<prompt> Human: Certified career coach Cheryl Palmer had this to say in an interview with Career Builder: If you immediately volunteer a dollar amount, the salary discussion will be based on that amount. The converse is also true. If the company representative states a dollar amount first, the salary negotiation process will start from there. Thus, it is your best interest to avoid mentioning a dollar amount first if at all possible.I do not understand this advice. If the job applicant names a number near the top of the interviewers range, then the negotiation will start from the higher figure. This can only help the applicant. If the applicant refuses to name any number, then the first suggestion from the interviewer is likely near the bottom of the range and will anchor discussion to lower salary.Maybe if you have no idea at all what the competitive salary for the position should be and have been underpaid, then the first number the interviewer suggests will be more than you would have suggested, but if you do a decent amount of research or have worked in the field, you should be able to anchor the discussion more effectively by being the first to name a figure and select a high, but plausible, salary.Why is this so universally advised against?  <response>: If they set the first offer, then you learn what they think of you, and they learn nothing. If you set the first offer, they learn what you think of yourself, and you learn nothing. 