isn't it possible for this to happen in the opposite direction? I.e., turning a pay cut into a small raise. It is, but that's only something that can happen wh

isn't it possible for this to happen in the opposite direction? I.e., turning a pay cut into a small raise. It is, but that's only something that can happen when you allow the company to make the first offer. If they do, and they undershoot your current comp, it likely means that: * they have no idea how to price your skills against the market rate, * they are strapped for cash, and trying to get you at a bargain price, or * they are simply trying to lowball you and see what you do. You can counter by saying something to the effect of "Thanks, but that represents a pay cut for me, and that doesn't make financial sense for me right now." An honest mistake will result in them hustling to redo the offer to your liking. I don't know thst I've ever seen an honest mistake of this kind from a recruiter. They simply have too much data for me to believe that. None of these scenarios are a great look for a company that wants to recruit you. Seeing these from a company offering me a job leaves me pretty hesitant to work for them. To me, it telegraphs either amateurism, or bad faith negotiations. The one exception to this - and, I gotta say, this tradeoff has never made financial sense to me, personally - is to take a pay cut to work at a startup. At that point, you're swapping pay for the opportunity to learn or advance your career in some other way.