I am unemployed. Do I have to put $0 as "current salary" on a job application?

You should put what your salary was at the last job. You won’t be breaking a law and it is particularly true since you are still on severance pay so don’t give it a second thought.

^^ agreed

Thanks guys. Consulted the Daddio too and he agrees. That’s a relief.

I agree. Put what you were making at your last job.

Good luck!

My wife, who is in charge of hiring people as part of her current job, agrees that you should put down your last salary. The whole point of that question is to figure out what you could reasonably be expecting to make and if the job you are applying for is in line with those expectations.

Awesome. You guys are the best – thanks!!

Good luck hope it all goes smoothly and that you are satisfied with what will come next! All the best.

Is it a required field to fill out on the application? If not, there is the option of leaving it blank.

The company I last worked for started requiring all applicants to apply online. Required questions needed to be supported by basic information and skills that were needed to successfully work in that position. Sometimes it is required to take an assessment in order to prove it.

Optional categories are another matter. Unless the EEOC rules have changed in the US, providing salary information falls into this category. How it actually plays out is another matter. I’ve worked with team members who use salary as filter for who they decide to interview.

Personally, I suggest leaving that field blank. If you meet all of the required qualifications to do the job, shouldn’t you at least deserve a telephone interview? That’s when I tell the applicants what the salary range is, along with the benefits. If they say “That is not enough,” then we part ways with an agreement on the reason.

Good luck for your job search!

Yeah my dad also advised I skip the field and I would if I could. It’s an online application and you literally can’t submit it without putting a number in that box.

Thanks for the good luck wishes, all! I think I’ve applied to 7 or 8 positions in the last week.

Another wish of best of luck!

From my wife: “Don’t leave it blank. It’s a red flag that makes it look like you are trying to hide something, even if you’re not.”

My husband was screwed by that field, and the fields that ask what salary the applicant is looking for (I think that might be worse). Unable to skip it, and he was probably off sometimes by $50k-$80k. We feel sure it knocked him out of the running more than once before they even looked at his experience.

For you, you shouldn’t have that problem at all. You’re new in your career, and likely the jobs that fit your skills will be within $20k of your current salary.

Yeah unfortunately I also had to answer what I hope to make at my next job.

My dad’s big concern with this field is that they’ll say “oh we were willing to pay [x large number] but now we know we can just pay her [y smaller number].” I honestly don’t care. I was making PLENTY good money for my age before and if they just match that I’ll be thrilled. I just want a job.

@Mariah Yes, it’s a horrible set of questions, because that you are really interested in the job doesn’t really come through on the online applications.

I recommend if you don’t get a good response to also seek out head hunters in your field and join an association related to your field and go to their mixers.

Does your experience ever get hired for temp work? That’s another consideration, a specialized temp agency. Many positions become permanent.

Also, enjoy yourself a little. Take a vacation. So little is done in person with applying for jobs now, and you can apply online from anywhere. Where you apply now likely won’t count for unemployment if you wind up needing to collect. They will require you to be job hunting while collecting, and you can’t collect yet, because you have severance.

Luckily I’ve been able to submit a cover letter for each job I’ve applied to so far, so I’ve been able to express my interest.

I actually can collect unemployment while I’m receiving severance, but I’ve chosen not to put myself through the process unless I’m still unemployed when my severance runs out. My time is better spent applying to jobs and brushing up my skills than meeting with an unemployment counselor and being treated like I’m lazy scum.

I’m working with a recruiter right now, he’s good, he got me an interview for Tuesday. My former boss connected me to him; he placed my boss in his last few jobs.

My former coworkers were trying to convince me this is an opportunity to take a vacation, but I just don’t know! Spending money when I have no income sounds rash and I don’t think I’d be able to relax! But then they brought up a good point, which is that I could get something lined up, see if I can arrange to not start for two weeks, and then take a vacation. I will likely do that if possible. I owe my parents a visit anyway.

@Mariah Unemployment is filed online in most states. I don’t think you can collect while on severance, but you can file, and then you wait until you can actually collect. Each state is different. Some states they say to file right away, some say wait until after severance runs out.

There will be very few times in your life you are eligible for unemployment. If you can get, take it. I don’t mean wring the system until your unemployment rubs out. If you get a job, great! If not, don’t pass on the benefit.

It sounds like you have your job search going well. :)