BusinessWeek's Liz Ryan offers some advice for how to quickly spot a lousy employer in a new article. She says that if an employer you are interviewing with requests proof of your previous salary from a W-2 or tax return then it is time to run for the exit.
If you're surprised to hear that this is a common practice, then I'm happy for you -- many job seekers have been dealing with it for years. If a company believes what you've said about your accomplishments and challenges at past jobs, if it believes what you've said about your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses, and everything else you discussed at the interview, but can't believe what you say about your past earnings without written proof -- then it doesn't deserve you.
This practice is so unspeakably tacky that I can hardly move my fingers over the keys to write this, but run -- RUN -- away from a company that asks for proof of your past compensation.
Liz also says to watch out for companies that don't allow you to see documents like the employee handbook or refuse to introduce you to people you will be working with. Liz Ryan's article also offers some responses you can use if you find yourself facing one of these unseemly employer behaviors.
