The Importance of Transparency in Job Descriptions

I analyzed 500+ job posts to conclude that including a salary range increases job applications by 30%. Indian companies are hurting themselves by not normalizing salary transparency in their job postings. Most states in the US require the salary range to be mentioned under the job post, but no such regulation exists in India. But honestly, India needs it more, as there’s much more variation in salaries in India than in the US. Here's why you're better off revealing the salary range under your job postings: 1/ Sets clear expectations from Day 1 No, disclosing your budget doesn't hurt negotiation power. Candidates apply knowing your range, leading to more realistic discussions later. 2/ Saves everyone's time Yes, some candidates might self-reject based on current salaries, but most still apply regardless. And way fewer unnecessary intro calls too. 3/ Boosts your applications by 30% We tested this across 500+ job posts at Weekday. Both the quantity and quality of applicants shoot up when companies are transparent. Add "flexible" next to the salary range if you're really worried about limiting your candidate pool. For instance, many founders mention "Budget up to X but no bar for the right candidate" in their hiring posts. The fear of "losing negotiation power" is overrated. You gain much more in terms of efficiency, candidate quality, and overall employer branding.

The importance of transparent job postings cannot be overstated when it comes to attracting top talent and streamlining the recruitment process. Including detailed salary ranges and benefits descriptions should be a standard practice for all employers, yet many still overlook this fundamental step. Providing such information not only empowers job seekers to make informed decisions that align with their needs but also benefits employers in the long term. It helps avoid scenarios where a promising candidate reaches the final stages of the hiring process only to decline an offer due to mismatched salary or benefits. Moreover, pay transparency is crucial in addressing the gender pay gap, a disparity evident from the outset of women's careers through lower initial salaries and diminished bonuses. Our research underscores the pivotal role of transparent compensation practices in fostering equity in the workplace. Contrary to misconceptions, recent data from the 2024 NACE Student Survey highlights that new college graduates prioritize inclusive hiring practices, particularly transparency regarding pay and benefits - this is a win-win for everyone. Neglecting to incorporate this vital information in job listings risks losing out on top talent eager for transparent employers. #earlytalent #earlycareers #collegerecruiting #careerservices #classof2025 National Association of Colleges and Employers

This past week alone I came across over 15 exciting museum jobs on LinkedIn I couldn’t share because they didn’t list a salary. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: “No salary, no application.” “Not worth my time to apply, even if I can check tax documents… chances are if they aren’t willing to post it, it isn’t competitive.” “I look for the salary before I read anything else. Why waste my own time?” “My first impression if they do not list a salary is that the position must not pay very well. This usually deters me from applying.” 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗷𝗼𝗯. “My first impression? The position must not pay very well.” “I refuse to share the job announcement within my networks (virtual or otherwise). It says to me that the employer is out of touch.” “I’ve gotten less picky after 6 months of job searching...but the sites that post salary tend to be more responsive. The others? They ghost.” “I applied once for a role I was excited about—then turned down the offer because the pay was insultingly low.” 𝗜𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲: “I, generally, see this as a potential red flag. If they are not transparent in the job description, will they be transparent when you're working for them?” “It’s a red flag. Museums that don’t post salaries are wasting people’s time—or trying to chisel applicants.” "In the end, I do not apply to positions that don’t post a salary. That tells me you’re not transparent as an organization, whether it be compensation or elsewhere” “If it's on LinkedIn I will sometimes comment on the post and ask what the salary is. Their response (or lack thereof) often tells me a lot about how they operate as an organization and whether I would consider working for/with them.” “If I come across organizations where they are selectively choosing which roles have public information, I will avoid any applications there.” And in many places, it’s not just a bad look, it’s illegal. States with salary transparency laws include: AL, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, PR, RI, VT, VA, WA, WI. Cities too: Atlanta, Cincinnati, St. Louis, New Orleans, and beyond. So my question is: Why is your organization still doing this? It’s actively harming your reputation, limiting your applicant pool, and contributing to long-standing inequities in the field. It’s 2025. Be better.

If You Can’t Share the Pay, Don’t Post the Job! 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛! Here’s why pay transparency matters: ↳It helps align financial expectations upfront. ↳ It prevents wasted time for candidates and recruiters. ↳And honestly, it’s just the RIGHT thing to do. As a Recruiter, I firmly believe in open and transparent conversations about pay: ↳ I include compensation details in job descriptions. ↳I mention compensation in phone screen invites. ↳ I discuss compensation within the first 3 minutes of my screening calls. Why? Because expectations and circumstances can change, and clarity is key. Pay transparency is more than just a nice-to-have, it’s essential for building trust, saving time, and creating better experiences for both candidates and employers. Let’s normalize transparency!