Salary Negotiation Tips and Examples

When an employer extends a job offer, they will usually present you with a package that includes a proposed salary. However, if you feel that the pay does not align with your education, career level, skillset and strengths you have to offer, you may choose to negotiate for more. You may also suggest another form of compensation (such as equity or stock options) or additional perks (such as extra vacation days).

Knowing how to negotiate salary offers is a valuable skill that can increase your earning potential throughout your career and better ensure you are fairly compensated for the work you do. However, like any skill, it takes preparation and practice to do well. Here are some tips to get started.

How To Negotiate Salary

Here are some helpful tips to consider as you prepare for a salary negotiation.

Start by calculating your value

You must know exactly how much value you can offer an employer before you begin the process of negotiating a salary. Several factors can influence your compensation such as:

• Geographic location

• Years of industry experience

• Years of leadership experience

• Education level

• Career level

• Skills

• Licenses and certifications

When you begin your salary negotiation, be sure to reiterate why you will be a valuable employee and consider using the above factors to justify your desired salary.

Research the market average

Having this data can help support a more successful negotiation and can be found by using Indeed Salaries. Knowing the market average can give you a good baseline for your salary request and can even be used as a justification. This tool uses salaries listed from past and present job postings on Indeed as well as data submitted anonymously by other Indeed users. Here are some questions to consider as you begin your market research.

• What is the national average salary for the position?

• What is the average in your geographic location and cities nearby?

• How much do similar companies in your area pay employees in this position?

Prepare your talking points

As you are developing negotiation notes, it might be helpful to answer the following question as a framework for your conversation: Why do you feel you deserve a higher salary than the one the employer is offering? Be sure to put together a few talking points before you contact the employer and be as specific as possible. Those details might include the following information.

• Results you have achieved in previous roles such as goals you have met, the revenue you have helped drive or awards you have earned. If possible, use actual numbers.

• Years of industry experience, particularly if you have more experience than the employer stated as a requirement.

• Skills or certifications, especially if they are in high demand within your industry.

Related: How To Prepare For A Promotion Interview (Tips And Examples)

Rehearse with a trusted friend

Practising your talking points can help you gain confidence and identify areas of improvement. The best way to practise would be in front of a trusted friend or colleague who can provide helpful feedback. Alternatively, you can try recording your conversation on a camera or speaking in front of a mirror.

Be confident

Delivering your negotiation with confidence is as important as the words you say. The more confidence you convey, the more confident the employer will be in their consideration of your feedback. Remember you are bringing an important set of skills and experience to the organisation and the pay an employer offers should account for the value you provide. If you feel the employer’s original offer is below the value that aligns with your skills and experiences, you have done market salary research and have personal value data that supports your ask, have confidence in your decision to ask for more.

Ask for more

One fundamental rule of salary negotiation is to give the employer a slightly higher number than your goal. This way, if they negotiate down, you will still end up with a salary offer you feel comfortable accepting. If you provide a salary range, the employer will likely settle on the lower end so be sure the lowest number you provide is still an amount you feel is fair.

Share expenses you are incurring

Another reason you may want to ask for an increased salary is to cover any costs you are accumulating by taking the job. For example, if you are relocating to a new city for a job, you will have to pay moving expenses as well as any costs associated with selling or leasing your current home. If you are taking a position further away from home, you will have to factor in commute expenses such as train fare or fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle. It is not unusual for candidates to ask employers to adjust the salary to account for their expenses.

Be flexible

Even if the employer is unable to provide the salary amount you want, they may be able to offer other forms of compensation. For example, you may be able to negotiate more stock options, extra vacation days or additional work-from-home days to combat a lengthy commute. Do not be shy about asking for alternatives. In some cases, they may be just as valuable, or more valuable, than a paycheque.

Do not be afraid to walk away

In some cases, an employer may not be able to meet your minimum salary requirement or offer additional benefits that make it worth your while. Or the employer may counter-offer with a salary that is higher than their first offer but not as high as your request. In this case, you will need to decide if the job is worth the lesser amount.

If it is less stressful than your current position, is closer to home or offers you more flexibility or more free time, you may be open to taking a lower salary. However, if not, you should consider walking away and seeking other opportunities elsewhere.

Express gratitude

Once you reach the job offer phase of the hiring process, you have probably invested a great deal of time and energy applying and interviewing for the position. The employer has also invested time in the process so you must recognise this and thank them for considering you for the opportunity. Be sure to share any specific reasons why you are excited about the job such as the culture or the product.

Even if you end up declining the offer, it is important to do so in a friendly and professional manner. After all, you never know what opportunities they may have available for you in the future.

Examples Of How To Negotiate Salary Offer

Salary negotiation example by email

Here is how you might approach the situation if you want to begin the negotiation process via email.

Ms. Sushmitha,

Thank you for sending over the job offer package for the Marketing Director position. I want to state again how honoured I am to be considered for this exciting position and appreciate you sharing these details.

Before I can accept your offer, I want to address the proposed compensation. As I shared with your recruiting manager, I have more than ten years’ experience in digital marketing and have worked in leadership positions for the past six years. In my last role, I increased the number of marketing influenced leads by nearly 40 percent year over year and helped the company secure 25 percent higher annual revenue. Given my experience and expertise, I am seeking an annual salary in the range of INR 8,50,000 to INR 10,00,000, which is slightly higher than your offer of INR 8,00,000.

I know I can bring a great deal of value to ABC Company and help you exceed your revenue expectations this year. Please let me know when we can discuss the salary further.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Thank you,
Kishen Kumar

Salary negotiation example face-to-face or by phone

Here is how you might approach the situation if you are negotiating face-to-face or via phone.

Thank you for sending over the job offer package for the Regional Sales Manager position. I am excited about the opportunity and would like to reiterate how grateful I am that you have considered me for this role. I believe in your product and know I could help you drive even greater results.

However, before I accept your offer, I want to address the proposed salary.

As I shared during the interview process, I have more than twelve years’ experience in sales including eight years of experience in medical equipment sales. I have two more years of management experience than stated in the job description. In my last role, my team exceeded the monthly quota by 15 percent for two years in a row and landed three of the largest accounts in company history.

Given my experience and expertise, I am seeking an annual salary in the range of INR 8,50,000 to INR 10,00,000. However, I am open to discussing alternative compensation such as increased performance-based bonuses.

Salary negotiation is a critical step in the hiring process. By taking the time to talk through why you feel you need more compensation, you can help employers better understand the value you provide. As with any new skill, the more you negotiate, the more you will improve and the easier it will become. By using the above tips to negotiate your salary, you can walk into the conversation confident, prepared and ready to secure the pay you deserve.

Related:

• When To Negotiate Your Salary (With Tips And Examples)

• Negotiation Skills: Definitions, Benefits And Examples

• How To Answer the Salary Expectation Question in Job Interviews