START AT THE TOP...

IF an employer makes no specific offer but asks you to name your price, then they’re certainly putting you on the spot.

Your approach should be to try to identify whether or not they have a salary range in mind. An employer normally will but, if challenged to reveal it, will probably err on the side of caution – so don’t be disappointed if your salary requirements exceed that quoted.

However negotiations kick off, you should aim to pitch for a salary at the top end of the range – and consequently be prepared to negotiate and reduce that figure as necessary in order to reach a compromise. This is a standard haggling technique. Start high and be prepared to come down.