Hey Dear,

You’ve probably been in this situation.

You’re sending out CVs left and right, hoping for any reply. Weeks go by. Nothing. Silence.

And then - boom. An interview invite. And not just from any company.
It’s from the one you’re actually excited about.

You prep like a maniac.
You research the company, stalk your interviewer on LinkedIn (you should!), go through every page of their website.

You’re ready.

The conversation starts. It’s going well. There’s chemistry.
You start thinking, “Damn, I might actually land this!”

And then, THAT question drops:
​
​“Ok, last thing, what are your salary expectations?”

Your confidence crashes. You start mumbling. You’re throwing out half-sentences filled with “umm,” “eeee,” “yyyy.”
And you throw a number that you HOPE isn’t too high to scare them off.

They write something down. You say your goodbyes.
And the moment you log off the call, you know you screwed up.
At least a little.

Sounds familiar?

You’re not alone. This happens. All. The. Time.

And the mistake isn’t just not knowing your number.

The mistake is literally leaving money on the table.

Today I will teach you how to land better offers so you can get the extra $$$ for the same work.

Understanding the situation

General rule of thumb: The best time to go to interviews is when you don’t need a job.
That’s when you’re most relaxed and can answer questions (like salary expectations) with calm & confidence.

When you don’t need the job, it’s easier to shoot higher.
You’ve got nothing to lose.

Now, that “What are your salary expectations?” question?
It serves a different purpose depending on when it’s asked:

1. Early in the process → It’s about elimination. Recruiters want to know if they can afford you before wasting anyone’s time.
2. Later in the process → It means they’re interested. You’ve passed their filters. You’ve done something right. They’re seriously considering you.

So here’s the part that may go against everything you’ve been told:

Why you shouldn’t lead with The Number

Everyone wants salary ranges in job ads. Sounds fair, right?
Sure, if you’re a mid-level player or you’re applying blind.
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But for top candidates, sharing numbers too early is often a disadvantage.

Here’s why:

• The stated budget is almost never the real one. In my experience there's almost always some room to wiggle.
• If you’re further into the process, you’re more valuable. They’ve invested time. You’ve proven you’re in-demand.
• At that point, it’s easier to negotiate because you’re no longer just a name on a CV. You’re a real contender.

“But Patryk, what if they push for the number?"

Good question young padawan, because they probably will.

Sometimes they won’t move forward without a number.
Which is why you need to know your numbers before the interview even begins.

The Strategy

1. Never (I mean that, never!) give just one number. The only exception: freelance hourly gigs, if you’ve already got a firm rate. Otherwise, give a range. But! Make sure the bottom of your range is truly acceptable to you. We're talking something you would accept if they'd put in of the offer.
   ​Example: If you want 60k, don’t say 55-65k. Say 60-70k. They might just offer 55k otherwise and it's fair game.
2. Always try to get them to go first. Whoever gives the first number sets the anchor. If you say you’re okay with 4k/month, and their budget is 6k? You’re now playing in the 4-5k range without even realizing what you left on the table.
3. Talk total compensation, not just salary. When you do share a number, emphasize that salary is just one part of the offer. Things like remote work, medical coverage, paid time off, professional development budget - these all matter. Sometimes more than a higher base.

Here’s how to phrase your answer if they push for a number:

You don't have to learn this by heart. The idea here is to show them you understand why they need a number from you and to give a salary range that will be both ok for you and won't knock you out from the process. Also remember that whatever you'll say will be an anchor, so even if they will be room later on for negotiation you're gravitating around the number you thrown.

And if you really have no clue...

…then just take your current number and add 15–20%. Not ideal, but better than freezing up or selling yourself short.

And Dear, that's all for today.

Hope you'll land yourself a slightly better offer next time, fingers crossed for you.

Have a fantastic day,
Patryk