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Taco

Sales Manager (Mid-Market)

Fire Starter
Contributor

When a recruiter says they don’t negotiate salary

You’re nearing offer stage of the interview process. The recruiter shared the base+OTE at the start and commented firmly it would not be negotiable. You like the company and the salary is OK but it wouldn’t hurt to be higher. What would you do??

What would you do?

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💰 Compensation
👥 Hiring
🤞 Negotiation
16

22 comments

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jefe
Arsonist
10
🍁
The role you're being recruited for presumably has negotiation involved...
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
6
Director, Revenue Enablement
Don’t forget there are other things you can negotiate assuming them aren’t already available.

- Stock/equity
- Signing Bonus
- Annual Bonus
- Additional time off (if not “unlimited”)
- Internet or Phone reimbursement
- Home office stipend
- Territory if multiple are open.
Pachacuti
Politicker
4
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Depend on where YOU are at. Do you NEED the job? Then take it and don't risk not getting it.

But if you don't need the job and they are recruiting you, yes you can negotiate. The recruiter just doesn't want you to.

So know your worth and what you want prior. And if they don't meet it, be willing to walk away - and tell them why. They may surprise you even if they have been "this is the salary - take it or leave it" the whole time. But you need to be willing to walk.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
You can negotiate no matter your situation.

The take it or leave it tactics aren't always true. Especially if they keep trying to convince you.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
Always try my dude
oldcloser
Arsonist
3
💀
It's all about their understanding of your real world leverage. If you just smoke the process and they know you're employed, they have to listen.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
3
War Room Community Manager
There's almost always a scope for negotiation. But as @Pachacutisaid, it depends on where you're at, where the company's at, and how much leverage you have.

Many years back, a company (stupidly) gave away an important piece of leverage to me by disclosing that there was no salary range for the role (which I obviously took advantage of). Interviews lasted 2 weeks, and negotiations for 3 weeks.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
Hell yeah. That's my sales cycle right there.

Think I got no problem not closing this deal and negotiating instead? Ok brah, game on. I LOVE IT!!!!
pirate
Big Shot
2
🦜☠️ Account Executive
It is recruiters negotiation technique definitely. Hiring managers too.

I was told that this salary pays X and that no one in the team earns higher because they try to maintain a balance and be fair. Guess what? They lied.

Best of luck! Definitely negotiate!
LizardWizard
Good Citizen
0
BDR
What is a good counter when they say that?
pirate
Big Shot
1
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Well try and have a second offer when you interview, that way you could use it as leverage. I know the times are tough right now to do that

Living situation and how much it takes for rent or for mortgage

How much you are currently paid

You might express something like you are not happy with the salary but want to move ahead in the interviews. If you smashed then you can just say that you feel still that it is quite low
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
The best counter is to not acknowledge the comment or engage in a conversation about it.

Instead, direct the conversation elsewhere.

We pay the same. It's fair. There is no room.
Your response:
Ok, tell me about ______ and start talking to them about something else.

Next thing you know it's the first date and you're in the bedroom, but the other person isn't like that..... that's what they told you, right? LOL
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
2
Account Executive
"There's no room for negotiation on your comp, but we fully expect you to negotiate contracts with multiple stakeholders because fuck you, that's why" lmao
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
1
President/CRO
Is this a 3rd party recruiter or internal (they work for the hiring company)?
Taco
Fire Starter
1
Sales Manager (Mid-Market)
Internal recruiter.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
5
President/CRO
ok, nothing wrong with taking a shot but probably less likely to get more out of them if it's internal. It would also depend how large the org and how competitive the applicants are/were.
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Believe it depends on how much you need this job, if you do need it for being outta work for a while and as you said the payout is OK, then it's fine to go for it.
But, if you feel that it's alright to wait for a bit for perhaps a better offer, won't hurt then to wait.
I still hate the fact of getting the salary non-negotiable however, you wouldn't be able to blame companies for doing that, as at the end of the day we can either take it or leave it!
Avon
Politicker
0
Senior Account Executive
Always try but some companies just dont negotiate because its been shown to increase the wage gap and resentment later on when people in the same role find out they are paid differently.

Its not always BS to have pay by tier.
bigfella
Tycoon
0
AE (Account Executive)
Negotiate the shit out of it, doesn’t have to be salary.
iamtheone
Executive
0
Enterprise SDR
My recruiter said the same thing, “oh it’s just not negotiable I’ve never heard of anyone getting more”. The literal next candidate (who I referred myself) got more than me. They are full of shit everything is negotiable.
Epad
Executive
0
Snr Business Development Executive
If its a 3rd party recruiter then that's ridiculous, they should be trying to get you as much as possible (bigger commish for them). If they are in-house then they might not have the approval to go beyond but doesn't hurt to ask but in a gentler way. Know your worth!
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Recruiters don't set salary bands..... So technically, they aren't lying to you.

Did the hiring manager say this explicitly without you bringing it up?
What about anyone else?

They are telling you this over and over because they want you.
They may even offer more than what they said they would.

No harm in negotiating and asking.
Every buyer out there would try it. Why shouldn't you?

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