Job candidate walks out of fourth-round interview after recruiter refuses to reveal salary for the position: 'Salary transparency is basic respect'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 4, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

There are certain common elements when it comes to hiring practices these days that should never have been normalized. One of the many problems with the job application and interview process today is opacity from recruiters and human resources representatives. This is especially true when it comes to salary transparency.

If job candidates are expected to be crystal clear about their prior work experience and values, then so should employers. Remember: employment is, after all, a two-way street. It's a contract, and that negotiation only works if both parties are fully aware of what the expectations are. In fact, this is something that should be made clear before the first interview. Salaries should be listed in the job posting… full stop! That way, no one is wasting one another's resources and time. Unfortunately, far too many employers out there are well aware of the fact that they are asking for less than their candidates are worth. Rather than be transparent, these folks often choose to delay divulging this crucial information until the last possible moment.

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    Cheezburger Image 10524438528
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This author underwent three full rounds of interviews and even completed an assignment. In the fourth round, the candidate could no longer handle the suspense. When they asked exactly what the salary range was, the recruiter's answer left much to be desired. Talk about a total waste of time for all involved!

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    I need a sanity check from the hive mind here. Last week I was in the fourth and supposedly final round for a mid- level data-analytics role at a well- known company (think Fortune- 500, plenty of Glassdoor reviews,
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    not a stealth start-up). Every earlier round was great-good rapport, challenging technical questions, lots of "we love your background!" vibes.
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    But there was one red flag: nobody would give me even a range on compensation. Round 1 (recruiter screen): "We're still benchmarking the position."
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    Round 2 (hiring manager): "Let's make sure you're a fit first-then we'll talk numbers." Round 3 (panel): "Oh, HR owns that conversation. They'll cover it next time."
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    Round 4 (director + VP): same song, fourth verse. So midway through the VP chat I literally said:
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    "I'm excited about the role, but after four interviews and a take- home project, I need to know the compensation range to confirm we're in the same ballpark. Can you please share it before we continue?"
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    He smiled, gave me the classic "That's confidential until offer stage" line, and pivoted to another question. I paused, thanked him for his time, and ended the call. No drama, no mic-drop-just a polite exit.
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    Why I'm torn Part of me feels empowered. Salary transparency is basic respect, right?
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    Part of me worries I was impulsive. Jobs are scarce, the process takes forever, and I might've nuked a perfectly good offer out of principle.
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    Part of me wonders if candidates should start doing this en masse so companies can't keep playing "guess the number" at the finish line.
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    What I want to know from you 1. Have you ever drawn a hard line mid-process? How did it play out?
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    2. Is salary opacity just "how the game is played," or is it actually changing? 3. Would you have sat through the rest of the interview and hoped the offer was worth it, or bailed like I did?
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    Cheezburger Image 10524438784
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    id3amav3n. You shouldn't go to any interviews without at least a ballpark. That's a waste of everyone's time.
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    Brent_the_constra.... Also think it was the right decision... I once got an offer after the 5th round and that was below what I was asking and the company car was also not possible any more. I declined and don`t regret it.
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    Fun_Apartment631. Guy I worked with said that trade secrets are for when the company's technology doesn't work. When it works, they patent it and shout it from the rooftops.
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    Similarly, no company says "competitive salary" when they're going to offer you a competitive salary. If they think their compensation package is competitive, they'll start trying to lure you with at least a range from very early on.
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    jasbflower ⚫ You shouldn't be doing any homework without being paid. I think they are seeing how far they can push you. Your work life shouldn't be full of game playing like this.
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workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace job work job candidate company job interview interview toxic-work-environment
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