And if they did, that employer certainly wouldn't be compelled to offer the information. So, the truth-benders are in the clear, right? Not exactly. When an individual moves jobs in the UK, they must supply their new employer with a P45 form ‒ a document detailing their tax affairs as they relate to their salary. From that, past salaries can be gleaned. So, it's a calculated risk. If you lie about your current pay, you're unlikely to be found out until after you've started your new job. By then, you'll be safely employed and on good money. Still, your new boss will know of your deception. Maybe they won't mind, or might even admire your enterprising spirit. But equally, you could forever be pegged as untrustworthy. Summing up As a general rule of thumb, if you're going for a job in which honesty is particularly valued ‒ lawyer, doctor, police officer, etc. ‒ we'd recommend playing it straight. If your industry puts a little less emphasis on absolute righteousness ‒ sales or advertising, say ‒ you've got more license to be creative.
Should I lie? But what if that metric is a bit on the low side? To put it bluntly, should you just lie? There's certainly a strong argument for being economical with the truth. Let slip that you're currently on a meagre salary and the employer will hold all the cards in a future pay negotiation. Pump that number up, however, and you can expect to be offered close to that number if selected. Be sensible though. Any interviewer worth their salt will know the salary averages of an applicant's current sector and skill level. Dish out an exorbitant sum and you'll only be making a fool of yourself, so use tools like Glassdoor and Payscale to find out appropriate salary ranges for your field and level. Will they find out? It's hard to think of a trait more recruiter-repellent than dishonesty. In fact, a survey conducted by TopCV and CV-Library found that 62 per cent of HR managers identified lying as a major turn-off for job candidates. But what they don't know won't hurt them, right? Whether a company would try to verify a candidate's salary with their most recent employer is doubtful.