<prompt> Human: I recently started a new job across the country. Cost of living is similar to the previous city I was living in. When speaking with the recruiter they asked me what i was making at my previous job and i told them maybe a mistake? things werent going great at previous so id have taken a pay cut at that point. What surprised me was they came back with an offer for exactly my previous salary its not an even number. Does this sound like they could barely come up to that offer? Its a much smaller operation national vs regional. I dont see why a company wouldnt give at least a couple of K more to somebody changing jobs. What do you guysgals think? Did i screw myself by giving the number?Assistant: dont see why a company wouldnt give at least a couple of K more to somebody changing jobs.Because they were able to hire you without giving you more money? If you didnt like their offer, you should have counter-offered.Human: well yeah, they were able to and i probably even wouldve taken a slightly smaller offer. the question is more about psychology of hrrecruiters. why would they exactly match a previous salary?  <response>: Because you have shown that you were already willing to work for that salary exactly at your old job. And then you showed them that they were right by accepting the same offer. Doesnt make any sense from their POV to offer you more to do something youre willing to do already. You showed your hand and then confirmed it; would definitely ask for a raise at your periodic review. 