More Money Fear

What scares you away from asking for more money in a negotiation?

A common fear of negotiation is the termination of the process for asking for too much money.

The reality is that there is no evidence that an organization has retracted a job offer just because the candidate asks for too much. The organization will simply say no, but the offer will remain on the table because the organization has usually invested far too much time and money in the search and interview process to abandon it.

To be honest, any amount you counter with can be justified in terms of the value you bring is worth presenting and most likely will not compromise the job offer.

However, you HAVE to become comfortable with silence as a response.

It is a professional game of Chicken.

You do not have to take it as a cue to revise your offer down. Instead, you can hold firm, politely restate your case for the compensation you deserve and choose your next move without giving any ground.

Reference

Moseson D. Advice for salary negotiations. Inside Higher Education. Published April 18, 2021. Accessed February 25. 2025. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2021/04/19/advice-salary-negotiations-opinion