I always feel awkward during interviews when they ask me this question. I'm not sure if I should tell them my actual current salary, inflate it a bit, or if it's better not to answer directly. How do you guys handle it? I'm worried about tanking the offer if I say a low number, but also about getting rejected if I say a number that's too high.
The best strategy is to tell the truth about your current salary, but frame it well. If you inflate the number and they verify it with your current employer (and they often do), you're done for. Instead, you can be smart about how you communicate it: if you earn 28k gross, you can say "I currently make 28k, but I see this position as a step forward from where I am now, so I'm looking for an offer that matches the responsibilities you'll be giving me." That way you're not lying, but you're not shooting yourself in the foot by starting from a low base.
What changes is how you negotiate after. If you really think you're worth more (and maybe the new role is actually more senior), this isn't the time to bluff about past salaries - this is the time to talk about the value you bring to the new position. Ask yourself: what can I do that they're looking for? How much do I solve their problem? That's where you make your money, not by deceiving them about your previous history.
One thing that helped me is shifting the conversation: when they ask the direct question, I answer with the number, but I immediately ask what salary range they have in mind for the position. Often you find out their budget is already set regardless of what you made before, so you can relax. If the range is low, at least you know right away and can decide whether it's worth continuing or not.
It's not true that you need to feel embarrassed - it's a legitimate question and you have every right to a strategic answer. The important thing is not to lie about your current salary, because recruiters almost always verify, and if they discover you've inflated the numbers they'll reject you immediately. What you can do instead is frame your answer intelligently: you can state your current gross salary but immediately add "however, that was calculated based on X, and considering the role you're proposing with greater responsibilities, I think a range between Y and Z would be more appropriate."
What works best is not to answer with a flat number, but to say you'd prefer to first understand the budget they have available and the details of the position. Most intelligent recruiters understand you're negotiating in good faith, not dodging the question. If they really insist, then give the honest number but slightly rounded upward, and in any case follow up immediately with what you think you're worth in the new role. Another strategy that works is asking directly what range they're offering: then you can see whether it makes sense to accept or counter-negotiate.
Don't inflate your previous salary, really. I've seen people do it and it ended badly. Keep honesty as a value, but be confident in negotiating what you deserve in your new position.
One trick that works pretty well is to ask first what salary range they have in mind for the position, instead of throwing out a number right away. Usually they'll agree to tell you, and then you can position yourself inside or slightly above that range while staying credible. If they insist that you answer first, give your actual salary (because like others here say, background checks are common) but immediately add the benefits you have now - insurance, remote work, bonuses. That way the raw number doesn't make a bad impression, because it's framed properly within the total package.
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