> Negotiation only works if both parties are equal. That is not true at all. It only works if both parties have something of value that the other wants. It's a

> Negotiation only works if both parties are equal. That is not true at all. It only works if both parties have something of value that the other wants. It's always a negotiation, but the only thing that ever matters in a negotiation is the BATNA (best alternative to negotiated agreement) on both sides. If your BATNA is unemployment and their BATNA is a minor delay getting someone almost exactly equivalent to you, then you'll take their offer and they'll politely decline if you ask for more. If your BATNA is one of a few other competing offers all of which excite you, and their BATNA is having to settle for someone who doesn't bring your particular expertise to the company, or worse, having to start their search over again, you're in a much stronger position to ask for more money.