I dunno, I've never really aggressively negotiated at hire time, but certainly at my industry jobs, just getting the door was the important thing, because my comp grows exponentially once I'm on the inside (all Googlers got a 10% raise one year. Just because.)
What does happen is during the first recruiter chat (before talking ot the HM), I make sure they are OK with my number (base + bonus + stock) in theory. Some jobs I've wanted have ended at that point- I asked for $270K base and they won't go above $230K, for example. it's a shame but I guess over my career I've done well enough, even with many rejections, mostly by just paying attention and moving to tyhe right place at the right time.
In my most recent role, the hiring manager had to put me in the highest eng level ("distinguished") to meet my salary expectation, and it was still a pay cut compared to my previous job in FAANG. However, my life quality more than makes up the difference. Don't always chase the biggest number.
No offense, but what do you do that is "distinguished"? I thought that title was only for like the top .01% of engineers who have done insane stuff no other mortal can pull off.
What does happen is during the first recruiter chat (before talking ot the HM), I make sure they are OK with my number (base + bonus + stock) in theory. Some jobs I've wanted have ended at that point- I asked for $270K base and they won't go above $230K, for example. it's a shame but I guess over my career I've done well enough, even with many rejections, mostly by just paying attention and moving to tyhe right place at the right time.
In my most recent role, the hiring manager had to put me in the highest eng level ("distinguished") to meet my salary expectation, and it was still a pay cut compared to my previous job in FAANG. However, my life quality more than makes up the difference. Don't always chase the biggest number.