> If someone with FAANG is still applying, that means they're willing to work for that range.

Close but not quite. It's more like:

> If someone with FAANG is still applying, it appears they're willing to work for that range.

When I'm willing to go through the job interview process and say no to an offer I don't like, I completely ignore the salary range. I'll get the interviewer and team to love me and then just decline if they won't go above their range. Or I'll take it because they've convinced me the job will be enjoyable enough to offset the lower salary.

Plenty of things in life are flexible if you ask. But plenty of things aren't flexible even when you ask. Sometimes, I'm willing to waste my time to find out which is which.

Sure, but the recruiter isn't willing to waste their time to find out if you deem their role good enough to accept something lower, or if you are going to make them go to bat to spend more money on you. It is better for their goals to move on to someone who is actually seeking something within the target compensation's budget.

Yes, except my comment and the comment I replied to had nothing to do with your point.

I replied to:

> If someone with FAANG is still applying, that means they're willing to work for that range.

Oh you would be surprised what people think. They think you will change your ability to pay almost just as frequently.

> If someone with FAANG is still applying, that means they're willing to work for that range.

But even that doesn't mean as much as you might think. Someone might be willing to take a pay cut because they're in dire need of work. But will they be happy with that pay rate in a year or two?

It just means they're trying to get a counter offer to improve their negotiating ability.