CVPebble
Use your CV to show relevant experience, skills and contributions. If an application does not ask for salary details, you can usually leave them out. This is general guidance, not a rule that every country or application follows.
1. Expectations are not salary history
Salary expectations mean what you would consider for the new role. Salary history means what you earned before. Those are different questions. For example, New York prohibits covered employers from asking applicants for salary history while allowing questions about expectations. That is a local example, not a worldwide rule. Check official guidance for the place where the job is based before sharing past pay. A form field does not establish that a request is lawful or that you must disclose it. Never invent a figure.
2. Use the requested route
Read the advert and application instructions. If expectations belong in a dedicated field, use that field. If they are requested in a covering letter, put them there. If an employer explicitly asks for expectations on the CV, follow that specific format rather than treating “never on a CV” as an absolute rule. When the request is unclear, ask what information and format they need. Employer instructions do not override local law.
3. Make a requested range clear
Research comparable roles, seniority and location. Consider working hours and the whole package rather than copying an unrelated figure. Make the currency, pay period and full-time or part-time basis clear. Specify base pay when that distinction matters. Give only a researched range you would genuinely consider. Fictional wording example, not a pay recommendation: “My base-pay expectation is [researched range] [currency] gross per year for the stated full-time hours, depending on the responsibilities and overall package.” Replace all brackets with your own information. If a form requires one number, do not paste this sentence into a numeric field; follow the format or ask how to respond.
4. Keep the CV about evidence
Keep room for relevant tasks, skills and contributions. You can explain useful work without inventing a revenue figure or percentage. The related experience-bullet guide shows how to make this concrete. For a broader checklist of omissions, see our what-to-leave-off guide. This article focuses on handling pay questions, not salary negotiation. It is not legal advice, and local rules and application details matter.
Frequently asked questions
Should I always wait until the interview?
No. An application may ask for expectations earlier. Use the requested route while respecting local rules.
Must I disclose current pay if a form asks?
Do not treat a form as legal advice. Check official local salary-history guidance or get appropriate advice. Ask how to proceed if unclear, and never invent an answer.
Can I write “negotiable”?
Only if it fits the requested format and your position. It may not answer a field requiring a number. Ask for clarification rather than entering a false or meaningless figure.
What to leave off your CV · How to describe work experience clearly ·
Sources and scope
Original general guidance informed by the sources below. Reviewed 4 November 2026. Follow the employer’s instructions. No interview, hiring or ATS result is guaranteed.
