Definitely do your research, especially if you are applying to a large company. Putting in 30 minutes of research into their stock, board of directors and mission statement will pay dividends in an interview. When going into the salary negotiations, be honest. A large company will have a WIDE gap in what type of pay they can offer you...as an example, most banks offer tiered payment...my company has assignments from A - G. A is the lowest paid, G is the highest...and within each of these is a number (1,2,3). A3 is the lowest, A1 is higher than A3. So when you ask for your salary, go high. If you feel as though you're worth it, ask for it! If you are a good hire, they won't show you the door because you expect a greater salary. They will most likely negotiate down to something that is reasonable.