Post by Hamza Ansari

He cleared every round of the interview. One round after another. No gaps. No doubts. When we finally spoke about salary, he sounded a little nervous. He said, “I’m expecting around 14 lakh.” Our budget was 12. I could have ended the conversation there. Most people do. But something didn’t feel right. I checked the market again. Roles like his were going for 15–16 lakh. I went to the manager and said, “Skills wise, he’s strong. He’s ready. If we underpay now, he’ll start doubting himself from day one.” We discussed. We reworked. It wasn’t easy. Finally, we agreed. I called the candidate back and said, “We’re offering 15 lakh.” There was silence on the call. Then he said, “Thank you… I was starting to feel I was asking for too much.” That line stayed with me. Sometimes candidates don’t ask for more money. They ask for reassurance that they’re worth it. And sometimes, as HR, our job is not just to fill a role — but to protect someone’s confidence.