Dear Rachel,
I'm starting to interview for new positions. When I started this position they asked me to fill out an application and I really hurt myself when I indicated what type of salary I wanted. That left me with no room to negotiate when they offered me the position. As I'm interviewing for new positions some companies ask you to fill out an application and others don't. What should I do this time around? Leave it blank or it fill it out and put a range instead? I don't want to hurt my chances. Please help.-- Confused in NJ

Dear Confused,
I think a salary range might be your best choice, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. Whatever you put down is not going to lock you out of a job. Salary matters come later, well into the process.

There are more important things that come first, and right up there is learning everything you can about the position you are applying for.

When we go out on the job trail it is natural to be concerned with what information you are presenting to prospective employers. You want to appear as a desirable candidate.

But sometimes we spend so much energy on looking good that we fail to dig out all the facts on the job that's open and the company we'd be working for. Then we get the job and we find we really don't like either.

One of the advantages of doing all your research, asking a lot of questions, is that you get a real good sense of the kinds of people you would be working for and with.

If they are forthcoming, that's a good sign. If they back off, giving you vague answers, consider that a huge red flag.

The question you want to answer for yourself is whether they are looking for someone with real growth potential or simply a warm body. A lot of organizations are looking for warm bodies and that's all.

If it's just a warm body they want, you don't want to work there.

Next, once you learn about the job and the company, and you like what you see, then you want to get the offer. Once that comes, you can worry about salary.

Realize, of course, that at this point they know what you are making now, they know what the going market rate is, and they have a pretty good idea of what they think they must offer you for you to accept.

If it's been a successful interview process, they'll probably come back with a figure that's within range of your expectations.

And here you are free to try to bump it up a bit. If they are serious about you--they're not just trying to fill the job with a warm body--they're going to expect you to go for more, and they'll probably be prepared to meet your request.

However, if that first offer is well below what you were expecting, you might be better off taking a pass entirely. It's probably a company you don't want to work for.

But again, if you do your research early on, this is probably not going to happen.