Negotiating job offer?
What people in these threads say
Three r/careerguidance threads from people holding or expecting job offers ask how to decide and how much to push. A poster in Quebec earned $51,000 at a bank for 1.4 years, then moved to a government contract paying $74,000 that covers a maternity leave and is not guaranteed to continue. They have now been invited to interview back at the same bank, for a role with the same title in a different department and a posted salary band of $69,000 to $98,000. They have never negotiated, usually take what they are offered, and wonder whether asking for $85,000 is a stretch, especially if the interviewer asks about their current or previous salary. They add that, despite strong performance and awards at the bank, they don't feel worth that figure.
The most detailed reply says $85,000 is not a stretch because it sits in the upper middle of the bank's own band, and that a number near the bottom of the band would barely move the poster from their current pay. It argues the 'am I worth it' feeling is common and is not a good guide, suggests steering the conversation to what the role is worth rather than naming a current salary first, while not treating current pay as a secret if pressed, and recommends raising the number at the offer stage rather than in the first interview. Another commenter notes the government job might be worth more for its stability and perks, to which the poster replies that it is a fixed-term contract.
The second poster has a written offer from an airline at 65k CAD, slightly above their current 61.9k, with a hybrid schedule, benefits after probation, travel perks, a team they liked and a familiar workload. A second company, running a ten-year railway construction project, has floated 75k to 80k, a daily meal allowance, transit reimbursement and a 5% retirement match, but requires five days a week in the office, described a challenging workload with daily issues, and is still dragging out interviews after a month. Having burned out in audit at a Big Four firm, the poster is unsure whether the extra pay is worth the stress. One reply suggests continuing with the second company to get a real number, taking it back to the first to ask for a closer offer, and working out what the gap means per month and per week before tax. Another leans toward the hybrid job, citing the past burnout, and advises securing the written offer first.
The third poster, 26, is choosing between two insurance sales roles, both heavy on cold calling. One is an internal promotion at a large, well-known employer with a base salary, capped commission and a yearly bonus, but requires a long daily commute and open-plan office work. The other is at a smaller franchise office with a boss they got on well with, no base salary after a three-month training period, uncapped commission, a private office and the possibility of working remotely, which would let them stay near a partner who cannot relocate. They worry about looking like a job hopper after layoffs. One commenter advises avoiding commission-only sales unless the upside is far larger, arguing the flexibility reflects a lack of investment in the employee. Another describes listing current expenses and the cost of the life they want in ten years, adjusting for inflation, and asking what income would make a harder workload worth it.
Across the threads, the posters weigh salary against flexibility, workload and security, and replies disagree on how much the non-salary factors should count. The practical advice that recurs is to anchor on the employer's own range, get competing offers in writing before using them, and translate pay gaps into monthly figures.
“a polite ask almost never makes an offer disappear.”
u/WanderingTraveler_08 on Reddit
“The added flexibility is a reflection of the lack of investment.”
u/Other-Owl4441 on Reddit
At a glance
This is a recurring careers question: 3 separate Reddit threads asked a version of it between Oct 21, 2026 and Oct 24, 2026, in r/careerguidance. It has appeared in the daily top list on 4 different days, peaking at #213. The threads keep coming back to the same themes: choose, different, offer, wildly. That repetition is the signal — many people are hitting the same wall, so it's worth understanding before you post your own version.
How often does it come up?
| Date | Daily rank |
|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2026 | #213 |
| Oct 22, 2026 | #537 |
| Oct 23, 2026 | #336 |
| Oct 24, 2026 | #499 |
Where is it being discussed?
- r/careerguidance: I (f26) got two wildly different job offers - which would you choose?
- r/careerguidance: Which job offer would you choose?
- r/careerguidance: negotiating job offer
What's a sensible first step?
General careers checklist (not specific advice for this thread):
- Clarify the real constraint: money, skills, network, burnout, or a specific person.
- Document your achievements with numbers - they fuel raises, resumes and interviews.
- Talk to three people already doing the role you want; ask what they'd do in your position.
Related problems
- I thought I was ready to leave my job. I submitted a two weeks notice. but now that I have the opportunity to
- Should I accept the new offer?
- What should I do? Got laid off, got a job I don't love, and now got a much better offer
- How do I increase my salary if I like my job?
- 26, CS degree, no job exp. What do I do?