A Malaysian man questions recruiters’ salary transparency after being asked for his last paid salary while the company allegedly refused to reveal its budget.
AS a jobseeker, it is certainly frustrating to apply for decent work these days, with certain employers requiring job candidates to disclose their previous salaries, which many a jobseeker deem as unnecessary and unfair, amid a challenging job market.
In a viral Threads post, a Malaysian man expressed his dissatisfaction over a recent encounter with a job recruiter who allegedly asked him to disclose his last drawn salary while refusing to reveal the company’s budget for the role.
“Am I wrong here? Why do headhunters expect you to share your salary details when they’re not ready to share the maximum allocated budget, or at least the range?” he wrote.
According to screenshots shared in the post, the recruiter allegedly requested the man’s “current and expected salary”. He replied by asking for the company’s allocated budget for the position.
However, the recruiter declined his enquiry, citing confidentiality. The jobseeker then shared his current and expected salary, only to be allegedly rejected for the role as his salary expectations were deemed “too high” for the company.
The man later described the situation as “unfair”, saying he was expected to disclose his past salary while criticising the recruiter’s alleged lack of transparency.
Netizens echoed his frustration, calling for companies and recruiters to be more transparent about salary offerings.
One user also suggested that the Malaysian government take a leaf out of the United States’ book by requiring salary ranges to be stated in job advertisements so that candidates are better informed.
“I don’t think you’re wrong. It’s rather ironic that as employees, we are asked everything as if we are being stripped bare, but when we enquire about them, everything is private and confidential, or we are ridiculed when we mention our needs and expectations,” one user lamented.
“You aren’t wrong. Recruiters are supposed to share the allocated budget after asking for a candidate’s current salary. If it’s confidential to share the precise amount, then at least provide a range to be fair,” another commented.
“As a headhunter, I am always upfront, unless there is no specific ceiling for certain roles. It is far more efficient and time-saving for both candidates and recruiters,” said another.
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