When asked what your salary expectations in an interview are, should you always go straight in with a high amount?

I have always considered this kind of question in an interview as a sleepy question on the company's part. They hold the marbles and you are having to guess how many they want to share with you, subject to their whim. As a business owner, now, I don't jerk people around. I pay this much and this is what I expect for that expectation. You don't live up to it and I have no need for you here. That's me.

I figure interviewers have this thing about being negotiators. You want a job. They want you cheap. If you do not know your labor market well enough you will sell yourself cheap. If you know your labor market, they may believe you will cost too much because they don't know the labor market and are using you to help establish a basis to make money offers, but not necessarily to you.

So you go in and start high… They think OMG we can't afford that. Out the door with you. You go in with a low amount and they think OMG we need someone who knows what they are doing… In addition, I believe there are some companies whose interviewers are upset that certain positions can be paid more than the interviewers.

What you do need to do is assess your dollar needs prior to going into the interview and have a real good idea of what you, personally, need, including taxes and other deductions, plus 10 to 20 percent more for contingencies, as a basic figure. Possible travel expenses, needed equipment that comes out of your pocket, etc., all affect your income needs. After being subjected to that stupid question for the umpteenth time, I stated, "We can discuss that after you offer me the position. If you are offering me the position right now, then we'll talk." Most have backed off real fast. I didn't get lots of jobs, too. I suspect I didn't have the right attitude.

Now, that being said, one of my grandfathers, relatively new to this country, applied to a job where they asked him his expected salary. He was an electrical engineer trained in Germany. He was living in a community with other immigrants. He was going to present a figure, but others convinced him that he should go with a much higher number because it showed how much he valued himself. He submitted his application, but not enthusiastically, expecting it to be rejected. He was very surprised to be offered the position plus a slight premium on the wages. My take on it is that is when he started to recognize his worth and value in what he knew and could do.

So, don't let my rants or interviewers get in the way of what you believe you are worth.