The recruiter told Nirab the top of the range was $180k.

The recruiter told Nirab the top of the range was $180k.

He still signed the offer at $185k base with a $5k sign-on bonus.

After his final round, the recruiter said they were targeting the top of the range.

Most engineers hear that and think they already won.

And I get why.

"Top of range" sounds like the ceiling.

But that's exactly what the range is designed to make you feel.

It's there so you believe there's no more room to negotiate above the top tier.

So I told him to go for the top of the range and treat it as the starting point, not the finish line.

A few days later he messaged me that he got the offer and is accepting it.

Almost a 20% jump from what he makes today.

Just because of one decision not to stop where the recruiter's number stopped.

Most engineers leave money on the table at this exact moment.

It's not because they're bad negotiators.

It's because deep down they don't believe they're worth more than the number on the screen.

And companies can sense that.

Once I got to know what my skills are actually worth on the market, asking for more became my default.