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A job candidate says staying silent during a salary discussion led the recruiter to return with a better offer and a signing bonus
His unusual negotiation tactic sparked debate online
Landing a job offer is often only part of the challenge. For many candidates, discussing salary can be the most stressful stage of the hiring process. While some people immediately try to negotiate, one job applicant says he got a better offer by doing the exact opposite.
The candidate recently shared his experience on Reddit, explaining how staying silent during a salary discussion helped him secure a higher pay package. His story sparked a debate online, with many users discussing whether the unusual approach could work in real-life job negotiations.
He Stayed Quiet After Hearing The Offer
According to the Reddit post, the applicant had already gone through a long hiring process that lasted nearly six weeks and included four interview rounds. By the time he reached the final call with the recruiter, he was tired and eager to hear the company’s offer.
“By the time I got to the final call with the recruiter I was already exhausted and just wanted to see the numbers. When she finally dropped the offer it was a classic lowball move. It was about fifteen per cent lower than the range we discussed in the first screening call,” the applicant wrote.
Instead of immediately explaining why he deserved a higher salary, he decided to remain silent.
Thirty Seconds Changed The Conversation
The candidate said he did not respond after hearing the offer. What followed was a long and uncomfortable pause.
“I am talking about a full thirty seconds of dead air. I could hear her breathing on the other end of the line and it was probably the most uncomfortable half-minute of my professional life,” the applicant said.
According to him, the recruiter eventually started speaking again. “The recruiter broke first. She started babbling about how the budget was tight and how they have great benefits, but then she stopped herself when I still didn’t respond.”
As the silence continued, the recruiter reportedly offered to check with the hiring manager to see if there was any flexibility in the salary.
The Offer Got Better
The applicant said the recruiter called back around 10 minutes later with an improved package.
“10 minutes later she called me back with an extra twelve thousand dollars and a signing bonus. It was like the money just spawned out of thin air the moment I stopped talking,” the applicant highlighted.
After sharing the outcome, he encouraged other candidates to avoid rushing into explanations or justifications during salary discussions.
“Just shut up and let them realise they are about to lose a month of work because they wanted to save a few bucks on your salary. It is a game of chicken and the person who talks first usually loses.”
Reddit Users Weigh In On The Tactic
The post drew thousands of reactions, with many users sharing their own experiences with salary negotiations.
A user agreed with the strategy and wrote, “It is wild how the budget suddenly appears out of thin air once they realise you aren’t desperate. They bank on candidates being too polite to let a silence hang for more than two seconds.”
Another user questioned whether the approach would work in every situation. “What if she didn’t break? What if she said: “Hey, did you hear me? What do you think about this offer?” It’s awesome that it worked for you but if the recruiter/person hiring you has any confidence this isn’t going to magically work.”
Others shared similar stories from their own careers. “Yes! I was at the offer stage with a large company, and I hesitated a bit when they said what the salary would be – not as a tactic, I really was just thinking it over – and the recruiter raised the salary by 10K! Easiest raise I ever got! Lol,” a person commented.
Another user wrote, “Congrats! I remember once on an offer call they gave me a number and I told them what I needed and they said, “We usually don’t start folks there.” I was just silent because that was not a question. They ended up meeting me where I was comfortable.”
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