My uncle said turn down the first job offer, I did it, and the hiring manager called me back 4 days later | Career Advice - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals
My uncle said turn down the first job offer, I did it, and the hiring manager called me back 4 days later
My uncle has run a small HVAC company in Toledo for like 20 years and when I got my first job offer out of school he said flat out, do not say yes on the phone, tell them you need to think about it. I thought that was old school nonsense and almost signed the same day for $52,000 because I was scared they would move on to someone else. He said the worst thing that happens is they say no, and the best thing is they think you have options, and people who have options get treated better. I sat on it for 2 days, called back, and said I was excited but had another offer at 57 and asked if they could get closer. The manager went quiet, said let me check, and called me back 4 days later with 56 plus a sign on bonus of $1,500. I have friends who took the first number on the spot and they are still stuck near the bottom of the pay band two years in. I get why people say take the sure thing, especially if money is tight, but in my case waiting cost me nothing and got me an extra $4,000 a year. Has anyone here actually lost an offer by asking for more, or does that mostly just happen in stories people tell to scare you?