A recent article on CNN.com asked this exact question to some so-called experts. While I agree with most of the sentiments of the article (use total compensation if asked your salary), I don’t agree with lying. Some of the experts say that lying is indeed acceptable. Here’s a snippet:
And even the experts admit that being too honest can be to your detriment. You might set the salary bar too low and lose out on real money.
The recommendation to cite your total compensation when negotiating salary makes perfect sense. Lying doesn’t. It can only hurt you. There are other techniques you can use in a negotiation that don’t include total compensation discussions also. We discuss these in our Salary Negotiation Guide.
Here’s another point from the article citing a recent survey:
23% of job seekers say they have lied or would lie during the interview process, a recent survey by job site Vault.com
This number doesn’t surprise me, but it signals 23% of people probably won’t have their jobs for long even if they are hired. Lying reflects integrity. If you’re willing to lie in your interview, you’re willing to lie on the job. Given that, if you lose your integrity on the job, it will shorten your career. People won’t trust you and they will avoid you on projects. Not a great long term employment prospect.
For once, a lawyer makes good sense. Here’s one source getting the right idea in the article:
Never report blatantly phony numbers, especially in writing, says Kathleen McKenna, an employment lawyer at Proskauer Rose in New York City. Most applications include a warning that reporting false information is grounds for termination. And anyway, the company may make its hiring decision contingent upon its ability to verify your salary.
So while this article and its experts have the right idea, they don’t have the entire picture. Your negotiation is about your experience and the needs of a job. Endorsing lying of any kind can only hurt you. If you want to learn more about ways you can improve your chances of getting salary increases as part of your negotiation, check out our guide. It will make you tens of thousands of dollars–and be better advice than the endorsement of lying to a potential employer.
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