Talking about money is awkward… and that’s why recruiters use it as a weapon. They know candidates panic when the salary question comes up, and they use that panic to push you into a weaker position. If you aren’t ready, you’ll either undersell yourself or price yourself out before you even get to the interview stage.
Why Recruiters Ask Now—And Why It’s Usually Bullshit
You’ll notice recruiters almost always ask about salary early. First call. Sometimes even in the application form. Why? Because they don’t care about your skills yet. They care about numbers.
- They want to weed out candidates fast. Cheaper than wasting time on interviews.
- They want to trap you into naming a number first, so they control the ceiling.
- They want to test how desperate you sound.
Don’t buy the excuse that it’s just “part of the process.” That’s corporate-speak for “we’d rather box you in now than give you leverage later.”
What Happens If You Blurt Out a Number Early?
1. You’ll Probably Get Lowballed
Let’s say the company’s budget is $150K. You say $135K because you want to be “reasonable.” Guess what? They’ll happily take the discount. Companies don’t correct you upward out of kindness.
2. You Could Be Cut Before You Start
Imagine you say $150K, hoping they’ll negotiate. Their range is $120K–$130K. Now you’re out. They don’t even bother to talk to you because your “expectations don’t align.” You didn’t lose on merit. You lost because of one number.
3. You’ll Be Labeled by Your Price Tag
Too low = “cheap and junior.” Too high = “out of budget.” That one number defines you before anyone bothers to learn if you’re actually worth it.
Recruiters Play Games—Here’s How to Counter
When they ask: “What’s your salary expectation?”
- Deflect early.
Say: “It’s too soon to talk numbers until I know more about the role.” - Push it back to them.
Say: “What’s the range you’ve budgeted for this position?” - Don’t cave under pressure.
If they keep pushing, repeat yourself. You’re not obligated to give them anything until you know the scope.
The point isn’t to be evasive. It’s to protect yourself from being boxed in before you even understand the job.
The LinkedIn Factor (Yes, It’s Part of the Problem)
Here’s where LinkedIn makes things worse: recruiters scan your profile and assume your value based on what they think you earn. Got vague job titles? You’ll get lowballed. Show too much detail about your past comp? They’ll anchor you to it forever.
And then there’s the parade of fake “advice posts” on your feed. You know the ones:
- “Always answer the salary question honestly. It shows integrity.” (No, it shows you don’t know the game.)
- “Recruiters just want to make sure you’re a fit.” (Translation: they want to see if they can get you cheap.)
Most of this “wisdom” is fluff written by people who benefit from you playing along.
How to Win the Salary Conversation
- Do your research. Use Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, or Blind to know the real market range. Don’t trust the company to tell you.
- Delay the money talk. The later it happens, the more leverage you have because now they actually want you.
- Make them show their hand. Ask for their range, every time.
- Be ready to walk. If a company refuses to discuss pay transparently, that’s a red flag.
Final Word: Protect Yourself
The salary conversation is a game, and the odds are stacked against you. Recruiters will push, companies will lowball, and LinkedIn will keep feeding you garbage “advice” to make you feel guilty about negotiating.
Don’t play along. Don’t give away your number first. Make them reveal theirs. The only thing worse than losing a job offer is accepting one where you got played.
