It bothers me when potential employers *require* a salary expectation in your application. It's like they're focusing on the wrong parts. I don't even consider places that do that, no matter how cool the job sounds. Remember kids, in negotiations, the first one to mention a number loses.

I always mention "not relevant"

Whenever the HR department or the Hiring manager put forth a question on Salary expectations, my usual response is "let's finish the technical interview process". That way, I don't want to get distracted by the compensation and not look like a fool when I quote something higher than what I deserve while ending up rejected in a later round.

I always say: "it is the company that is searching for people so it should be the company who offers the salary"

I've lost many jobs probably because of that. But I prefer to lose 1000 jobs that get one underpaid

@Letmecode I usually do too, but some of them put it in the initial application and make the field required. I just move on, but sometimes it's for jobs I might've been excited about otherwise.