<prompt> Human: So I have recently interviewed with a company that gave me a very soft offer yesterday. They essentially just emailed me saying hey we are gonna offer you, oh and BTW what is your salary expectation? Normally when Ive received offers, they come out with a number to begin with, but this kind of threw me for a loop... I figured if I could keep them from getting a number out of me in the interview phase, it would then leave the ball in their court, but now theyve just bounced it right back. Can anyone provide some advice on how to best proceed from here? Assistant: Its a trap. Politely suggest that you are somewhat flexible as to terms, and ask what the position previously paid. If its a new position, ask for what range they were working with when they came up with the spot. They have a number in mind alright; you just have to pry it out of them. If they absolutely wont divulge, give a range of what you have earned previously.Human: If they absolutely wont divulge, give a range of what you have earned previously.Im extremely hesitant to do that, as there is a substantial cost of living different between my current location and the potential jobs location. I guess another important thing to note is that Im not sure if this is a level one or level two position the job description was quite vague, but I am currently a level 2, so I agree with you and dont want to throw out a number that is in line with one level when they are planning for the other. That being said, do you think a good way to approach it is to essentially say My expectations are flexible based on what the final total compensation package looks like. What does the company typically offer for someone in this role? Assistant: If that is the case, you could couch it this way, too: I was making in the range of x - y, but I was in Georgia at the time; obviously the numbers here in Manhattan would have to be drastically different.But yes; I like your last sentence. Without being crass about it, try REALLY hard to get them to give the first number. In any negotiation, the one who gives the first number usually loses, but in a new job scenario, it is huge. A wrong number from you could end up being a real problem.Good luck!Human: Thanks for the help! I was wondering if you had input on another question I have... Their email asked if I had any competing offers. While I dont currently, I have been taking phone interviews and such... Would it sound too unprofessional to say I dont have offers, but I am still interviewing at places, or should I just outright say no competing offers at this time? Assistant: Or I am in process with several firms, but we are not at the offer stage with any of them just yet.Boy these guys sound cagey...Human: Haha, yeah a little bit. Its actually a pretty well respected company, very large, and very high profile. This is a part of a pretty big growth stage for them though, so I think their lack of specificity is just so they can catch multiple applicants and prospective employees under the same umbrella with a pretty general job description. As far as being cagey on the actual offer, maybe theyre just trying to save as much money as possible so they can hire as many people as possible. Eh, who really knows?  <response>: maybe theyre just trying to save as much money as possibleThat part is right at least. 