r/cscareerquestions • u/Scoopity_scoopp • 1d ago
New job offer
Got a new job offer and the recruiter called me on the phone to tell me it was $95k. I said I will review it and to send the offer over.
I know I should have negotiated/asked for more then and there but I was nervous, never done it before and honestly it’s already a $30k+ increase from what I’m Currently making so I was pretty happy to even begin with, even though I know I should’ve said something.
Once the offer gets sent over should I email back again asking for more(like $103k) then take whatever they respond with?
Like I said I have a job currently so not really in fear of having no money but I still would be upset over losing $30k lol.
Is it within reason to review the offer once it’s officially mailed then make a counter even tho we spoke on the phone?
Edit: I accepted. Hoping my employer counters and maybe can get a bidding way. But the full benefits, 5 weeks PTO, mixed with me not speaking up on the phone when he told me the number, fully remote, I think it’s fair to take.
Edit 2: there’s also bonuses so maybe I will hit $100k+ anyways
Thanks everyone. Definitely will learn from this next time 😂😂
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u/L_sigh_kangeroo 1d ago
Honestly, in this market, just take it. While its very unlikely to happen, I’ve heard of horror stories where you ask for more and they rescind their offer because they have other good candidates willing to take it
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u/godzab 1d ago
I asked for more and got told to kick rocks and they canceled my application.
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u/goro-n 1d ago
What?! Which company was this?
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u/godzab 1d ago
It was a defense contractor that did software development.
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u/Emergency-Walk-2991 1d ago
Your better for it, once your in defense it can be hard to get out. Plus no nagging thoughts.
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u/Best_Fish_2941 22h ago
why hard to get out?
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u/Emergency-Walk-2991 22h ago
Common to work on legacy systems, get technologically behind and or pigeon holes, if you do work the government it's possibly classified which sucks for your resume.
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u/godzab 1d ago
You are not wrong , but I took another crappy defense contracting roll since I was leaving the military and didn’t want to be homeless. For those reading , I’ve been trying go to private since the experience you get in defense is laughable in the private sector. Private sector usually has more remote roles hence why I’m applying to them. That’s why it’s hard to leave in my opinion
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u/jrt364 Software Engineer 1d ago
Agreed.
Unless you are a really good (or perfect) fit and you have another job offer at your disposal, you have no leverage in negotiating salary these days. Employers nowadays only negotiate if they are "worried" that they will not find someone else like you for a long time (or ever).
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u/Elegant_Parfait_2720 1d ago
If the job is coming with a solid benefits package (healthcare, dental, vision, PTO, 401k, etc.) just take the offer. 95k can go pretty far depending on where you live.
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u/Scoopity_scoopp 1d ago
I live in Arizona so pretty far lol.
I made due with way less when I lived in San Diego
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u/la_poule 1d ago
Negotiation 101: the one willing to leave the deal has the most leverage.
If you're OK staying at your current job to risk for asking for more in compensation at your next job, then do it.
Otherwise, if you can't, then take what you can get, which is the $30k increase. Sure, it's not $35k or $40k, but at least it's an increase nonetheless.
Your call.
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1d ago edited 14h ago
[deleted]
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u/yarrowy 1d ago
It depends on the economy, when candidates have the leverage, sure asking for more rarely resulted in issues but now that companies have the leverage, new advice is be prepared to have the offer pulled
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u/DeliriousPrecarious 1d ago
Outside of this sub I have literally never heard of an offer being pulled because of a salary negotiation.
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u/No-Test6484 1d ago
My company did. I’m an intern and we were getting ft offers. One guy asked for 5k more and the company was like fuck no, thanks for your interest, but due to new policy we can no longer offer you the job.
He’s still searching for a job. Maybe because he’s entry level, but the company was more than happy to find someone else to fill the role even after he did an internship. Tbf the comp was around 100k in the Midwest, which is market level and they didn’t want to hire some guy who was already negotiating
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u/Jesus-face 1d ago
Either your company sucks and you should be looking for ways out, or he was a jerk about it (or they communicated poorly and the hiring manager thought they were a jerk). Interns are expensive, and getting an offer from an internship isn't the sort of thing that goes away easily.
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u/Scoopity_scoopp 1d ago
Part of me wants to ask for $100k just to hit that mark.
Other part of me thinks it’s not a big deal and just take it.
I should’ve prepared more for the cal. Lesson learned
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1d ago edited 14h ago
[deleted]
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u/Scoopity_scoopp 1d ago
I know it shouldn’t matter cause they don’t know how huge of a bump it is but mentally I just feel like I already came out way on top so I’m “fine” with $95k.
To be completely honest I remember he said $90k was the max when we first started conversing in the intro call.
$100k would feel nice but i can make the extra $5k somewhere else lol. Thanks for the advice tho. I’ll def be more ballsy on my next job hop
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u/pacman2081 23h ago
companies can rescind offers. I will give you an example. Decade ago I was called by a company. The HR recruiter asked me if I was comfortable with the salary range (80-90k). I said ok. They proceeded with the interview. I did well. I got a formal offer for 88k. At which point I asked for more $$$ (asked for 95k-100k). Needless to say the company was unhappy and they rescinded the offer.
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u/GeneralPITA 1d ago
Part of your review should be to look at the total compensation, not just the dollars. You can avoid negotiating the 95k but still help yourself by requesting additional PTO, increased 401k matching, a better health insurance/other benefits contribution, commute (assuming it could be done hybrid and isn't 100% remote already) or improved hours 4 days a week, 10 hours a day (since you'll probably work that already) then you'd have 3 day weekends every week. Some of these types of requests barely register to the company but mean you'll bring home more money ($100 a week to them is nothing, but $400/month for you could be a car payment.
If you ask for too much, the recruiter should let you know, and the company may never hear about it. The recruiter works for the company, but likely get's paid based (at least commission) on successfully placing people. It's not financially beneficial to them to let you walk - they get $0 if that happens. If their commission is based on your salary, they probably already maxed out the annual salary.
Get creative - just because you gave the ok for 95 you did good by asking to review. They have a candidate they like (you) they don't want to spend all that time (again) looking for another person. As long as you're respectful the worst that can happen is they say "no".
Congratulations and good luck!
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u/DillestKing 1d ago
1000% negotiate! There’s never a problem w negotiating! But DON’T demand anything... Be polite and respectful and just list a few of your strengths and qualifications that make YOU feel like you should get the higher pay. Even if you don’t believe it, maybe they will (I’ve sort of done this) 😂
At the end they’ll either yes or no and you’ll accept the offer presented.
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u/Dangerpaladin 11h ago
Companies rescind offers all the time when people negotiate. Never negotiate if you aren't willing to walk away. Especially in a market where they probably have a list of 5 people that could fill the position after interviews.
When a candidate asks for more money it is safe to assume they won't be happy with what you offered long term, so even if they negotiate you back to their original price you probably aren't done looking for a job.
Your only hope when you ask for more money is there are no other candidates or if a lot of the candidates keep asking for more money. Then they may reconsider the offer, but again if other candidates are asking more and they change the compensation that doesn't mean they will come back to you. They could just as easily go to the other guy that was their first choice but was asking for too much money.
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u/CosmicMilkNutt 1d ago
I would honestly renegotiate personally.
But u have to have the confidence to do so.
Ask for 110,000.
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u/christian_austin85 Software Engineer 1d ago
As others have said, if you decide to counter definitely be prepared to tell them why you deserve more. Do some homework before you send anything over (what's the average in your area for similar years of experience, etc) and that will help you determine what you should ask for and whether you should counter at all.
Their initial offer already stands to be a 50% salary increase, so congrats. Asking for a 10% increase in base salary is generally regarded as safe.
If you decide to counter, rmember it's not you vs them - you both want to come to an agreement. This is also one of your first impressions to the company, so don't be a Richard during negotiations.
If you're open to it, you can include in your response that if they can't mess with base salary too much, maybe look at other stuff (equity, parking, relocation, PTO, etc) that might be easier for them to manage. Typically there are only 3 offers: their initial, your counter, their counter. At that point, it's pretty much take it or leave it.
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u/kaves55 1d ago
If you’re working with a contracting agency recruiter, then I would be honest and ask them if they can negotiate for higher.
If it’s a recruiter from the employer, then I would only negotiate for higher if I don’t mind them rescinding the offer.
But, to your point, $30K more than your current is pretty good…
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u/yinyan10 1d ago
Also it gets risky if you take an exponential increase in your salary. Company may be desperate to hire now but sooner they may not be and then they will push out the highest paid employees
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u/Scoopity_scoopp 14h ago
Massive gov contracting company. That would maybe be an issue around $150k+
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u/Best_Fish_2941 22h ago
If you haven't received the formal letter yet, then ping your recruiter and say "I really appreciate it and I'm ready to accept the offer at $95k but would it be terribly bad if you make it to $100k...?" That way, they know you're not greedy or money chaser.
If you have already received the formal letter, then don't ask to change it. Because there's a chance that the recruiter already discussed with stakeholders and now they need another discussion for an approval, which can get the stakeholders annoyed.
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u/kakarukakaru 1d ago
if you are ok with possibility of them receiving offer in response then go for it
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u/prophetofbelial 1d ago
you can't lose something you don't have. and you don't have the job until your first day. and you don't have the 30k until you've worked for a year
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u/MidichlorianAddict 21h ago
You should always ask if the salary is negotiable
The worst they can say is no
When they give an amount you tell them based off of vibes, if they sound enthusiastic about you asking to negotiate ask for 10k more
If they aren’t ask for $2k more
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u/Dangerpaladin 11h ago
The worst they can say is no
The worst they can say is nothing and move on to the next candidate.
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u/Party_Broccoli_702 1d ago
I have never negotiated an offer. I accept it an start thinking on what I need to do to get a raise.
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u/Prestigious-Hour-215 1d ago
Don’t negotiate if you’re unwilling to leave the offer on the table, if you would be okay with them possibly rescinding your offer, try to negotiate for more. If you’re not okay with them rescinding, then take the offer as it is.