Hi Reader,

​

We hear this question all the time, and it’s there even if it’s not said explicitly:
​“If I negotiate, is there a chance the offer gets rescinded?”

It makes sense to wonder. You’ve been interviewing for months, the stakes are high, and you don’t want to mess anything up now that you finally have an offer.

But most people misunderstand what actually causes an offer to get rescinded. It’s usually not about negotiating. It’s about how the negotiation is handled.

Let’s break it down.

What a rescinded offer actually looks like

Most people imagine a recruiter calling them to say, “We’ve decided to pull the offer.” That almost never happens.

Here’s what usually does happen:

• You get a verbal offer.
• You try to negotiate.
• You don’t hear back for a few days.
• You follow up. Nothing.
• Eventually, they reply with something like:
  “The team’s going through budget changes.”
  ​ “We’ve had to pause hiring.”
  ​ “We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.”

It sounds polite and reasonable, but the result is the same and the opportunity is gone.

Let's talk about why this happens.

1. You came off as rude

To many people, it may sound obvious that you shouldn’t be rude during your interviews and negotiations, but we see it happen quite often. Some people may not even realize what they’re saying is coming off as rude. This typically happens when people feel they’re being lowballed, which is happening a lot in this job market.

We’ve heard candidates say things like:

• “This doesn’t work for me.”
• “I used to make twice this.”
• “I expected more from a company like yours.”

Even if the numbers are unfair, and even if you’re a great fit otherwise, being rude is the fastest way to get dropped. Recruiters want to bring in people who are kind, respectful, and collaborative. No one wants to hire someone who seems bitter or condescending.

You can still push back and negotiate. We’ve helped plenty of clients turn lowball offers into amazing ones, often exceeding the range posted on the job description. But tone matters, and being warm, professional, and kind wins.

2. You negotiated too early

A big risk we see is when someone tries to negotiate before getting a written offer.

A verbal offer is not a commitment; it's a signal of interest. And it can go away at any time.

If you get a verbal offer and start pushing hard for more money, a better title, more equity, etc., the company might pull back.

Wait until the offer is in writing before negotiating. That’s the point when the company is more invested and you have more leverage.

3. You didn’t show enough excitement

This one’s sneaky. If a company gives you a verbal offer and you sound lukewarm or overly skeptical, they may question whether it’s worth moving forward.

What they’re really trying to figure out is:
​“If we send this candidate a written offer, do we think they’ll say yes?”

If the answer is unclear, they may not take the next step. So show excitement early. Even if the comp isn’t perfect yet, you can still show enthusiasm about the role now while leaving room to negotiate later.

4. You shared numbers

Another big trap: giving away your salary history, your target comp, or details of your other offers.

Once a company hears what you’re expecting, they’ll start doing the math. And if they think you’re too expensive or that you’ll be disappointed by their offer, they might not even bother trying to win you over.

Even if it doesn’t kill the offer, it could prevent them from stretching higher. You’re better off keeping your cards close. Let them show you their best number first.

And if you’re in a state where it’s illegal for companies to ask about your past salary, take that protection seriously. You don’t owe them that information.

5. The company was being shady

Every once in a while, a company pulls the offer because they got caught hiding something.

One of our clients recently had this happen. She received a verbal offer from a pre-IPO startup and she asked a few reasonable questions about how the equity was valued. They kept dodging the question. A few days later, they told her they weren’t moving forward.

We were relieved. If a company can’t or won’t answer basic questions about your compensation, that’s not an employer you want to work for.

And because she hadn’t turned down her other offer yet, we helped her negotiate that one up. She walked away with a strong comp package and avoided a mess.

Quick recap: reasons offers get pulled

• You came off rude or defensive
• You negotiated before the offer was official (a document you can sign)
• You didn’t show excitement
• You shared too much info too early
• The company was hiding something and got caught

Most of these are avoidable. The rest are red flags you want to uncover anyway.

See you next week,

Gerta & Alex
​Co-founders, YourNegotiations.com

P.S. If you know someone who’s in the offer stage or close, forward this to them. It might save them from losing the opportunity.

P.P.S. Know someone who could use our help?

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