Does it make sense to ask recruiters about compensation before speaking on the phone?

Hey, I think it's completely reasonable to ask for salary range. That's such an important factor. Getting on a phone call might make it more beneficial for you because it's harder to dodge the question. Good recruiters will disclose the salary range early on so it doesn't waste anyone's time if it's not a good fit.

I think it's fair to be direct and ask for the comp range. IMO it is a time saver for both parties involved. At least few states in the US mandate the pay range to be disclosed. Hope it becomes the norm.

It's reasonable to ask for a salary range if it's an unknown company.

You don't need to ask if it's a company you "trust" (you know people there, they are FAANG, etc). You know you won't get cheated, and the comp will be reasonable, for some definition of reasonable.

I'd also say that you should not be so dependent on the recruiter for info. Ideally you have people on the inside, or knowledgeable friends, who can share ranges with you.

Unless you're mega desperate and are truly willing to take any job (i.e. something at minimum wage), you should 100% ask about the compensation upfront. The worst-case scenario is that you go through the entire interview process, get an offer, and it's too trash for you to take.

That being said, you can be both direct and polite using standard communication techniques like tentative language and empathy (frame things as a benefit for them). So you can do something like:

• Before: "What's the pay?"
• After: "To be respectful of your time, I want my pursuit of this role to be a good fit for both of us. So can you tell me what the compensation range is?

I cover communication more here: Effective Communication Guide [Part 1] - Core High-level Principles

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your answers :)