The recruiter asked for my previous payslip during the interview — here is what I said

Being asked to share your previous payslip is a delicate moment in any interview. It happens more often than people expect, particularly in Germany and France where salary negotiations follow specific cultural norms.

Here is the reality: in most European countries, you are under no legal obligation to share your previous salary or payslip with a prospective employer. In Germany, asking for a payslip before an offer is considered inappropriate in many industries. In France, employers are increasingly prohibited from using previous salary as a basis for negotiation.

What I said when it happened to me

The recruiter asked: "Could you share your last payslip so we can make a competitive offer?"

My response: "I appreciate that you want to make a fair offer. I would prefer to discuss the budget for this role directly — could you share the salary range you have in mind? That way we can find an alignment that works for both of us."

This response does three things. It acknowledges their intent without being confrontational. It redirects to the role budget rather than your history. And it puts the first number responsibility back on them.

Why this matters

Your previous salary is irrelevant to your value in a new role. If you were underpaid before, sharing your payslip anchors the negotiation to an unfair baseline. If you were well paid, it can prematurely kill an offer before it is even made.

What to say if they insist

"I understand the request, but I keep my previous compensation confidential as a professional standard. I am happy to discuss my expectations for this role based on the responsibilities and market rates."

Practise this response until it feels natural. Said with calm confidence, it almost never ends a good interview process. If a recruiter withdraws an offer because you declined to share your payslip, that tells you something important about how that company negotiates with its employees.

Use JJ-JobHunter to prepare your interview responses and understand the salary ranges for your target roles before you walk into the room.