[jerguismi]

Btw, I've heard exactly the opposite. That by giving a number first-hand, you can anchor the price point, and therefore gain an edge. What about giving them a number, what kind of salary you would except, instead of giving the number how much you earn now?

[bengali3]

yes, its commonly only recommended to offer first IF you expect their offer to be WAY off from yours or expect them to significantly lowball you. ie set the negotiations into a range, and make them the bad guys for revealing they had:

a. a lower opinion of what you're abilities are worth

b. lower expectations for what you'd be delivering

c. lower value of the position they need filled