> Leverage is what someone else believes you're interested in.
If you're good enough at dissimulation to make a recruiter (who has a lot more experience at this than you do) believe you're interested in another offer when you're actually not, you probably don't need any of the advice in either the article or this discussion thread.
But if you're not that good at dissimulation, attempting it is shooting yourself in the foot. You're much better off being honest and only talking about other offers you have if you actually are interested in them.
> In the US many jobs post a salary range, which can be not accurate or updated and apply to several levels of roles, "based on your experience" which puts you back at the negotiation table.
Yes, posted salary ranges should not be taken as absolute. But they give you an idea of whether a company is worth your time to look at.
> I've always found it odd american culture does not always embrace negotiating despite many of our core actions being based on it.
I don't think it's "American culture" in general that doesn't embrace negotiating. It's more a certain segment of American middle class culture. I agree that it's both odd and a disadvantage to those who grow up in that culture.
I can't argue against "if you're that good at it". I do know most people lie and they lie a lot. Often at work.
If you've ever called in sick, pretended to be thrilled at someone's birthday gift (not family), told your boss you were stoked about a project that you certainly were not and felt believed -- tap into it!
> most people lie and they lie a lot. Often at work.
Yes, in situations which are nothing like job negotiations. Sure, people tell little white lies all the time, because the stakes are low and nobody has any real incentive to call them on it. (Calling in sick might be different if you do it often enough that your boss starts wondering what's going on.) Neither of those things are the case in job negotiations.
If you're good enough at dissimulation to make a recruiter (who has a lot more experience at this than you do) believe you're interested in another offer when you're actually not, you probably don't need any of the advice in either the article or this discussion thread.
But if you're not that good at dissimulation, attempting it is shooting yourself in the foot. You're much better off being honest and only talking about other offers you have if you actually are interested in them.
> In the US many jobs post a salary range, which can be not accurate or updated and apply to several levels of roles, "based on your experience" which puts you back at the negotiation table.
Yes, posted salary ranges should not be taken as absolute. But they give you an idea of whether a company is worth your time to look at.
> I've always found it odd american culture does not always embrace negotiating despite many of our core actions being based on it.
I don't think it's "American culture" in general that doesn't embrace negotiating. It's more a certain segment of American middle class culture. I agree that it's both odd and a disadvantage to those who grow up in that culture.