[creer]

> always asking the candidate upfront for their expected salary [etc - to respect and save everyone time]

Isn't that a dark pattern (in addition to being a time saver for everyone)? It's a damned if you do and damned if you don't kind of thing.

This is an adversarial question in a process which needs to be ruthless against the time-wasting applications, but also needs to be cooperative with future co-workers.

If you are open to a broad range of salary in exchange for perhaps working at a super exciting place, then there is no good answer. Even "I'm open to a broad range of salary if that's needed to work at a super exciting place" is not a great answer.

Leaving it to the legal requirement of posting an expected salary range and negotiating from there might be a better way.