I recently had a telephone interview for a job and was asked about my minimum salary requirement. I gave a figure but soon realized that my minimum was too little. I have since gone in to interview and did not bring it up then, figuring I would do so only if they expressed interest in my candidacy. How do I handle this delicate situation? I will be going in again in the next week or two and am sure that this will come up again.

Salary negotiation starts long before a phone or face-to-face interview, and the job seeker who has the most current competitive data, and is comfortable sharing this information, increases his or her chances of maximizing an offer.

As you begin your job search, you should also research compensation. Ask people in your network about the of compensation available in your target positions. Questions such as ''Based on your experience, can you tell me the salary range for a position like this?'' or ''What factors impact this range?'' are likely to get you the information you need.

Companies develop a pay range based on a position's value to the organization. Offers are made within the range based on the value the person brings to the job and the organization. Job seekers need to be prepared to answer questions about their salary history and salary expectations at any point in the job search process.

If you make a mistake early on and provide the wrong figure, or use an amount based solely on what you had been making, you may find yourself trying to backpedal from the position in which you placed yourself.

You have decided you asked for too little, and I'd ask how you know that. Have you done the research? Do you have competitive data? If you have indeed set your compensation level too low, and you feel you bring value to the position and the organization, find out what the company believes the range is for the position. They asked you back for a second and now a third interview, and since you don't want this to come up again in a formal offer you'll be upset with, you need to get the information about the range.

First try your network for informal information. Next, as you make arrangements for your third interview, declare your serious interest in the position and the company, and let them know you neglected to ask what the salary range was for this position. If they give a range that is low for you, you can say that it's less than you thought, but that you continue to be very interested and are eager to continue the process.

Do not try to negotiate at this point. Collect data, develop a plan, get the offer, then use the information about the job, the market, and the value you add, to reinforce why they need you in that job, with compensation that is at the right point for both of you.

Within the next couple of years, I will retire and I have a long-range plan of spending half the year in Florida and half up North (Boston or New York). The trouble I'm having is finding a job that would accommodate these ambitious plans. I want to continue working, doing something creative or artistic without having to take courses, online or otherwise. How can I narrow my interests? Are tests and career services worth the money for a 57-year-old grandmother who loves crafts, sewing, and photography?

As baby boomers start to exit the workforce, economists predict the world of work, and the talent pool, will look quite a bit different than they do right now. What's clear is that regardless of what senior workers hope to do, most will continue to work well into their ''retirement.'' And to ensure your hopes do become plans, and then reality, I encourage you to start the process as other job seekers have — with networking and research.

For networking: Begin developing your contacts and start verbalizing your long-term goal in a very general sense. ''In the next three to five years I'd like to work for one company or two spending six months of the year in Florida and six in Boston. It sounds great doesn't it? Who do you know who can help make this happen?'' ''I'm very interested in using my artistic skills — I am talented in crafts, sewing, and photography. I'd like to work in these areas — who do you know who can help me research these opportunities?''

As you are put in touch with new people who have additional knowledge, experience, and contacts, continue to refine your goal so that people can help get you closer to your target.

For research: Go online or to your local library and look up job trends and chambers of commerce in both your desired geographic locations. To discover if your hobbies can be adapted into career opportunities, attend professional association or club events where people with similar interests can be found. Travel to Florida and get a feel for the different areas in which you might like to settle and while there visit craft shows and photography exhibits to talk to the artists. Can you generate examples of people who have done what you want to do?

Once you have begun speaking with people and uncovering information with your research, try to narrow your focus. Figure out what your dream job must include such as flexibility in hours, earnings, longevity, and benefits. Start to develop a plan focusing on the top 10 factors your new job must possess (include your needs and desires), and then bounce these ideas off your network to see if your goals are realistic and achievable.

Perhaps you can't be a golf pro traveling from Florida to Massachusetts, but what seasonal economies can you support? Are there particular services or locations where the seasonal need is greatest? Keep your mind open — seasonal jobs could include those in the healthcare, education, hospitality, travel, tourism, and retail sectors.

I am a senior software engineer in a customer support role. I have two small children, work about 10 hours a day, often need to get back online right after dinner, and am frequently on-call on weekends. For the past six months, I have been feeling burned out. I have trouble sleeping and all I think about is work. My wife is complaining that it is affecting our relationship. My employer has recently been acquired by another firm, and although I have been assured my job is safe, I am thinking about quitting. I'm just not sure I can take any more job pressure right now.

Your question was function-specific, but it doesn't need to be. It is well advised that all professionals pay extra attention to tracking industry trends and emerging markets to align their skills with the technologies of the future. It is easy for engineers to become obsolete or follow the wrong technology.

Your credentials are ideal for a move to a variety of positions within the technology field. However, I am concerned about your reported burnout. Too many employees quit their jobs or take other rash actions when burned out, and regret it later. According to Kathleen Greer, president of KGA, a Framingham firm specializing in employee assistance programs, ''burnout is simply physical and mental exhaustion. It comes from pushing too hard for too long. One makes much better decisions after recovering from burnout.''

I would suggest accessing your company's EAP firm before deciding anything about your job. EAP services are free to employees and are confidential. The EAP can offer personal counseling, nutritional consultation, and stress management training to help you recover from your burnout and keep it from returning. Once you feel better, you will make a better career decision.
Everyone at some point in their career will experience work and life balance issues. To take some self-assessment tests on lifestyle and balance, visit KGA's website at www.kgreer.com. Other good resources for stress management include the Stress Reduction Program with Jon Kabat-Zinn at UMass Medical Center (www.umassmed.edu/cfm/srp/) and the Mind Body Medical Institute with Dr. Herbert Benson (www.mbmi.org).

Elaine Varelas has over 20 years of career development and consulting experience and is currently managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm headquartered in Boston.

Got a question for the Job Doc? Tell us what hurts and we'll try and find the remedy for your career woes, every Sunday in the BostonWorks section of the Sunday Globe. E-mail your questions to or mail to Job Doc, The Boston Globe, PO Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107-2378. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.