Salary Expectations When Pressed (Second-Line Script)
A second-line compensation script for situations where recruiters insist on your number before disclosing the pay band.
If They Press for a Number
“I’m confident we’ll align if the role matches the scope we discussed. Can you confirm the band so we’re comparing apples to apples?”
Decision Note from Source
If they refuse entirely, treat that as a red flag: companies that hide comp often grind every negotiation.
When to Use This Template
- Recruiter repeats request for your number without sharing the band
- You want to keep process momentum without low anchoring
- You need to document potential compensation transparency risk
✨ Personalization Tips
- Keep wording calm and confidence-forward, never combative
- Reference discussed scope so compensation feels role-linked
- If they still refuse, log this as a potential red flag for decision quality
- Use same script across rounds to avoid inconsistent signals