If at all possible, avoid going in through the front door i.e. use your network to get introduced. Perhaps someone you worked with or went to school with works

If at all possible, avoid going in through the front door i.e. use your network to get introduced. Perhaps someone you worked with or went to school with works at the company you're interested in. This may give you a little more leverage with H.R. An even better way is avoid companies that are large enough to even have an H.R. department. When faced with the "give us a number or we're done" just stand up, reach out to shake their hand, smile and say "Thank you for your time." You have no leverage, and the company is demonstrating that they want to hire developers like they are an interchangeable commodity - they don't really value them.