For example, you might say “Thank you so much for the offer. I certainly have a lot to think about. Would you mind if I give you an answer on Friday?” If you’re in a high-demand sector, the employer may not be willing to give you a lot of time—especially if they have others lined up who could also take the job. If you have a day or less, squeeze out every spare moment you can to work on your counter-offer.
This is where you might have to use the advice to “fake it till you make it. " It’s fine if you don’t have the confidence necessary to ask the employer for a higher salary, as long as you can pretend that you do! Remember that as the employer is listening to you, they’re also gauging your willingness to engage and seek the best. They’ll extrapolate your performance to how willing you’ll be to give and get the best for the company. [3] X Expert Source Jonathan SoormaghenCareer Coach Expert Interview. 7 October 2020.
Mentors and former supervisors can also help you get a good idea of what you should expect. If you don’t have a lot of contacts in your field, use a resource such as LinkedIn to talk to people in similar positions. [5] X Research source Take your geographic area into consideration as well. For example, a $60,000 salary will go a lot further in Cincinnati, OH than it will in San Francisco, CA. [6] X Research source
Navigate to the human resources page of the company’s website and have a look around. This can help you get a sense of what aspects of the job offer might not be up for negotiation. If you feel relatively friendly with the person who made the offer, you might straight-up ask them how flexible the offer is or how much wiggle room they have. Some information is publicly available if you do a little research. If the job offer is from a publicly-traded corporation, you can find a lot of information about the company’s financial health through required reports and disclosures. Look on the corporate website or the website of the regulatory agency that handles stock trading in your country.
Ongoing education or training in recent developments in your field Your extensive experience in important facets of the job Your network of professional contacts or clients you can bring Any awards or recognition you’ve received
For example, if your research shows that other people in your position make an average of $70,000 a year and the employer has offered you $50,000, you might create a range of $60,000 to $85,000. Add up your living expenses and create a budget (if you don’t already have one). This will help you determine the minimum end of your range. [11] X Research source
Many things might be extremely valuable to you, such as flexible works hours or the ability to work from home, that won’t really cost the employer anything. These perks can help you get a more favorable offer even if additional money isn’t in the cards. Remember that when you negotiate a higher salary, you’re negotiating the entire package at once. Your paycheck is only one facet of your overall compensation. For example, if you’re not interested in the free gym membership the employer offers, you might be able to exchange that for a little more money.
For example, you might say “I appreciate the offer and look forward to working with you. However, $50,000 is below the market average for employees at my level. As we discussed during the interview, I have several high-profile clients I can bring on board with me, as well as national recognition for my work in social media. I expected something more in the $70,000 range. "
For example, you might say “I’m extremely enthusiastic about working for you and think this company would be a great fit for me. " Some employers might ask you questions at this point, especially if employees with your skills are in high demand. For example, they might ask if you have any other offers or if they are currently your top choice. Be prepared to answer those ahead of time.
For example, you might say “I look forward to contributing to this firm and appreciate your offer. But based on my reputation and experience, I expected a salary more in the $80,000 to $85,000 range. Others at this level make at least that much, and they don’t have the international recognition that I do. " After you make your counter-offer, say nothing—stand firm and give the employer a chance to respond. They might ask you questions or immediately come back with a different figure. [16] X Research source If they balk at your offer and say the numbers are simply too far apart, you still have room since you started at the higher end of your range. Come down if you think they’ll be willing to work with a lower number.
After you’ve given them time, wait for them to call you. If you call them before the time you gave them is up, you lose the power of your position. You could also potentially come across as desperate. If the time expires and you still haven’t heard from them, it’s okay to go ahead and give them a call. For example, if you gave them 2 days on Monday, you might call them on Thursday morning and say “We left off discussing my compensation package on Monday. Have you had enough time to consider my counter-offer?”
For example, suppose you asked your employer for permission to work from home on Fridays. Before they’ve hired you, they might not trust you to do that and maintain the appropriate level of production. However, after you’ve been working for them for 6 months, they’re in a better position to decide if that’s appropriate. When discussing these issues with the employer, acknowledge if you’re willing to table something until later. You might say “I understand you might have a hard time deciding whether to give me flex time right now. Would you be willing to revisit that issue in 6 months?” Don’t count on your employer to bring up the tabled issue again—be proactive and mention it yourself after the agreed-upon period has passed.
