Should I give a salary number early in the process?
If possible, defer until you understand the role and responsibilities. Ask about the range for the position; many recruiters will share it. Naming a number early, especially a low one, caps your offer for the whole negotiation.
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Defer if you can, to understand the role first. If you must give a number, give a researched range based on the role, level, and location, with the bottom being a number you would accept. Justify with data, not need, and frame around total compensation.
To see if you fit their budget and to anchor the negotiation. A low answer caps your offer; a high answer can screen you out. Understanding the purpose helps you answer strategically instead of just naming a number.
Make sure the bottom of your range is a number you would be happy to accept, and base the range on research. If you say 10 LPA, you will not get 15 LPA even if they were willing, so do not name a number below your real target.
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