Believe it or not the current unemployment rate of 7.9% is also impacting new hires.  Why?  Many large companies are using the uncertain economic outlook and particularly the unemployment rate as a way to undercut salary levels for new hires.  Some of it may be justified, but in most cases, the company is trying to take advantage of the "recession," which supposedly ended.  So what should you do as a potential new hire?  It starts with strategic salary negotiation. .