Jokes aside, I think it’s a good negotiation tactic to always ask to be offered a $$$ number first. “I would expect a salary that’s competitive for somebody with my level of expertise and experience”.

dunno, it's hard sometimes, I ask, but they don't say, now I start another month of interviewing with others?

They dont say, as in, they don’t make an offer or push for you to give a number first?

I've started to do this. I tell them that it's best if they decide what I'm worth. I then ask for a salary band (so I know if I'm wasting my time or not).

it only happened once that they didn't say a number first and I haven't had the willpower to stand up. fwiw, I got an offer and it was good enough

I always try pushing them to give the number, partly because you’ll usually get a better number, and partly because you get a general idea of how much they’re paying the rest of their staff

To me, the issue has it's roots in viewing everything as a competition, even within some companies it can seem like your competing with your coworkers rather then working towards a goal. Once you establish that environment it's easy to see why • salaries remain constant for years after the initial negotiation, after all, they have already purchased your "time" and that's what your paid in relationship to, not the company success. • there is a lot of talk about company loyalty, but little substance, as the only mobility left to the workets is to leave and re negotiate a higher salary. But competition does exist and we do have to deal with it. So here we are, and if you give someone that sheet and the next person (of equal qualifications) just lists a lower number then your not employed. I'm guessing a team of equal qualifications and mutual respect and trust does far better every time. But it requires more effort and time put into viewing the business as part of everyone's life, rather then the other way around. It also means the people at the top have to give up on the idea of making a disproportionate amount of the profits.

wow @U0DJ4T5U1, you got me before the first comma.

I think I will just resign and not try to ask for more.

I hate these games.

I wouldn't put to much stock in any general analysis, use your own judgment, you have the most information. I was just trying to articulate that I think there is a hidden cost to the competitive mindset so many of us favor. Be confident that your likely the most knowledgeable person on your circumstances I would suggest understanding which way the wind is blowing and moving with it rather then trying to blow against it through. .

Thanks 🙂 It just hit home very much, but don't worry, not going to oversimply it either. I just had to understand that I am going to have to do something here that I was not expecting

Funny to see the 40 hours per week is the only "constant" factor in all plans