Q. I am interviewing with a company and they seem to be able to hide everything about compensation, and are very evasive in conversations. Why are they doing this? What’s in it for them not to talk money with me? Of course they asked about my compensation right away.

A. It’s frustrating dealing with an organization that is not willing to put its cards on the table, and there are plenty of reasons employers want to wait as long as possible before they discuss compensation.

¦ They might not know what they want to pay.

¦ They might not know what they have to pay to get what they want.

¦ They want to know how little they can pay to get a skilled person.

¦ They don’t really have the job defined well, so they are searching for other skills they might want and what they cost.

¦ They feel they have been overpaying.

¦ They believe if they offer a range, everyone will want the top of the range and not accept a lower offer.

Companies don’t have all the answers or a strategy for everything. And some times they have a strategy that doesn’t work.

Don’t count on the organization itself to reveal compensation data. Try Glassdoor, ask your network, ask recruiters — get creative and utilize your research skills. If this organization has used this tactic before — which I expect they have — people will be willing to talk.

If there is no transparency in the entire conversation with a potential employer, you need to be wary. An interview needs to be a give and take, and you are assessing your interest in filling the role and joining the firm. When you are asked for information about your compensation, you can answer with a range, and in the very same breath say, “And what’s the range for this position?’’ If they don’t have a range, you can ask more about how they see the role, what level it is, and what the compensation was for anyone in the role. Getting a gauge might help you as you explore the role further.

Elaine Varelas is managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm in Boston, and serves on the board of Career Partners International.