A Dirty Trick to Learn a Hiring Prospect’s Salary

From time-to-time I receive calls from employment verification firms seeking to validate previous employee’s positions with AccelerEyes. Typical questions include:

• Dates of employment
• Title or position of employee within the company
• Would you hire this employee again?
• Any other information you feel you should share?

In addition to the above questions, last week one of these firms asked me to disclose the employee’s salary information. I was taken aback by the question and refused to answer it. It seemed like a tricky way for the firm to gain valuable information as it is contemplating making an offer to this individual.

My disposition is to always take these calls to be helpful to previous employees. We’ve never had an experience with an employee that would make me want to warn other firms to stay away, so I’m glad I’ve not had to deal with that.

Have you received similar calls from employment verification firms? Have they asked you to disclose salary information?

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