Prepare Your Negotiation Approach
Negotiation feels uncomfortable for most people and particularly for candidates who have been through a layoff and feel grateful just to have an offer. That discomfort costs real money. Almost every offer has some room to negotiate and employers consistently expect candidates to try.
Negotiation feels uncomfortable for most people and particularly for candidates who have been through a layoff and feel grateful just to have an offer. That discomfort costs real money. Almost every offer has some room to negotiate and employers consistently expect candidates to try.
Step by Step
Know your number going in You identified your target salary, minimum acceptable salary, and opening ask on Day 19. Review those numbers now and confirm they still feel right based on your current market knowledge.
Prepare your negotiation opener "Thank you so much for this offer. I am genuinely excited about joining the team. The base salary is slightly below where I was hoping to land based on my research into market rates for this role. Is there any flexibility to get closer to [your target]?"
Prepare for common responses to your negotiation
If they say yes immediately: Accept and ask for the full offer in writing. If they meet you halfway: Evaluate whether the middle ground works for you. If it does, accept warmly. If they say the salary is fixed: Ask about other components. "I understand. Is there any flexibility on the signing bonus, vacation days, or professional development budget?" If they say no to everything: Decide based on whether the full package at the stated number still meets your needs.
Practice your opener out loud until it sounds completely natural and calm
Tips The person delivering the offer is rarely the final decision maker on salary. They often have to check with someone else which is why they may need a day to come back to you with a revised offer. Negotiating is not rude or ungrateful. It is professional and expected. The worst realistic outcome is that they say no and you are exactly where you started.