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I watched a senior engineer negotiate a salary in Chicago and realized most of us ask wrong.

He never gave a number first, just kept asking about the role's budget and impact. After three rounds, they offered 20% above the initial range. How do you even practice that kind of patience?
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3 Comments
maxw34
maxw342mo ago
That "never give a number first" thing is key. I practiced by having a friend call me and just ask "what are your salary expectations" over and over until not answering felt normal.
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blaked79
blaked792mo ago
Read a book on negotiation that called it "playing the flinch." The idea is to just stay quiet after they give a number, like you're surprised. Makes them rethink their offer without you saying a word. Takes a lot of nerve not to fill the silence.
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dakota479
dakota4791mo ago
Seriously? It's just a car or a phone deal, not some spy movie. People act like these little tricks are life or death. Most of the time the other person just thinks you didn't hear them. I tried the silent thing once and the guy just asked if my phone cut out lol.
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