Your responses should focus on how you can help the company. Describe how you can apply your skills to help solve its problems. As a cardinal rule, avoid mentioning money, benefits and related matters during the initial interview. With many hiring executives, that approach is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. It implies that you are more interested in yourself than in the job or the company.
Many applicants overlook the basic fact that the objective of the job search is to get the offer.
All efforts should be directed toward that central goal, beginning with your first contact with the prospective employer. After an offer is made, you may decide not to accept the job. But if you leave the wrong impression, you may never have that choice to make. After an offer is made, not before, is the time to start discussing salary. Consider the case of Allan, who interviewed for the position of account executive at a large advertising agency.