I have a few verbal offers and the recruiters want to know my current salary and unvested stocks. Now I want to maximize these offers and one of the ways is to exaggerate my current numbers. I know in an ideal world it's immoral to lie but we are playing an assyemtric game where companies also don't reveal what they are really willing to pay. So the question is - Is there a way for next employer to verify the numbers I give them both for unvested stocks and base? Is it legal for them to get these details from my current employer?
If it’s a sharp recruiter they will know what range in general your base, bonus, equity is. If you exaggerate too much you will lose credibility and they likely won’t go to bat for you when negotiating with their internal engineering director or VP depending on the company size. Just tell them competing offer details and your expectations and tell them to get their best offer together. After the initial there is usually a little negotiating room, not a ton as they won’t want to start structure an offer under market value. Be honest and forthcoming with the recruiter if they are straight forward with you and seem like a good recruiter. If they seem shitty tell them nothing. Good recruiters will move mountains internally if it makes sense for your skill set.
I would be willing to share non-vested stock information, as the expectation is their offer will include something to help make you whole. Salary I wouldn't share. If anything just the range that you are expecting - not what you are making now. If they press for it, poorly tell them your current salary has no bearing on what a fair offer is.
Not sure which state you are located in, but it's illegal to ask for prior salary in California and few other states, https://m.sfgate.com/business/networth/article/New-law-bans-California-employers-from-asking-12274431.php
Yes you're right. In California and NY they can't ask for salary. In my case though, one of the company is asking for unvested stock and offering to match it.
Salary question has already been answered. Unvested stock you can either choose not to answer and tactfully tell them so, or you can answer but know you may be asked to share a screen shot or statement to prove what you said is true. I’ve seen this required when someone has tried to negotiate for higher stock and said how much they are leaving behind. Recruiters are not fools. And if you are caught in a lie you’ll lose that nice offer.
Yes I told them a higher number for unvested stock and they have offered to make it whole conditional on me producing a proof which I can't. Looks like I'll have to reject the whole offer to get out of this problem. Lesson for future - only talk about expectations and not what you're currently making as they might ask for a proof.
200k vs 50k
I don’t think so. But they surely know the bands, so you better lie with your level too if you are going to exaggerate >20%