Recently, a client of neoci told us that they do not wish to know the current salary of any candidates we send to them.
Their reason? Diversity and Inclusion.
It was a refreshing thing to hear. It's unusual for a company to say this, but it really shouldn't be.
Their stance is that it doesn't matter what salary someone is currently earning, what matters to them is whether they believe the candidate has the relevant skills and experience for their vacancy. If the candidate is the right fit, then they will pay them what they think they're worth.
This approach to hiring is in stark contrast to what we are used to. Most employers and recruiters want to know a candidate's current salary and their salary expectations. This very much dictates the offer they receive. Most employers are happy to offer an increased salary, but usually only around 10%.
This can cause an issue for anyone who is being underpaid in their current role. Once an interviewer discovers what their current salary is, they will usually align their offer to it. It makes business sense of course! Employee salaries are usually the most expensive cost to any business.
A company will always seize the opportunity to reduce their costs. What it does though, is stifle people's earning potential and they can be stuck on a low salary for a long time, which, let's face it, is unfair and will potentially affect their loyalty and longevity in the role.
The fact that our client is taking diversity & inclusion so seriously when hiring is highly admirable. But how many other employers have this in mind when they hire?
Diversity & inclusion is of course a much wider subject than just pay, but when something so important is being restricted because of your current circumstance, something needs to change.
At neoci, we believe that paying people what they are worth, or what their job is worth is key. This is especially the case in a market where candidates are in the driving seat and being competitive with the salary & package you offer is now more important than ever.
Neoci are specialists in recruiting into tech and telco, for further details visit www.neoci.co.uk