[joezydeco]

Oh but every negoatiation article that shows up on HN says you should never say a number first.

I got tired of wasting multiple personal days off of work to interview and then receive a stupidly lowball offer in return.

So I name my price up front now. Doesn't have to be what I'm currently making - it's what number will make me jump. It's a binary decision at that point for both of us.

[dv_dt]

I agree, I've been giving an initial ballpark number ahead of time just to save myself time. Maybe some initial dance to also find get their range. Some companies will share that and independent recruiters even more likely.

One can always qualify the initially named number with some words assuming a reasonable similarity in work environment, responsibilities, benefits, vacation, etc. Adjustments after can always be discussed in a that kind of context.

But I also try to keep a rough concept of what's paying in my area. It seems unlikely I'm going to dramatically undercut myself, at it seems low odds that the practice might cut off some magic high pay

[bladegash]

There is a concept in negotiations known as “anchoring”. It can actually be beneficial to put forth the first number, although at a extreme advantage to yourself (high or low).

By doing that, you set an anchor at that offer and the other party will see you as being compromising/them getting a break with anything you concede from that point.

It’s a hard ball negotiating tactic and deliberately doing it is ethically questionable. However, people offering advice to the contrary is a bit misguided in my opinion and made up of a bunch of people convinced they got a great deal when the other party conceded their position :-).