"Ending salary" is the final amount you earned at a previous job. Employers often ask you to indicate your ending salary on an application. It is important to consider your salary negotiation strategy before indicating your income history, though.

Employer's Motives

Employers want to know as much about your employment history as possible to make an effective hiring decision. Your salary history is useful in assessing your level of responsibilities in previous roles. It is also helpful in preparing for negotiations. If you indicate an ending salary of $50,000 in your most recent job, the hiring manager has an idea of what it might take to seal the deal in the new position.

Planning Your Strategy

The University of California at Berkeley website indicates that you give an employer a negotiation advantage by disclosing your salary history. However, you run the risk of not getting an interview when you don't reveal it, if a hiring manager refuses to call because of an incomplete application. PBS NewsHouse suggests that you indicate "will discuss at interview" or something similar rather than an actual ending salary. If the hiring manager ignores you because of this, PBS argues, he is playing games. Many hiring managers respect your choice if your resume and letter are impressive.