Salvage An Embarrassing Attempt To Negotiate?

I was going to accept my offer, but my friend told me I was underselling myself. I called up my supervisor who called me with the offer only to dropped the ball. Made a cringe call and shot myself in both the face.

This is how it went:

"So, um, yeah um. Thank you for the offer. So, I was looking around at land o' lakes and its pricier than expect, so um based on this I think the $XXk might be on the lower side, um do you think I can see what the full details of the offer are?"

If I was that hiring manager, I would have pulled the offer right on the spot because of this horrendous, cringe call.

I didn't know how to negotiate because I hadn't received any details outside of the base salary. They were also asking if I was verbally accepting the job but I didn't want to say yes and imply that I agreed to the salary, so I beat around the bush and asked for the full details so I can review them. I don't know if this was also a fuck up or I was supposed to say I accept the offer pending review of the full details and then negotiate after receiving the offer letter. It's possible that they offered a minimum acceptable salary which may have been on the low end, but still not too far below the mid. (Offer is 4k more than what I wrote on the job app as my min)

i placed myself in a corner. i can not ask for anything which will be strange given that i made a big deal about it or i can ask for 2% more. trying to save face is priority

Kind of stupid question. I have a deadline to accept, the offer but I would need to negotiate. Do I send them an e-mail and not sign the digitlal offer or should I sign and then send the e-mail. I can state that I signed as my intent to be employed but not yet in agreeance with the comp package?

11 Comments
 

I'll look at Deepak. It would hav ebeen easier if I new what total comp and benefits would be. I received no info other than the salary and they asked for verbal acceptance - no negotiation or time to think offered.

Thank you.

 

Ullam ipsum nobis dolore et veniam. Omnis quas facilis ut et molestiae fugit.

Doloremque id ut perferendis iste tempora. Commodi officia ut eveniet ducimus ullam. Veritatis et libero nemo alias incidunt. Possimus esse perferendis dolor ut necessitatibus ipsa. Aliquid delectus saepe asperiores provident rem illo maxime.

Qui voluptatem repudiandae voluptatum nemo. Eligendi iure dolorum dolore eum. Vel facilis dicta cumque autem esse. Possimus aut autem omnis. Corrupti non enim ea quae iure dolore. Qui ut qui rerum distinctio veritatis reiciendis. Occaecati harum eius exercitationem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”