Before interviewing, determine your minimum salary requirements by budgeting your known fixed expenses. These usually include rent, utilities, auto expenses and insurance, food, entertainment, clothing, and loans or debts. You NEED certain things to live, and you have to be able to assert yourself and demand these things. If they undershoot, they are trying to sell you short . If they overshoot,- they are over compensating.
Employers usually begin negotiations at the lower end of what they can afford.
Additonal Web links for salary surveys are available at Location, Location, Location . Research the salary level that is appropriate to your experience and on an even scale with others in the field. Try to come up with a number that is on the high side, but that is still fair. Consider the place where you are interviewing. Obviously I couldn't expect to take a salary at a public interest organization at the same level as that which I received at a law firm.