income as an indicator of potential

Maybe I'm missing something here... but if you're in finance, wouldn't headhunters already know how much you're making? Especially banking where salaries/bonuses are very well-known?

I guess I just don't see the point in telling unless they ask you specifically. If it's lower than what they expect to hear, obviously that wouldn't be good but even if it's higher that could hurt you as well - they may be less inclined to recommend a job that pays slightly less but has better hours, for example.

Bottom line is I would not tell unless asked.

1. They should have a general idea of your income level assuming you are in finance.
2. They don't care how much you made at a previous job. They want to see that you are the best candidate for the job, regardless of how much or little you will be making.

Well Britney Spears is worth over a 100 million, so I think I just answered your question....

Recruiters will generally ask what you received for your prior year's bonus - they do this to get an idea of what tier / bucket you were ranked in your class.

most headhunters for finance jobs will ask you your comp for each of the past 1-2 years. if a headhunter doesn't ask then I wouldn't tell but it also probably means they're not a very good recruiter

thanks for the constructive comments. in the past i have stayed away from mentioning my income unless asked. i'm on the buy side, so our pay is slightly less structured. i was top of the class (no. 1) for all of my years. i suspect that due to my performance at work i am earning more than my peers at other firms with similar years behind them and titles. i now wonder whether volenteering my income to headhunters would make them more inclined to put me for roles at better firms or to push harder for interviews with my target groups. i'm also toying with the idea of moving into m&a, at a top firm, which would mean that I would most likey be in for a significant pay cut unless i come in at the right level, at least in the short term.

when i said volenteering my income, i meant letting them know how much i make. i didn't mean for it to sound as if i was going to bribe them!

thoughts?