Hi Reader,

We have a big update for you this week—we launched the first episode of our podcast, Gentle Power!

In each episode we’ll be sharing a peek into our personal lives here in San Francisco, as well as a few negotiation tips.

And for this first episode, we’re sharing a tip that many people find controversial. More below!

Personal Life: Community over Everything

If you know me (Gerta), you know I thrive on community—whether it’s growing up in a tiny two-bedroom apartment back home in Albania with extended family or bunking in co-living houses in Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

When Alex headed to a friend’s bachelor trip last month, I moved into a local community house for a week.

I was beyond excited to be surrounded by fellow founders and community builders.

There's something about shared living spaces and group dinners that fuels my creativity and energy.

We talked all about this in our very first podcast episode, along with some of our personal “life mantras” (Alex’s is “GFF” or “Give Fewer F***s!”) and why being more closely true to yourself is key when building (and negotiating!) the life you want.

On Negotiations: Our Hot-Take on the Salary Expectation Question

Contrary to popular belief, your job-offer negotiation doesn’t start when the offer arrives—it starts the moment you hit “Apply” in the online job application.

That seemingly simple question -– “What are your salary expectations?” — can drastically shape your final offer if you’re not careful.

Here’s our playbook for NOT giving away your leverage:

1. If it’s a drop-down range
   ​Choose the lowest range available, even and especially if it’s obviously lower than any realistic salary for someone at your level. This signals you’re not really providing a “real” number.
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2. If you must input a strict numeric value
   ​Enter something like 00000 or 11111. Again, it’s clear you aren’t revealing your true expectations.
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3. If it’s an open-ended text box
   ​Politely say you’d like to discuss compensation later:
   “I’m open to a competitive offer that reflects my experience. Let’s discuss exact figures once we confirm this is a mutually good fit.”

People consider this approach a hot-take because they feel nervous refusing to play by the “rules”. However, keep in mind:

• Companies routinely keep their own salary ranges hidden. Even the salary ranges posted on the job description are not accurate. But even if they were, there’s a lot more that goes into a total compensation than just base salary, such as annual bonuses, sign-on bonuses, equity, and more.
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• Many states make it illegal for them to ask about your salary history for a reason. Sharing salary information such as what you make now, what you made previously, or what you would prefer to make is giving away your leverage.
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• Holding back at this stage preserves your bargaining power and protects you from a lowball initial offer.

More Free Negotiation Resources

Watch the full episode in our brand-new podcast episode, where we also share:

• Why excitement for the role matters (and how to show it without revealing your cards).
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• Common pushbcks to our “non-answer” strategy shared above—and why companies rarely toss your application just for deflecting one question.
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• Real-life scripts to help you keep your leverage from Day 1 of your job search.

We’d love to hear what you think—about the tips, about our new community experiments, or about our podcast format.

Seriously, reply to this email and let us know!

Thanks for reading and remember:

You can’t win at negotiating if you show all your cards too soon.

All the best,
​Gerta & Alex
​Co-founders of YourNegotiations.com

P.S. If you’re gearing up for an upcoming job negotiation—or just want a fresh perspective—book a free consultation call with us.

Let’s work on boosting your offer while keeping the process collaborative, positive, and (dare we say) fun.