Never Accept the First Offer — There Is Almost Always Room to Negotiate

Companies expect you to negotiate. The first offer is almost never the best offer — it's the starting point of a conversation. Asking for more is not rude; it's professional. Recruiters build negotiation room into their initial numbers precisely because they know you'll ask.

A polite counter-offer shows that you know your value. At worst, they'll say the offer is final. At best, you'll earn thousands more for the same work — money you'd have left on the table by saying yes too quickly.