Jobseekers in Malaysia are voicing frustration over recruiters who request previous salary information while withholding details about the company’s budget for a role, a practice many see as unfair amid a competitive job market.
In a post that went viral on Threads, a Malaysian man shared his experience with a recruiter who asked for his current and expected salary but refused to disclose the salary range for the position. “Am I wrong here? Why do headhunters expect you to share your salary details when they’re not ready to share the maximum allocated budget, or at least the range?” he wrote.
Screenshots included in the post showed that after the jobseeker requested the company’s allocated budget, the recruiter cited confidentiality and declined to provide a range. The candidate then shared his own salary expectations but was allegedly rejected because his expectations were “too high” for the role.
The man described the situation as “unfair,” highlighting the imbalance where candidates are pressured to disclose personal salary information while recruiters remain opaque about the compensation on offer.
Netizens supported his view, urging companies and recruiters to be more transparent. Some suggested Malaysia could follow the United States in requiring job postings to include salary ranges, giving candidates a clearer picture of potential earnings.
“I don’t think you’re wrong. It’s ironic that candidates are asked everything about themselves, but when we ask about the role, information is kept confidential or we’re criticised for stating our expectations,” one user wrote. Another added, “Recruiters should at least provide a salary range if they cannot disclose the exact budget. It’s only fair.”
A headhunter also weighed in, saying transparency benefits both parties. “I am always upfront unless there is no specific ceiling for a role. It saves time and improves efficiency for both candidates and recruiters,” the comment read.
