together that you’ll find out what’s really keeping the machine oiled.

5. Where’s the low-hanging fruit?

There are always pesky little tasks that were left by predecessors or kept waiting for when your first week is done. These are the list of mini-projects that take less than half a day, but once you get up to speed, you’ll never get to them. Instead of seeing them as annoyances, recognize them for the ripe fruit that they are. These are the easy things. Do them right away and report out on their completion. Make yourself indispensable right away.

6. Who decides?

Figure out as soon as possible who the stakeholders are on your projects, what’s the process for decision-making in general and specifically on your work, and who ultimately has the final say. This may (likely will) change over time, but put your best foot forward… and try not to step on any toes!

7. What’s the mission?

Sure, you asked this during the interview process and read it on the website. But it’s worth asking again — and figuring out how your role and your department’s role fits in with the big picture. Write your own purpose statement that supports the organizational mission. Run it by your boss or a respected colleague to see if you’re on track. This will help you as you try to navigate and negotiate your priorities with the powers that be.

8. How will we know if we succeed?

Or another way to say it: what does it look like in the end if we do it right (or if I do my job right)? This should elicit responses that can point to measurable goals and give meaning to your daily activities.

9. Who’s the expert on ____?

Find out as soon as possible who holds the institutional knowledge on the variety of areas that matter for our success.

10. What’s the backstory?

When you first start a new job, many of the established systems or rituals or rules can seem quite arbitrary and, well, strange. Instead of sounding like a judgmental snob by continually asking, “Why do you do THAT?”, asking for the backstory honors the history and the teller.

11. How can I help you?

Just because you’re new to the job doesn’t mean you don’t have something to offer. They hired you for a reason. Ask folks specifically how you can make their lives better. This is simply the right thing to do, but it will also make it easier for you to ask them for help later on.

12. How can I make a difference here now?

This is a question to ask yourself every day. Again, being new doesn’t mean you can’t start contributing from day one. In fact, there is a kind of value you bring as a new employee that can diminish over time. It’s called “fresh perspective.” In a healthy organization, this is a prized commodity.

The one question you must never ask though, is “What do you want me to do?” This is handing responsibility for your actions over to someone else, taking the meaning (and therefore the joy) from your work. Even when talking with your boss, ask instead “What are our priorities?” Get the clarification that provides you with a scope of work, but never hand over responsibility for your success to someone else.

How to shine at interview

You need to do more than just show how you meet the basic job requirements if you're to stand out from other applicants. Help the hiring manager visualize you excelling in the role, by displaying these star performer characteristics 

Leadership and influencing skills 
In a recent live Q&A on how to succeed at an interview,  a recruiter specializing in marketing wrote that employers look for examples of how candidates have influenced wider teams in the business through consultation and collaboration, rather than through pulling rank. 

Identify situations where you created wide support for your initiatives to solve problems, win new business, motivate teams and colleagues, or introduce measures to cut costs or streamline procedures. 

Communication skills 
Good written and verbal communication skills are necessary for most jobs. Go beyond the basics and focus on how you've adapted your message and communication style for different audiences. You can mention successful presentations and negotiations, or occasions where you've had to work with difficult people or manage complex projects involving a range of stakeholders. Highlight your ability to develop and build relationships with people throughout the company, as well as with suppliers, clients or customers. 

Understanding the bigger picture 
Rather than a narrow focus on the role or department, broaden your appeal by demonstrating an understanding of the wider context of the business and industry. Show interest in how the role has an impact on the organisation as a whole. Where does it fit within the organisation and how will your contribution make a difference? 

Good awareness of the company culture and values is also important and you'll need to show you're a good fit not just for the role, but on a wider level. Will your managers and colleagues enjoy working with you? Is it the sort of culture where you'll be able to flourish and get great results? 

Research current industry trends so you can talk knowledgeably about how they affect the business. What opportunities or challenges is the organisation facing? Draw on your previous experience to illustrate how you've dealt with similar situations successfully before and, therefore, how you'll be able to do the same in this role. 

A good attitude 
Having the right attitude can compensate for not having exactly the right skills-set or experience. Give examples of where you've pulled out all the stops to get the work done or to exceed expectations. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity and be clear about how it relates to your personal goals and career ambitions. 

The ability to ask good questions 
Prepare thoughtful questions before your interview. Questions that mark you out as a great candidate are those which reveal your motivation to add value to the organisation (rather than just an interest in the salary and benefits.) 

Ask about what you'll be expected to achieve in the short, mid or long-term; or what differentiates a great (rather than merely average) candidate in this role.

12 Most Clever Ways to Outsmart the Booby Traps Holding Your Success Hostage

Everyone is subject to blind spots, choke holds, death grips and booby traps that have the potential to keep them from moving forward in life and career.

The challenge when getting tangled up in one of these areas is to do everything within your power to get untangled and unstuck as quickly as possible.

1. Hit the pause button

The hardest thing to do when getting tangled up and stuck is to stop fighting it, but that is exactly what we need to do. If you’ve ever had your fishing line get tangled up you know it takes patience and slow, deliberate effort to untangle it.

So I want you to imagine hitting your pause button, because that which we resist will continue to persist.

And the pause is where wisdom emerges.

2. Journal

Journaling is magical. I remember my first journal entry in 1989. Life sucks! That was all I could say, but the more I journaled, the clearer my mind got — until one day I realized I could see and felt good again.

I’ve been known to say that “journaling is a lubricant that untangles thoughts and a salve that heals hearts.”

Flannery O’Connor is quoted as saying, “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” Try it I promise it will help.

3. Shift your focus

When a person gets tangled up and stuck, they tend to slip into the victim role. And what do victims do? They spend all their time focused on the things they can do nothing about which does nothing to help them get untangled.

Now that you’ve hit the pause button, shift your focus onto the things you CAN DO.

4. Read The Magic of Thinking Big

When the mind loses traction and our thoughts get all tangled up, we lose access to our internal resourcefulness. Einstein said, it’s virtually impossible to fix a problem with the same mind that created it. Which means we need a new mind and there is no better way to gain access to a new mind than by reading a powerful book.

5. Walk briskly

Your body needs to move and the psychological benefits of walking briskly are immeasurable. The chemicals produced in the mind from walking briskly help to improve how you think, see and feel.

6. Play and be playful

Science has proven that there are incredible benefits to the adult soul from play and being playful.

Imagine you’re seven again — what were the things you enjoyed doing? Sliding down a hill on cardboard? Building a fort in a cardboard box? Climbing a tree? Playing kick the can? Skipping? 

Childish? Perhaps. But if acting childish for a few hours might help you get unstuck, then isn’t it logical to at least give it a try? What’s the worse that could happen, you could have a good time?

7. Rewrite and redefine

I like to ask myself the following question, “Where is it written that I have to look at or think about this the way that I’m currently looking at and thinking about it? Who says I can’t rewrite and redefine it? Who says I can’t see it differently?”

You have the freedom and power to choose how you define everything in your life.

So remember, if you change the way you think about and look at things, the things you think about and look at… change.

8. Master your enemies dance

The vast majority of people live in a perpetual state of internal conflict and resistance. They push back, avoid and/or self-medicate, completely unaware that in doing so they’re keeping at bay the happiness, peace and joy they seek and desire. Instead of looking at life’s fears, challenges, difficulties and hardships, look at the opportunities to learn a new lesson.

Don’t resist. Embrace. Look your enemy in the eye. Ask it to dance. Then let it know, you’re taking the lead. This is your dance.

9. Drink plenty of water

The anxiety and tension associated with getting stuck can take a toll on the body. The normal tendency is to eat and drink less-healthy when what would be most helpful is exactly the opposite.

Hydrating the body also hydrates and optimizes the mind so that you can think and see more clearly.

10. Practice smiling because

Force yourself to smile from earlobe to earlobe. If your face doesn’t feel like it’s going to break then you aren’t doing it properly. Now measure how you feel. If you did it right you have to admit that you felt much better as a result and isn’t that the goal in life? To feel better.

Commit to smiling like this throughout the day and I promise you’ll have more access to your internal resourcefulness than if you don’t.

11. Make a “to do list” and a “don’t do list”

By making a “to do” and “don’t do list,” it will be much easier to focus your mind, choices and actions on the things that most need to get done.

12. Meditate and pray

I love to get real quiet and just listen. I’m amazed at the things I can hear when I shut everything down. I also like to pray and I mean pray like my prayer is going to get answered.

Isn’t faith and hope what we need when things aren’t going like we hoped?

Bonus: Clear away the clutter!

“He’s trapped in the weeds and can’t see the forest for the trees” is said about as often as the name Chuck Norris or Kevin Bacon. And for good reason, because that’s exactly what it feels like.