DEAR HARRIETTE: I realized I lowballed myself when a company I was interviewing for asked for my desired salary. I did not want to seem greedy and wanted a follow-up interview, so I made an offer on the lower side. This appeared to work, and I am waiting for their final decision after my second interview. If accepted, do I have any wiggle room with my salary, or must I stick to my original ask? -- Worth More, Boston
DEAR WORTH MORE: You have worked yourself into a tough space, but there may be a glimmer of hope. If you are offered the job, listen to the salary that is on the table. If it is exactly what you asked, you can thank the employer for meeting your request and also say that you have done some research and discovered that typically this position garners a higher wage. Ask when you would be eligible for a salary increase based upon this revelation. Some companies consider small increases at the end of a 90-day probationary period. Others wait until seeing your overall performance over a year’s time. Occasionally, you may even get a bump simply for asking. Keep a positive outlook. You may have to wait and earn the increase that you should have asked for in the beginning.