Five deflections organized by pressure level. From polite redirect to firm legal push-back. None commit a number.
How It Works
Five scripts, increasing in firmness. Pick the one that matches your comfort and your state. All of them redirect the conversation away from history and toward the market rate for the role.
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Five Deflection Scripts
Listed by pressure level. Pick the one that fits the moment and your comfort.
Script 1The Polite Redirect
Use first. Softest approach. Works on most recruiters.
"I prefer to focus on what the market rate is for this role rather than what I made previously. Based on my research, I'm targeting [range you've researched]. Can you share the range you've budgeted for the role?"
Script 2The Market Frame
If they push back on Script 1.
"My previous role was at a company with different economics than this one - different scope, different structure, different market. What matters to me is finding alignment on what this specific role is worth. Can we discuss the scope first so we're talking about the same thing?"
Script 3The Legal Push-Back (state-ban states)
Use if your state has a salary history ban and they keep pushing.
"I understand that specific question isn't one employers can ask under [state] law. I'm happy to discuss what I'm targeting for this role - which is [range]. Does that align with what you've budgeted?"
Script 4The Firm Forward-Look
When they won't stop and it's not a ban state.
"I want to be direct - my previous salary isn't something I'm going to share, because anchoring this conversation on it doesn't serve either of us. What I can share is my target for this role: [range]. I'd love to know if that aligns with your budget."
Script 5The Reset (if you already answered)
Use to walk back a previous answer without damaging the relationship.
"I want to revisit what I shared earlier on salary history. I'd prefer to focus on what the market rate is for this role rather than my history at my last company, which had different economics. My target for this role is [range] - does that align with your budget?"
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