"What's your current salary?" a hiring manager asks you. Instantly you tense up, unsure of how to respond. It's a common — and uncomfortable — job interview scenario. In some places, it's actually no longer legal to ask about an applicant's previous compensation. But while the issue is still being debated, you'll want to be prepared with an answer. Some would tell you to dodge the question or give a range to avoid disclosing an actual number. But according to bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch, the best way to secure your place at a new company and advance your career is to simply tell the truth.

CNBC Contributor Suzy Welch

"People are going to tell you that you should game this conversation," Welch tells CNBC Make It, or that "you should dodge this question by talking about ranges. That is no way to start a relationship." For her, the decision to share your salary is worth the risk. Here's Welch's two-step process for navigating this tricky interview question:

1. Know your market value

Discussing salary is "the interview tightrope that everyone hates to walk," Welch says. To make it across successfully, you'll first need to know where you stand. "Be smart and do your research," she says. "Find the job's likely salary, and know what your skills are likely worth in the open market." Sites like PayScale, Glassdoor or LinkedIn Salary can tell you what a job should pay and "let you know if you're earning above or below market," she says. You may find that you're being underpaid, which Welch says can happen if you've been at your company for a long time or were hired at a low salary. You could also find yourself in the less common situation of being overpaid. Either way, you want to be prepared for an interview with concrete information about your current situation.

2. Disclose your current salary and make your case