Just started the process of applying for a job and one of the things they want you to tell them is your “desires salary.”
Now, this question is ridiculous to begin with. My desired salary is as much as possible. And that's true for every single person ever. But, of course, that's not what that question is actually trying to find out.
The purpose of that question is to give you a dilemma. If you pick a higher number you have a lower chance of getting the job. If you pick a lower number you have a higher chance of getting the job but they already know they can get away with paying you that. And the crucial thing is you don't know what other people are answering.
Overall this puts you in a position where you are, basically, competing with others to put in the lowest possible number.
In other words, this is purely and completely a tactic to try to get other people to bid down each other's wages.
In short, this is a disgusting and exploitative practice that should be completely illegal. Companies asking you what you're prepared to make like this as part of a job application should be punishable by law.