&gt; Fake the confidence here. If they say, “What are your salary requirements?” You say, “Well, it’s really too early to talk about salary. I just really want to make sure that we’re a great fit for each other. If we’re a great fit for each other, we can work something out. If we’re not a great fit for each other, it doesn’t matter. We shouldn’t work together no matter what the numbers are.” Whatever you need to say, just do not answer the salary question until you’re actually negotiating.<p>No need to dance around it so much.  Don&#x27;t worry about how to phrase it!  Just tell the recruiter, &quot;No I&#x27;m not going to discuss salary until we&#x27;re actually negotiating.&quot;  There&#x27;s really ZERO need to dress it up.  They know the game.  Just stand your ground, and say &quot;no&quot;, &quot;no thanks&quot;, &quot;really no&quot;, &quot;not yet&quot;... until they say the team wants to move forward with an offer.  NOW we can discuss.<p>I&#x27;m saying this because engineers are already nervous about how to negotiate the process, and there&#x27;s no need to make it even more stressful by worrying about how to <i>delicately</i> phrase things.