You've been looking for a job for awhile. Now you may have found the ideal job. The job advertisement or your company contact asks that you forward your resume and include your salary requirements. Further, they ask you to send in your salary history. Now what do you do?

Before you consider your options, let's consider why employers ask for salary requirements or salary history. The simple answer is the employer is looking for an easy way to sort out job applicants. If the salary requirements are too high or even too low the resume is eliminated. On occasion the employer is trying to save money by only looking at candidates at the low end of the salary range.

If the job candidate provides a salary history, the employer can see the amount of raises and even promotions. Overall, a system that is not entirely fair to the job hunter.

In the final analysis, what can you do about the employer's requests? Would you consider working for an employer who would eliminate you from consideration based on salary? If your answer is yes, your first step is to decide how to respond to the request.

If the request is about salary history, you earned what you earned, so don't attempt to fudge on the amount earned. If you feel you were underpaid, or you just recently received some new education, you might make that point in your cover letter. But don't expect the employer to be sympathetic. Now how do you answer the request for your salary requirement? You should not try to answer the question until you've done some salary and income research.

Look at your career path. What is the salary range of others following your career path? Salaries for almost identical jobs in different industries can have different salary ranges. Study the cost of living in your current area and the where you might be working. There is a vast difference between Wausau, WI and San Diego, CA.

Is your job is short supply or are there plenty of applicants for each vacant position? This will significantly determine salary levels.

Finally, in your research to arrive at a salary requirement, be sure to factor in fringe benefits beyond the salary. Many times the job offer with the highest salary will fall short when other benefits are considered. For example, one applicant who did a great deal of traveling on the job found his frequent flyer miles was annually worth over $5000 in free air fare and lodging.

If you really want the job here are a number of strategies to respond to a salary requirement request.

1. From your research ask for a reasonably wide salary range. Don't be too specific like, $65,500 but rather say something like, "mid $60's to high $70's".

2. You could just state the salary requirement. However, if it is outside the range the employer has in mind there is a strong chance you will be eliminated.

3. If you simply state you expect the salary to be competitive or you are flexible about salary, you run the risk of being eliminated if the employer only looks at resumes and cover letters which include an actual number or range.

4. If you state you would prefer to discuss salary after you learn more about the job and it's responsibilities you again run the risk of being eliminated from consideration.

5. Now you are in a classic catch-22 situation only give salary history and be eliminated or simply ignore the salary request and also be eliminated.

Bottom line-if not requested don't volunteer salary history or salary expectations. If you have to give the requested information be honest about salary history, with an explanation if appropriate. Salary requirements should normally be listed in a range, after you've done the proper research.