[andrewingram]

I've been able to negotiate 5-10k increase on offers, and improved contracts whilst unemployed and without any competing offers, i've never felt the need to play companies off each other. Being candid has served me well and makes me feel a lot better about myself than trying to play salesman.

I benefit from a lot of privilege and circumstance, but any company making me an offer probably knows that not having another offer right now doesn't weaken my hand, at any moment i'm only a few days away from another offer if I really want it.

So yeah, I suffer from anxiety-related issues, I'm going to choose the route of less stress.