<prompt> Human: Im a masters student in a STEM field. I will graduate this year and I am working on lining up a job for after I graduate. Im working on a very marketable degree, but Id ideally like to stay in science, rather than taking a corporate job. Im willing to take reduced pay to work at a job that is interesting to me, but it still needs to be enough to support me and fair given my qualifications.I have a job offer at a government lab, but we havent discussed salary yet. I got an email asking for a pay stub. Right now, my income is my 18,000 per year stipend for working as a research assistant as part of my masters program. I think I could make 100,000 if I found the right job in industry.I dont want my future pay to be based on my current stipend. Im afraid that theyll see my current pay and give me a lowball offer. On the other hand, Id really like to be able to take this job because its in my first-choice city and an interesting topic. Whats the right way to handle this?  <response>: A lot of places its standard to ask for a pay stub. Any decent employer would fully understand that your pay is low because youre a graduate student. If they use your current salary to try and lowball you thats an easy pass on working for them. 