Company revokes offer from job candidate without explanation after candidate attempts to negotiate the salary: ‘This feels like shady business practice’

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Mar 20, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

There are so many rules and social constructs one has to follow during a hiring process, it often becomes impossible to remember it all. What your resume must look like, what words you should use or avoid, how to answer certain questions during an interview, and what questions you should always ask the other side. You are constantly being carefully examined under a magnifying glass, and it is downright exhausting. 

You'd think that once you get a job offer, you can take a breath, but no. Even then there are do's and don'ts you should remember if you want to secure that job once and for all. For example, negotiating the salary. If you're not careful, you can make one grave mistake that might take away the offer completely, and leave you with nothing at all. This is exactly what happened to the job candidate in the story down below.

We must say, we were surprised by what happened to this candidate, and rules or no rules, they may have seriously dodged a bullet when their job offer was revoked. 

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  • If you're looking for a job, read this story carefully, as you may learn a thing or two about the process of negotiating your pay. And who knows, you might avoid the same mistake this candidate made.

  • Cheezburger Image 10482424064
    via Pressmaster

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "Had an offer revoked because I tried to negotiate salary."

    As the title suggests I just had a job offer revoked because I tried to negotiate salary.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • During the interview process, they asked me a range, and I provided one. Afterwards, they sent me an offer relatively quickly
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • with a salary on the lowest end of my range. I emailed back thanking them, and opened up negotiations by countering with
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • another number that was still within the range I provided as well as the range posted by the company.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • After 2 days of silence, they got back to me saying no, and the job is no longer on the table.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • This feels like shady business practice, and perhaps I dodged a bullet here.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • Throwaway post-its My experience says if they aren't willing to negotiate in good faith they also won't give raises/promotions so I say bullet dodged.
    via Throwaway_post-its
  • gjcij2203 The 2 days of silence was them offering the same salary to candidate #2.
    via gjcij2203
  • Cautious_Midnight_67 They offered you the low end of YOUR range, but it might have been the top of THEIR range. What percent higher did you ask for?
    via Cautious_Midnight_67
  • Usually they'll just respond and say "no negotiation, take it or leave it". But maybe they were insulted by your counter...
    via Cautious_Midnight_67
  • ShinjisRobotMom OP It was within their range. They posted 50-65. They offered 55, I countered with 60. I figured they'd come back with either something in the middle, or a take it or leave it, but no.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • Cautious_Midnight_67 Hmm weird. I wouldn't think going for 10% higher would rub them the wrong way. They must have had someone else willing to do it for lower lines up
    via Cautious_Midnight_67
  • ShinjisRobotMom OP Unlikely. The average salary for my role is almost 80
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • HeadlessHeadhunter Some people don't negotiate, I have seen candidates and managers just refuse to do so. Anytime you negotiate you open yourself up for the other party to walk away.
    via HeadlessHeadhunter
  • ShinjisRobotMom OP If that's the case, then say it's non-negotiable.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • The_best_1234 The other candidate too the lower pay
    via The_best_1234
  • T
    via bunyaritklinsukhonphotos

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • ShinjisRobotMom OP They were hiring multiple candidates. And at that point, why not just say it's non-negotiable?
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • All-Username-Taken- It's because the job market leans towards employers. There are probably more than 10 qualified candidates in that pool. If you're not the lowest bidder, you're out.
    via All-Username-Taken
  • cbdudek You only negotiate if you are willing to walk away from the job. If you have a job now, or can afford to continue to be unemployed, you made the right choice. If you don't have a job and money is tight, you probably don't have the luxury of negotiation.
    via cbdudek
  • ShinjisRobotMom OP Good point. I do currently have a job, but money is still tight. Pay is sh and living ain't cheap.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • mikeyflyguy $5 this position is open again in 6 months when the new guy being paid peanuts gets just enough experience to leave and go elsewhere for more money
    via mikeyflyguy
  • ShinjisRobotMom OP I'll keep my eyes peeled and my resume away.
    via ShinjisRobotMom
  • Svalinn76 When providing a range, always expect them to offer the lower end.
    via Svalinn76

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job offer salary boss workplace-stories employee manager job hiring manager tales-from-the-workplace job candidate reddit story hiring workplace Reddit company money
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