How do you respond if the banker asks about your salary expectations?

For junior IB roles, salary is usually standardized. Do not over-negotiate.

'For a junior analyst role, I understand compensation is generally within a market range and standardized by class. My priority at this stage is the platform, learning curve, deal exposure, and team fit. Of course, I would expect market compensation for the role, but salary is not the main driver of my decision.'

Give a broad market-aware range and bring the focus back to fit.

aggressive negotiation, quoting unverified numbers, or making compensation sound like your primary motivation.