[user5994461]

It's only negotiable because he got an offer from the next FAANG.

Recruiters are not going to assume that you can enter any FAANG at the highest possible level. It was incredibly lucky from the OP to get 2 offers and at the same time.

[sokoloff]

You’re in charge of scheduling your job search and have influence over when that search wraps up. It probably wasn’t random that they interviewed at two FAANG companies in the same job search.

[yowlingcat]

> It was incredibly lucky from the OP to get 2 offers and at the same time.

Not sure I agree there. I think it could be a deliberate way to engineer the process to create a leverage which most savvy candidates learn to do every time they're on the market. I've been doing this for the past 6 years. It just takes discipline, casting a wide net with a lot of firms in the initial interview process, and being thorough.

[TA1337]

Yes and no. I wanted to go to company A, and went to interview for company B as a dress rehearsal or mock process, thinking it will increase my chances at company A and maybe even provide me with some leverage, but to be honest, I didn't think I'll need to negotiate or that I could squeeze more than a couple of grand out of it. So there you have it, lesson learned.

[etothepii]

It's only negotiable because she said she had an offer from another FAANG. It would be odd to "ask for proof" though it could happen.