Prepare Your Negotiation Approach
Step by Step
Step by Step
Review your three numbers from Day 19: target salary, minimum acceptable salary, and opening ask.
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 both my current compensation and my research into market rates for this role. Is there any flexibility to get closer to [your target]?"
Prepare for common responses
If they meet your ask or come close: Accept and ask for the full offer in writing. If they meet you halfway: Evaluate whether it works. 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, start date, additional vacation days, or remote work arrangements?" If they say no to everything: Evaluate whether the full package at the stated number is still worth making the move for.
Practice your opener out loud until it sounds completely natural and confident.
Tips As an employed candidate your leverage is higher than you may realize. You are not accepting an offer out of necessity. Negotiating from that position with calm confidence often produces significantly better outcomes. Never accept an offer on the spot. It is completely professional to take 24 to 48 hours to review it.