What should I say when asked about my salary expectations?

Deflect once politely, and if pressed, give a researched range with your target near the bottom of it. Whoever names a number first anchors the negotiation — so you'd rather they did, but refusing twice reads as evasive and costs you goodwill. **The deflection**: 'I'd rather understand the scope first — what range have you budgeted for this role?' In several places (parts of the US, and increasingly elsewhere) they're legally required to tell you, and many companies will regardless. This is the ideal outcome: now you know the band and can position within it. **If they press**: give a range, not a point. 'Based on my research for this level and market, I'm targeting 18 to 22 lakhs' — where 18 is a number you'd genuinely accept happily. Never state a range whose bottom you'd resent, because you will be offered the bottom. The research that makes this work, and it's non-negotiable: - Check levels.fyi, Glassdoor, AmbitionBox or local equivalents for the role, level, city and company size. - Ask two or three people in comparable roles. This is the most accurate source and the most underused. - Adjust for company stage — a funded startup and a large enterprise pay very differently at the same title. Things that cost people money here: 1. **Naming your current salary.** Illegal to ask in some places, and it anchors you to your past rather than the role's value. 'I'd rather focus on the value of this role than my current package' is a complete answer. 2. **Giving a number before researching.** The single most expensive five minutes you can skip. 3. **Being the first to negotiate downward.** Don't pre-emptively say 'but I'm flexible'. You're allowed to want money. 4. **Focusing only on base.** Ask about bonus, equity, notice period, and non-cash items — sometimes the flexibility is there rather than in base. And when the offer arrives, almost always counter once, politely, with a reason. A large majority of employers expect it and have room built in. The worst realistic outcome is 'that's our best' — the common outcome is several percent more for one email.