Your Salary Requirement
Perhaps I can explain, why recruiters ask for your salary requirement. At least from my point of view, it is just a piece of what I need to know to be able to represent you in the best way. It may be different working with other recruiters or applying directly for a job. Based on my 20+ years of recruiting, this is my reasoning.
I ask what your requirement is because it helps me know if you would be considered by my client (assuming I know the range). In some instances I’ve been asked to present the candidates and tell my client what the candidate is seeking. They will make the decision if they have the budget for that amount or if they are willing or able to get there.
The other reason I ask is because, again there is always a middle ground, but in general I find there are mostly two types of people: the ones who over-value their skills and the ones who under-value their skills. Yes, there are some who know exactly what they should be paid and are accurate, but they are extremely rare.
What is Most Important to You
If I know what you are currently earning, what you would like to be earning, what is most important to you (sometimes it isn’t salary at all), then I can better determine if perhaps I’m recruiting for your dream job and you’d be happy taking a $10K pay cut to have a 10 minute commute or have extra vacation time or be working on the latest and greatest technology. (I have placed people in jobs where they have actually taken considerable salary reductions for each of these reasons).
Greed Can Be Your Undoing
Another fact: If I tell anyone what the range is, their requirement is immediately the top of the range. No hiring company wants to pay the top of the range unless the candidate is an absolute perfect fit. It is extremely rare for someone to be a perfect fit. Over the last 20 years I have seen one person get an offer at the top of the range and he knew that. He immediately started trying to push for more (more vacation, higher potential bonus percentage) and the offer was rescinded.
While I agree that the offer should not be based on what you have earned in the past, it typically (but not always) is an indication of where you are in your career.
I struggle with people who flat out refuse to discuss salary with me at all. I cannot present a candidate to any of my clients without covering salary expectations. They pay me to find them candidates who fit technically, culturally and financially.
In short, as a recruiter…I’m not your enemy. I realize it is a leap of faith, but a little bit of trust will go a long way towards smoothly guiding you through the interview and salary negotiation process.