[tinalumfoil]

> I usually don't go for double my target but others might. I usually start out at 150% of my target.

150% is far more reasonable than 200%. Let's say you won't take below 100k, Co. won't take above 120k, you offer 150k. From the Co.'s perspective, that's 25% difference, it's worth negotiating. If you offer 200k, that's 66% off what you'll take. Co.'s probably thinking, okay, this guy will take 160 maybe 140 but no way they'll really think they can negotiate down to 120.

At bigger companies there aren't incentives to spend tons of time negotiating a candidate down to the top of your acceptable range, so even if they think they can get you down 80k you're out.

You don't counteroffer a candidate you can't afford. And I think you understand intuitively 200% is too much, which is why you go 150%.