How to Negotiate Salary After a Job Offer

Negotiating can enhance your quality of life and demonstrate to potential employers the skills they are seeking

Author: Kseniia Tokarieva
Kseniia Tokarieva
Kseniia Tokarieva
Experienced financial professional with eight years in audit and financial reporting, holding an MSc in International Money Finance and Investment from Durham University, along with dual bachelor's degrees in Finance and Economics with financial applications from Southern Methodist University.
Reviewed By: Christy Grimste
Christy Grimste
Christy Grimste
Real Estate | Investment Property Sales

Christy currently works as a senior associate for EdR Trust, a publicly traded multi-family REIT. Prior to joining EdR Trust, Christy works for CBRE in investment property sales. Before completing her MBA and breaking into finance, Christy founded and education startup in which she actively pursued for seven years and works as an internal auditor for the U.S. Department of State and CIA.

Christy has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administrations from the University of London.

Last Updated:October 13, 2023

The job-hunting process could be one of the most stressful experiences we have to go through. The process usually involves a grueling interview designed to prove you are a worthy candidate. As a result, it is tempting to accept the first offer that comes your way. But, by doing so, you could miss out.

A common mistake people make after receiving a job offer is not negotiating compensation or other benefits. 

On the one hand, it is perfectly understandable, as the fear of jeopardizing the job offer after the interview is real. On the other hand, however, it is worth considering that most employers expect a counteroffer from you.

Most recruiters or hiring managers will allow you to take some time to assess the job offer. It is in one’s best interest to take advantage of this opportunity. Use this time to assess the offer and prepare for the negotiation process.

Negotiate Salary After A Job Offer Tips

  • Know when to enter the negotiation process and when to withdraw, and timing is key.
  • Do the research, know your value, and be ready to communicate why you deserve better pay or an overall compensation package.
  • Failure to prepare could cause you the missed opportunity of getting a desired compensation package or even the job altogether.
  • Act professionally throughout the whole process.
  • Feel free to decline a job offer if you are unsatisfied with the final pay or the overall compensation package.

Why should you negotiate?

Negotiating can demonstrate to potential employers the skills they are seeking. However, remember timing plays an important role.

There are multiple reasons why you should negotiate the pay at the time of hiring, including:

  • Money: you can earn on average $5,000 more per year when negotiating the pay at the time of hiring (Program on Negotiation)
  • Employer’s expectation: 73% of employers expect a salary negotiation on an initial job offer (Human Resources Director)
  • High rate of success: the chance of losing a job offer when trying to negotiate is slim; on the contrary, you have an 85% chance to succeed in negotiation (CNBC)
  • A chance to showcase the skills the company is looking for: by researching and communicating your needs, you can demonstrate the exact skills the company is looking for

When to negotiate salary

Negotiating pay during the hiring process provides the best opportunity to discuss salary and benefits. It can be challenging to secure a raise or modify employment terms after you have started the job. However, there are cases when it would be wise to refrain from negotiating.

You should negotiate when:

  • You have an offer letter from a potential employer: A written offer will provide you leverage as it demonstrates the company’s desire to hire you. However, when the offer is verbal, the negotiation of pay should be placed on hold
  • You can substantiate the higher salary by the value you bring: Negotiating pay is a professional situation. As such, argumentation for higher pay should be centered around the value you bring rather than the amount needed for your expenses
  • The job entails a lot of overtime work: In situations where the job involves substantial overtime hours, lacks overtime compensation in the offer, and has a base salary, it is reasonable to expect the pay to account for these factors

When not to negotiate

Do not negotiate when:

  • An offer letter has already been signed: It would be considered inappropriate to start the negotiation process after you have already signed an offer
  • The employer extended their best offer: If the potential employer specified that they had provided you with the best offer, they might not be open to negotiating any further
  • There is no reason to negotiate: When the offer is just right or within the range dictated by the market, then the negotiation process might not be necessary. In other words, avoid negotiating without valid reasons

What is negotiable in a job offer?

Before negotiating compensation and other benefits, it is important to understand what is typically negotiable and what may not be. Negotiable/non-negotiable elements can vary depending on the industry the company is operating in, the size of the company, and the company’s life cycle.

There are typically five key elements of a total compensation package:

  1. Base salary: total annual salary
  2. Bonus pay: the amount paid on top of the annual base. Bonus pay can be non-discretionary (set amount is paid out if the predetermined conditions are met) or discretionary (bonus is paid out at the sole discretion of the employer based on the performance)
  3. Paid time off: refers to fully compensated days away from work.
  4. Some mix of fringe benefits: health insurance, retirement savings, disability, or life insurance
  5. Stock/equity: non-cash compensation in the form of ownership interest in the company

Companies usually offer a combination of these elements tailored to their policies and industry standards.

Note

Most companies today have established policies relating to paid time off and bonus structures, making these components hard to negotiate. 

One needs to concentrate on elements that are considered more flexible:

  • Base salary
  • Stock/equity

 In addition, some negotiating points may not be included in a pay structure specified in the job offer. These negotiation points include:

  • Sign-on bonus: one-time bonus paid out upon joining the company 
  • Flexible work arrangements: more working days from home or different working hours could be negotiated to allow you to save time and money on commuting to the office.
  • Relocation assistance: one-time payment to help you with relocation expenses that might arise as a result of your accepting the job offer
  • Other (continuing education allowance, free lunches, gym reimbursements, company transportation, sabbatical leave, maternity/paternity leave, paid sick days, etc.) 

How to negotiate a salary After a Job Offer?

The following tips will guide you in negotiation discussions, which should be carried out once you assess the job offer, identify points that you want to improve, and determine that it will be appropriate to negotiate:

1. Do the research

One of the most pivotal parts of the pay negotiation process is the research work you do. The job offer should only be accepted with an understanding of the market. Some of the questions to ask yourself at this stage would be:

  • How much do people in your desired position, location, and industry get paid?
  • How is your experience measured against a typical candidate or job requirements?

Multiple online resources will help you get the idea, including the WSO Company Database. In addition, you can reach out to people working in the desired field to get insight information via conducting informational interviews, for example.

2. Consider compensation as a whole

Before entering a negotiation, you need to understand clearly:

  • What is the acceptable pay range for you: when setting up a range, think about your lowest point, midpoint, and high point. However, when conveying the number to the employer during the negotiation process, aim for a slightly higher number than your goal.
  • What other benefits would you like to get from an employer: if the employer cannot provide the salary you want, they might be able to offer other forms of compensation.

Note

Evaluate whether certain benefits, such as healthcare or retirement plans, could compensate for a lower base salary.

3. Know your value

During the negotiation process, you need to be able to communicate why you deserve more by highlighting the value you bring to the company.

Note

It will be helpful to put together a few points before you contact the employer. When doing so, think about the results you have achieved in previous roles, years of experience, skills, and certifications obtained.

 4. Be prepared to answer your current or most recent salary questions

The level of your current or most recent salary might come up during the interview or negotiation process, as it can indicate how low you are willing to go. You need to consider a couple of things when disclosing this information.

  • If your current or previous pay was lower than your desired salary for the new position, consider highlighting relevant qualifications such as courses taken or conferences attended to justify your salary expectations
  • When disclosing the current or most recent pay range, consider quantifying and including other benefits in the amounts.

Note

You must take the time to check whether your current or most recent employer restricts the release of such information to third parties.

5. Be prepared to answer other tough questions

Recruiters or hiring managers will likely ask other important questions to determine your motivations. These questions could be intimidating, so it is important to think through your answers beforehand. Here are some of the questions you can expect, Indeed:

  • Are we your top choice?
  • If we come up in salary, will you accept the position immediately?
  • Do you have any other offers?

6. Practice your delivery

Practicing negotiation with a family member or a trusted friend is a good idea before you speak with a recruiter or hiring manager. You can gain confidence by understanding how you are perceived when delivering your arguments.

Note

Remember, the more confident you sound, the more confident the employer will consider your request.

7. Schedule a time to discuss

Once you are prepared to have a conversation, reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager to set up a time. While it is acceptable to negotiate over email, it is advisable to follow a different route.

Negotiating over the phone will allow you to have a back-and-forth conversation, avoid miscommunication, and express gratitude.

8. Know when to withdraw

Prolonged negotiation may frustrate both the candidate and the employer. If the company cannot meet your pay or other requirements after a few rounds of discussions, politely decline the offer and focus on finding opportunities that better match your expectations.

Things to avoid during the negotiation process

Some things will significantly decrease your chances of achieving the desired result during the discussions with the recruiter or hiring manager. Unfortunately, these things can also result in a withdrawal of a proposal by the potential employer, so keep them in mind before entering the negotiation process.  

In addition, do not let some negotiation myths stop you from entering the negotiation process altogether. Failure to enter or missteps during the negotiation process could result in missing out on the opportunity for a desired compensation package or even the job itself. 

Some of the most common mistakes people make during the negotiation process include the following:

  • Being unprepared
  • Focusing only on pay
  • Making it personal - always keep in mind that this is a professional conversation
  • Coming across as entitled or inflexible - the key here is to avoid appearing argumentative during the whole process
  • Avoid excessive back-and-forth in negotiations. If the company includes your requested terms in the amended job offer, avoid making further counteroffers to prevent frustration for the employer
  • Being unrealistic

Salary negotiation myths

There are multiple myths surrounding the salary negotiation process, some of which are outlined below.

Use these to help you enter the process with more confidence:

  • Myth 1: The company is looking for the best deal: Companies do a lot of research to establish ranges for any specific position. But, in the end, companies want to make the best offer to attract and retain talent like you.
  • Myth 2: Disclosing your current salary will result in you being offered a lower salary: If you are prepared to answer questions about your current or most recent salary, you should be able to make a case for a higher salary based on your value.
  • Myth 3: The companies will negatively perceive negotiation: Companies want you for a reason and aim to provide the best offer they can to secure your talent. They will want to know if they have missed the mark.
  • Myth 4: Everyone knows how to negotiate except for you: Studies indicate that a significant number of individuals feel they need to enhance their negotiation skills.
  • Myth 5: Lying about your current salary will result in you getting a higher salary offer: One of the most dangerous myths out there. Many employers verify salary history as part of your new hire paperwork. Therefore, you risk being caught in a lie at the start of your cooperation.
  • Myth 6: The absence of another job offer will not allow you to proceed with the negotiation process: Having an alternative offer provides you with more bargaining power. However, you can still negotiate without having one.
  • Myth 7: Ask for exactly what you want: The negotiation process is a two-way street, and it often involves counteroffers from both parties. Therefore, starting with a slightly higher initial ask gives you room for negotiation, increasing the chances of reaching a favorable outcome.

Researched and authored by Kseniia Tokarieva |  LinkedIn

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