Always ask. Worst case, they say no. Best case, you compound that extra 5–10% for the rest of your career. You already got the job if you are negotiating salary, they wont take it away.
Exactly this.
In all my decades in the industry, both during up cycles and down cycles, I've never had anyone respond to negotiation by saying "never mind, the deal is off". The worst case is that they'll say "our offer is not subject to negotiations, take it or leave it."
I had that happen during my very first negotiation. Unless I'm lead to believe "suddenly, funding changed. We have to cancel". It does happen.
Two of the three offers in 2023 were from my network. But honestly, it might be harder now. It’s more of shit show now then even last year. On the other hand, I am at point in life where I’m good with just cost of living raises as long as I stay remote and I don’t have to deal with too much BS.
My last full time role in June 2022 and then that studio lost funding and laid off in June 2023. I took a few months off because this was my 2nd layoff in 2 years, and when I tried to resume in September I can already feel the difference. You got an offer in October and in that same time I was 6 interviews and over 5 weeks deep into a company that would proceed to ghost me (and I checked weekly with the recruiter who would simply say "yeah we're still evaluating".
Little did I know it was a precursor of the circus that was 2024. By 2025 I would simply give up and grab some part time work just to survive.
It's rough.