Can interviewers check your salary with previous employer?

Elessar

I had an interview for a tech company recently where I gave them an inflated salary figure when asked what I'm currently on (not much, it was essentially base pay + bonus). I was also asked about annual leave and added +1 to the figure. Both are quite low where I work for the work I do, which is why I did it, but now I feel this was wrong and I'm kicking myself. Can companies get this kind of information about you from your current employer when checking references?

My fear is that I will be offered the role and once they reference check this will come to light and I'll be sacked, leaving me without a job! Stupid thing to do

I'm thinking of withdrawing the application because of this

Tell me how

No. It's none of their business. It would be very bad form for them to even ask.

eeguy

They shouldn't.

Unless you work in the public sector your pay is private.

You can't find out how much your colleagues are on, so there's no reason to believe an employer could access that, or even ask for it.

mrcheez

They'll know how much you were on when they see your P45, but they'll hardly fire you for it.

I did the same when I started in my new place as I was earning WELL below what I should have been at the time. Just go with the market average for your level of expertise (something like http://www.morganmckinley.ie/article/it-2015-salary-survey-benefits-guide might be handy)

Aim for the upper-tier and they might try to knock you down a bit to the median value.

eeguy

I think they just need your PPS number now.

Anyway by the time you hand in your P45 the contract and salary has already been agreed.

uck51js9zml2yt

All you need to do is contact revenue with the employer number and your pps and they send out a tax cert without the employer seeing your p45.

Elessar

Thanks folks, I spoke with the recruiter who set me up who allayed my fears (i.e. it's not a big deal, if they make an offer it'll be what they want to offer). Plus I don't intend to give my P45 with salary info on it, there is a way to do it without showing salary. Waiting for Monday now

Eoin

I hate this question; they should ask what your salary expectations are. There are lots of valid reasons why someone might be below market rate. Adding whatever% to your current salary rather than what they think you're worth to them shouldn't be the way to go.

Anyway, I am fairly sure (open to correction) that from a P45 they would not be tell if you had taken unpaid leave, made additional pension contributions, bought a tax saver travel ticket etc. Any of these could make it seem like your salary was lower than stated. And you don't even need to give them the P45 either; I think you can just give revenue the company's tax number and sort it yourself.

Jen Pigs Fly

I can be fairly certain that employers can't see your previous salary so don't worry.

Don't give them a P45, fill in a form 12A instead. It's very common for people to do this and not tell new employers what they were really on. The employer cannot get any information about you even if they have your PPSN under freedom of information law and revenue will not give them any of your details because they are not you.

Otherwise just ring revenue, tell them you employer number and they'll do the rest and send a tax credit and cut off rate cert to your employer. They'll never know!

IvoryTower

I have always said I was on a bit more so as to get more, all good

davo10

Employers expect you to inflate it, most people move jobs to increase salary so it is natural to try an ensure that you get more by giving an inflated figure. Don't sweat it, it makes absolutely no difference to the employer. Most if not all employers have already decided what they are going to pay, before they even begin holding enterviews so the figure you gave will have no baring.