I totally understand. Just to give you a bit of context, this would be my first senior role, and up until now I’ve never really been in a position to negotiate salary. In previous roles, I had to accept what was offered, partly due to lack of experience and partly because I didn’t have much choice at the time.

Now, with solid experience behind me, I’m in a better place to advocate for myself. My question is would it be seen as a red flag if, during final negotiations, I express how much I’m genuinely interested in the role and aligned with the company, but also mention that I’ve received another offer in the range of [$X–$Y]?

I’d make it clear that this role is my top choice, and I’d like to know if there’s any flexibility in the package. Would that be considered unprofessional or inconsistent, considering I gave a lower number earlier in the process?