I faked an offer and used to for negotiation

Apple
26dgn

Go to company page Apple

26dgn
Jun 3, 2021 832 Comments

Interviewed at several companies but either didn't get an offer or got a low offer (close to my original TC or slightly higher) and didn't get what I wanted. In every interview my design rounds were solid (even G interviewer was so happy and surprised that with my low yoe I had such solid design) but I didn't have enough time to prepare for LC. So I created some numbers that I wanted and went ahead asking for those numbers, claiming that I had such offer from Fb (I didn't even interview with Fb, because at that time they didn't want to interview me for E5).
Eventually I got 3 E5 offers with those numbers that I asked for.
I don't feel bad at all. I just feel I got what I deserved without LC madness.
Old TC: 180k
TC I asked for: 330k, yoe at that time: 4
Current TC: 420k, 6 yoe

Update: Didn't know this would become a fire post, so wanted to say this: I didn't post this to brag. I simply posted it because at first (and after passing the interviews) I was honest about what I wanted and was confident about my abilities but no one was willing to pay what I asked for without a competing offer. Since I didn't have a high offer to use it, I faked one to get what I wanted and it worked. They knew I was worth it, they just wanted to play dirty, so I did the same. If you are confident about your abilities, play the game.

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TOP 832 Comments
  • Zendesk
    😴 💤 😴 💤😴

    Go to company page Zendesk

    😴 💤 😴 💤😴
    To people saying: "They didn't call you out, so I don't see how this is unethical" - wow, no wonder the world is in the state that it is.

    "If you lie, but they don't realize it, then lying becomes ethical".
    "If you steal, but are not caught, then stealing becomes ethical".
    "If you dump lots of crap into the ocean, but no one knows it's you, then dumping crap into the ocean becomes ethical".
    🤢
    No, it doesn't.
    Faking an offer is unethical, even if you never get caught.
    Jun 4, 2021 18
  • OpenEdge / Eng
    TheCoders

    Go to company page OpenEdge Eng

    TheCoders
    Lying is lying. You should have just asked for what you want directly, then accept or reject the counter-offer. You didn't save a life by lying, so it is still not an excuse.
    Jun 4, 2021 23
  • Intuit
    F00B4

    Go to company page Intuit

    F00B4
    In my role as a leader hiring rock star developers every day, I see this post as an insult to all the honest, hard working engineers who earn top dollar and prove their value day after day. They never need to lie to get what they deserve. Twice a year we evaluate and recognize our talent with TC increases and bonuses.

    When I make an offer, it is my best offer for the skill set, I don’t play the one-up-man-ship over other companies. They either like my offer and want to work with my team of kick ass engineers or they go elsewhere. Sacrificing your personal integrity for money... Good luck with that decision.
    Jun 4, 2021 27
    • CGI
      vjOr38

      Go to company page CGI

      vjOr38
      I'm sure Intuit is a boomer who shows off during interviews, how smart he is. GFY! Only few give offers based on skills these days, it's either market rate or competiting offers. Negotiation is a skill and definitely, if I'm good at what I do, I will negotiate for the best offer. It's a two way street, I'm offering my services to the company for a price and I will go with the highest offer if I need it.
      Jun 6, 2021
    • Apple
      llpy55

      Go to company page Apple

      llpy55
      Lol leave the poor guy alone, he has stopped responding to the thread now
      Jun 6, 2021
  • Intel / Design
    Mojoo

    Go to company page Intel Design

    Mojoo
    Did you actually create fake offer letters or it was all just verbal stating you had all other offers?
    Jun 3, 2021 15
    • Google
       

      Go to company page Google

       
      Google asked me for a FB offer I didn't have. I just told the recruiter I'm not giving him another company's offer letter. They're not going to rescind over that. Maaaybe if you're asking for top or out of band you shouldn't lie though.
      Jun 4, 2021
    • UiPath
      BMIz33

      Go to company page UiPath

      BMIz33
      Afaik, most of offers are verbal. The hiring company would not produce an offer letter until all the terms are agreed upon and you verbally accepted the offer.
      Jun 4, 2021
  • Google / Eng
    6Feet6Inch

    Go to company page Google Eng

    6Feet6Inch
    Honestly tho. Don’t recruiters reach out to their recruiter contacts at these companies to check if such and such offer is going out?
    Jun 3, 2021 19