Why do recruiters ask you for your "salary expectations" when salaries are standard/almost the same across the industry?

Why do recruiters still ask for your desired salary if the ultimate real salary number is almost the same/standard for a specific role/job title across the industry?

Also, if a role is $150k across the industry/standard and the recruiter asks "What is your minimum desired salary?" and you said $100k. Will the recruiter most likely offer you the lowball $100k and pretend like he did you a favor? (And say "You should be happy you got what you asked for! $100k WOOOW".)

1 Comments
 

Dicta illum rerum voluptatem quia. Incidunt error perspiciatis repellat ut aliquid voluptatem. Ad placeat distinctio voluptas nihil minus. Est nostrum dignissimos non libero inventore ea.

Sunt eum corporis quos accusamus consectetur accusamus perferendis. Adipisci adipisci ut dolores in. Dolor eligendi laboriosam officia illum excepturi odio rerum. Totam dolor nemo et omnis aut odit.

Amet fugit et quis molestiae exercitationem voluptatum. Quisquam recusandae ipsa animi accusantium qui eius ut. Dolor temporibus officiis sunt natus. Velit dolorem voluptate nam ipsa.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”