Do You Really Have to Disclose Your Compensation to Get an Offer?

I have never seen a lawyer get a job without disclosing his or her comp to the prospective employer first. You may have to in order to move forward in the process. Usually HR is required to get this information so it can make the case internally to formulate an offer to you. Some pointers on disclosing what you make and want to make:

1. 1. Try to get the employer to give numbers first, or at least a range of numbers. You can ask for the level of the position and the range of numbers for base, bonus, and equity for that level.
   2. If you are asked for your desired compensation early in the process (e.g., before any face-to-face conversations), you can say “competitive” or “it depends on the package/trajectory” etc.
   3. Explain you are interested in the total package, consisting of base, bonus, and equity (and benefits if that’s important to you).
   4. Know what is market, and cite other offers you have received or expected raises/bonuses/equity grants in this range. These data points can give you leverage and serve as a base or target.

UPDATE:  SF Parity in Pay Ordinance bans San Francisco employers from asking for/considering current salary of applicants and will go into effect July 1, 2018!  Visit the ESR News Blog for more information.