Recruiters want to know your CTC
Hello Grapeviners, What is with Indian recruiters wanting to know your CTC as the very first step of hiring? And when asked to share the ctc range in which the role falls, they refuse to share. So basically they just want to lowball candidates based on their current CTC and parity is a joke? Now If a recruiter denies sharing the range for the role and insists on knowing my CTC, I run! What are your thoughts?
Exactly. And I do not why most of the candidates have normalized this behavior and find this acceptable.
It’s just being in a lower position of power in that moment (as somebody who is not a software developer who in the bull market could have just walked off)
For most of us, getting to that stage takes time and unfortunately these recruiters just take advantage of this
I try to handle professionally first by saying something like, "I think it is too early for me state my CTC expectations. I'm expecting to come up with a better number as the interview processes"
But if they still don't budge. I generally withdraw my application professionally.
I got no time and energy to be in a CTC standoff.
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As a recruiter, i have candidates asking me the payscale and i usually share them the compensation bands we have ...although in most cases we are told strictly not to tell the applicants ...however for me , i think it kinda makes my job much easier as they don't false expectations with the role or the salary ...neither i make them waste their time interviewing us ...saves a lot on both sides
My managers do expect me to have certain extra good profiles just to maintain our pipeline and show a good funnel of quality folks..but it does not work my way ...
Why do you want to hide it?
When I talk to the recruiter they ask for both what my current salary is and the expected salary is. If I fall under there range then it proceeds forward else they say it's not within their range or some just ghost after the call.
Tholaram
Stealth
a year ago
Your compensation at the next org should have nothing to do with how much you earn today. Orgs typically use pay ranges for job roles. It is highly unprofessional of them to not reveal this to someone who is going to spend an appreciable amount of time on the interview process. Just because it has become an unsaid rule doesn’t mean it is right.
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Wut.?!!!! That's absolutely weird ...as a recruiter myself i haven't asked anyone that yet ...its embarrassing tbh .. the recruiters who usually ask such things might come from companies that usually do not have a good standing ..🤔🤔🤔🤔
@Cutefrenchfry I have a friend who faced this. And to my surprise my friend thought it was okay and argued with on recruiters behalf.
"how'd they know what to pitch me if they do not know my previous CTC?"
I'll ask him for the name of company.
From what I've seen or heard so far, payslip of last month or last three months is asked. Got myself thinking if this was actually normal.
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So, what I used to do is this -
1. When they ask about my current CTC, I used to say I ain't comfortable sharing it at this point of time.
2. I also said - " if you want to know my current ctc to know if your offer budget falls in the range, let me know what's the max pay offered for the role and I'll say if that's something I am willing to consider. Based on this, I get 3 responses -
a) No, we don't have any budget as such, we just want the right fit. These are amazing folks assuming they don't backout later or you don't give out offer that's too much to ask for!
b) they give out actual number of what they are willing to pay. Check if that is something you would consider and respond to them
c) they say they can only give 30-40% hike on your previous CTC. Basically, these are the guys I block instantly, I am like "hum tumhare aukat ke bahaar hai" bcoz I was underpaid in my previous org! They say oh but we have these amazing benefits and shit! Don't fall for that. No benefit ever compensates for Base Pay! You should always be paid fair market value for your skills!
Then,
Post all interviews. Once I have impressed them, at the point of number discussion, I specify my current ctc and expectation numbers and reasonings if they are persistent. Or I wait for them to give the number and I negotiate!
That's the way. If someone is in WITCH and gets underpaid. Then with this scenario, that person will never be able to get hike before 30-40%.
That's ridiculous.
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IdlePaper83
Stealth
a year ago
It's happen to me 3 times
hiPhone_User
Stealth
a year ago
@Cutefrenchfry - We need more people like you in recruitment :)
Maakiaankh
Stealth
a year ago
I have experimented with multiple answers over the years and I have found a mixed bag of responses. There was this one company HR who left me stunned.
I told her how much I make and what I am expecting and she was like we can't give you 100% hike. So I asked her... What is your budget or how do you go about dealing with candidates with vastly different salary ranges ...because without a budget 40% can have vastly different meanings depending on the previous salary. She responded to that by saying ...hey I am just their employee and I don't make the calls 🤙
Not only this one recruiter in a big 4 want to know my joining salary and leaving salary for all of my previous organization
FerrociousCapybarra
Stealth
a year ago
Yea experienced that too... as an Indian you are hardwired from your childhood to always do anything to please others to get what you want..in this case a job..
TenseHit51
Stealth
a year ago
How did you deal with that then?
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I work as a freelancer. For all purposes I'm in the unorganised sector. If I get asked questions like these if I wanted to join an org, what should be my answer?
Dinosaur89
Stealth
a year ago
Share your pre-tax max monthly revenue as expected
This will very abusrd advice but works most of the time
If they ask for current CTC and don’t disclose range just tell then wrong CTC like high numbers like 25-30-35 LPA and tell them do you have budget constraint for this role.
Wondering what if they agreed and ask for further process and you have to disclose real CTC. Don’t worry. Take the offer letter or verbal record or mail and apply somewhere else using this offer (these companies already will not be good HR policies and will not very reputed and qualify).
😎
Do it only with bad recruiters. For open minded recruiters, don’t need to do this
Do not divulge. Under any circumstances. It’s not like they’re holding you on a gun point.
You have an interview process. Which levelled me. You have a range for each level. Tell me what it is.
If you cannot or would not, that’s a company I anyways don’t want to work for.
I would take a lower base pay with a company that chooses to be honest and transparent with me than playing these games with you.
People, specially those who have done good work, and can prove it with defence checks need to stand up for themselves is what’ll change this attitude.Nothing else works
noncorporate
Stealth
a year ago
I am in early career statge, 4yr only, have refused to share my ctc without knowing that range. I confirm that range in every round of interview. Have lost some chances bcz of that but have never let myself slip in that powerless lowball position. Have the ability to walk away from the table anytime. I have literally abused a TA in haryanvi from a big4 when they went back on their word. No online presence help me in taking these risks. Anonymous everywhere.
Asked the same thing here a few days ago. I think it's a practice that needs to be called out and discouraged
EveryComplex
Student
a year ago
Anytime recruiter ask for CTC - I tell them, you have 2 options either you ask for my CTC or what I expect.
I will not tell both. Take it or leave it OR you tell me the role budget and if I do not fit, I will opt out.
One tried to game me by asking my CTC and then giving offer which was 1 rupee more than my CTC - I told them to get lost.
Maakiaankh
Stealth
a year ago
I have experimented with multiple answers over the years and I have found a mixed bag of responses. There was this one company HR who left me stunned.
I told her how much I make and what I am expecting and she was like we can't give you 100% hike. So I asked her... What is your budget or how do you go about dealing with candidates with vastly different salary ranges ...because without a budget 40% can have vastly different meanings depending on the previous salary. She responded to that by saying ...hey I am just their employee and I don't make the calls 🤙
the least the person can say is if it is possible at this level or not. if they don't know, they can ask.
Not your fault you made the problem very clear and obvious to the person. Can't force someone to use their brains.
Barbaadeshwar
Stealth
a year ago
Openly state it and ask for a budget for the role. If they're ok to fit to your expectations + aukad. Continue, else kya fayda.
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