This is one of those very tricky subjects that can make or break your resume: Should you include a salary range that you're looking for on your resume? Some would argue that if the company isn't interested in paying you what you want, then you're better off not bothering with them. However, the other camp argues that you shouldn't include it, and sell them on you first. The salary negotiations can come during later interviews. So where do I stand? Firmly in the second camp, except when explicitly stated by the job opening. My decision is based on the following reasoning:

1.) Ease of salary negotiation - In my opinion, once you have them "salivating" over your resume, you're in a much better position to negotiate your salary. They want you based on what you can do for them, and they've already started to fit you into their project model. Wavering a few percentage points on the salary will probably be much easier for them to do at this point.

2.) Get yourself in the door - When opening a position, a company has a certain salary in mind. If you specify something out of that range on your resume, they'll probably reject you out of hand. However, if you wait until you get farther in the interview process, they'll be less willing to dismiss you because you want a little more money. This leads into the salary negotiation that was discussed above.

3.) Hidden benefits - While getting your target salary is a great goal, sometimes there are other rewards from a job that can be just as good. Leave time for example, or health benefits. However, if you put a salary on your resume and get rejected out of hand because of it, you'll never know what that company could do for you. Maybe you're willing to make a little less a year to get 25 days of vacation and/or great health benefits. The point is, you won't know unless you talk to somebody first.

Overall, my main point is this: You can negotiate you salary later, worry about getting in the door and selling yourself first. You never know what will come out of these interviews.

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