Salary frustration 2

Last week "Yvonne" related her daughter's experience of going through two rounds of interviews without being told the salary for the role she was interviewed for. The salary was finally revealed at the third interview - it was $11,000 under her current salary.

Yvonne was furious her daughter had been forced to lie on three separate occasions to her current employer so she could attend the interviews, which were all scheduled during her work time - only to find out the salary was totally unacceptable.

Yvonne wants it to be mandatory for employers and recruitment firms to include salary on job ads.

Sorry Yvonne, but it is unlikely salary will become a mandatory inclusion. Advertisers are certainly encouraged to include salary in their CareerOne ads and are told how much job seekers want this info, but it's up to the advertiser.

As I understand it, those advertising jobs want to pull in a wider range of candidates - some who will suit the role on offer and others who might suit other roles the recruiter has on his or her "books". Because a salary is not shown, does not mean it is "pathetic" as Yvonne suggested.

Also, it is very unusual for a recruiter not to tell the candidate the salary range once a candidate has applied for the job. It's not in their interest to keep back this info and most would reveal it during the first phone chat or in-person chat they have with a candidate.

It is also best practice for employers and recruitment firms to be flexible about interview times to accommodate candidates. Irritating experience Yvonne but hopefully not typical.

If you missed Yvonne's lament, you can read it in Ask Kate archives on www.careerone.com.au