Dear Sam: I am being contacted by potential employers, who present me with opportunities, but some require onsite or hybrid work and I am only willing to work remotely. Others have compensation bands that are below what I am seeking. I am not sure how to handle these situations. I thought to tell them that the work environment or compensation was acceptable, and then after considering their offer, I could tell them why I would not accept it. Do you have any advice? – Anonymous

Dear Anonymous: If the employer makes it clear at the beginning of the process that the salary or work environment is not what you would be looking for, you should probably make it known at that time that the opportunity does not align with your needs. There is no sense in wasting the employer’s time and potentially burning a bridge when they tell you those conditions at the beginning of the process. If you waited to disclose your requirements when you were informed at the onset, I think they would feel that you wasted their time, which could hinder future employment opportunities. While sometimes it would be nice to go through the interview process to get the practice and then make your constraints known, I wouldn’t want you to burn a bridge with a human resources manager or company.

If things are not “black-and-white” upfront, you can certainly go through the interview process, sell yourself, and then see how amenable they are to your desired compensation level and remote working preferences. There is no harm in doing that. If that is the case, you can get the practice from being a part of the process, hopefully, build a solid bridge with a potential employer — if not for this opportunity then for others in the future — and negotiate terms including compensation, working environment, benefits, etc. I wish you much success in turning one of these opportunities into a new position.

Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at [email protected]. For information on Nolan Branding’s services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442.