Negotiating Offers.

Negotiating an offer is a delicate matter. Plenty of factors come into play:

• What’s a reasonable request?
• What leverage do you have?
• What are the risks of negotiating?

As a recruiter, I always hope the first offer is so strong that my candidate accepts it immediately. But that’s not always the case. When negotiations arise, leverage becomes key. What tools do we have to strengthen the candidate’s position?

It’s straightforward when you have another offer as a comparison or clear data points about your trajectory at your current employer. But what if you have neither?

Recently, I worked with a candidate who was between roles. They’d taken a career break and now landed a solid offer. One they genuinely liked but weren’t fully sold on.

They felt compelled to negotiate. My instinct? It was risky. With limited leverage, pushing too hard could cost them the opportunity.

I shared my concerns. They listened, took my points on board, but remained intent on negotiating. So, instead of shutting it down, we focused on the how – strategy, reasoning, and tone.

The result? Success. The candidate secured an improved offer and accepted.

Why share this? Because it reminded me of something important: I don’t always know best. It’s easy to get caught up in closing deals, but ultimately, our job as recruiters is to serve the candidate’s best interests. I could have doubled down on my concerns, but doing so might have damaged our relationship, and more importantly, denied them a better outcome.

Recruiters play a unique role in two-way sales. Balancing priorities is tricky, but at the end of the day, the candidate has the most skin in the game. Their interests should come first.

Opportunity Optimism.

For most of my life, I’ve been more scared to fail than excited to succeed.

That defense-first mindset has its place – like when playing as a Sunday league defender or managing finances with a CFO like caution. But it’s not so useful when trying to build something great.

That’s why I’ve always gravitated toward people with infectious optimism, those who believe, without hesitation, that they will succeed.

After stepping away from work and diving back in, I realized something: I’ve finally turned the corner.

I’m no longer afraid of failure. I’m more afraid of not having the opportunity to succeed.

Building something meaningful, feeling excited about the future, and growing as a person, these are the things that matter. At Meddon Talent, we aim to connect people with opportunities that fuel that same optimism.

Because at the end of the day, whether you win or lose, you’ve got to enjoy the ride.