Job Offer Pulled After I Negotiated—Is This Normal?!

After applying to over 100 jobs and months of grinding, I finally got my first offer. You’d think I’d be thrilled, right? Nope. What followed was a complete disaster, and I need to know: is this normal?

Here’s the story: I applied for a senior role at a tech startup. The hiring process was grueling: four rounds of interviews stretched over six weeks. A phone screen, team interview, a panel presentation (aka unpaid consulting), and finally, a 1-on-1 with the hiring manager. Each step, they hyped me up: “You’re perfect for this role!” “We can’t wait to work with you!”

Then the offer came. The salary? $5k less than I make now. For a senior role. In tech. Still, I stayed professional and countered, asking for just a $2k bump. They said they’d get back to me in 24 hours.

Instead, they ghosted me for a WEEK. Then, I got an email from HR—but it wasn’t even for me. It was for another candidate, with all their offer details laid out. Before I could even process that mess, another email came in. This one was for me: a rejection. No explanation, no call, just, “We’ve decided to go in another direction.”

I reached out to the hiring manager, and he apologized, blamed “budget constraints,” and said they’d gone with someone else. Then he added that they’d “love to create another senior role in the future to work with me.” So you couldn’t find $2k but will fund a whole new position? Sure.

Was I wrong to negotiate? Or is this just how hiring works now? If this is normal, companies need to do better. Still, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. If they treat candidates like this, imagine being an employee there.

Have you been through anything like this? Let me know.

3 answers

Perry Callahan

Rising Star

This might sting, but you need to hear it: this isn’t unusual. Companies today are more focused on budget spreadsheets than on valuing talent. The way they ghosted you and sent that wrong email? Completely unprofessional and, frankly, a red flag. Negotiating was the right move, though. Asking for a fair salary shows confidence, and any decent employer should appreciate that. The fact they pulled the offer shows they weren’t serious from the start. But don’t let this discourage you. If anything, take it as a reminder to trust your instincts—if a process feels messy, it’s likely a sign of what’s behind the curtain.

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Marina Winters

Marketing Director

The disrespect is unreal. A tech company fumbling this hard? That’s a NO from me. Ghosting and sending the wrong email? 🚩🚩 You did the right thing by walking away

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Anonymous

Rising Star

This story is so painful to read because I’ve been there. The waiting, the rejection, and that feeling of hope getting crushed—it’s awful. But you absolutely did the right thing negotiating. If a company can’t meet a $2k ask or handle basic communication, it’s a them problem. It sucks that this was your first offer after 100+ applications, but this is just one crappy company, not a reflection of your worth. Better things are ahead, I promise.

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