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Recruiter in Dallas asked for my salary history at 9am and I blanked on the spot
I was on a video call with a recruiter for a supply chain job in Dallas. She asked for my salary history right at the start before she even described the role. I had no number ready and I just froze, then mumbled something way too low. She said thanks and moved on, and I could tell the call was over. I sent a follow up email two hours later with a range and a line about total comp, but she never replied. Now I keep a note on my phone with three numbers ready before any call. How do you handle that salary history ask when it comes out of nowhere?
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carter.hugo1mo ago
Prep that note and then practice saying it out loud before the call even starts. Saying the number silently in your head is not the same as hearing your own voice say "my base is 85 and total comp lands around 105" without tripping over it. I keep mine in a note with the exact words I'll use, like a little script, because the second a recruiter catches me off guard my brain just dumps the oldest and lowest number it can find. Run it in the car, run it in the bathroom mirror, whatever, just get your mouth used to the sentence so it comes out smooth when it counts. The freeze is real, but it's a practice problem more than anything else.
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