A common mistake made by job seekers is to discuss salary before receiving a job offer. This paper offers two basic rules for discussing compensation: (1) Do not mention salary in an interview if the employer does not broach the subject; and (2) when negotiating a pay rate, never give the first figure. Although a job's salary is usually paramount in the prospective employee's mind, employers want to know what the interviewee can do for the company, not what the company can do for the applicant. When an applicant asks about salary or benefits, the employer may believe that the job seeker is interested in the money first and the position last. Once a job is tendered, then the new employee may discuss salary. If the employer asks what the employee's salary requirements are, the employee should immediately inquire as to what the position pays. If the employer persists in hearing a figure first, then the employee must be prepared to list a salary range: which means he or she must have researched what this type of position pays. The paper offers various scenarios to foster critical thinking during salary negotiations. (RJM)