Navigating the early stages of a new job offer can feel like walking a tightrope, balancing between excitement and the drive to secure the best possible terms for yourself. But negotiating your starting salary is more than just a financial maneuver; it’s a critical step in establishing your value within a company from day one.
Beyond the immediate benefit of potentially higher earnings, engaging in this conversation signals to your employer that you have a keen understanding of your worth and the market. It’s an opportunity not just to advocate for a better compensation package but also to set a precedent for future negotiations, promotions, and raises. Demonstrating your negotiation skills can also earn you respect in the eyes of your new employer, underscoring your professionalism and confidence.
However, diving into salary negotiations without a strategy is akin to sailing into stormy seas without a compass. There are risks involved, chief among them the possibility of coming across as overly aggressive or unrealistic in your expectations. Employers expect some level of negotiation, but pushing too hard or presenting demands without a solid foundation can sour the relationship before it even begins. There’s also the delicate balance of aiming high while remaining within the realm of what the market dictates for your role, experience, and location. Failure to navigate these waters carefully can leave you at an impasse and might also lead to the employer withdrawing (reneging) on the job offer. So, although we encourage job seekers to negotiate their starting salaries, we also remind them that they need to do so with tact, research, and timing to ensure the negotiation opens doors instead of closing them.
We recently asked 18 thought leaders to each share one strategy or tip for how to successfully negotiate the starting salary or other important terms of employment without risking losing the opportunity altogether.
- Support Request with Market Research
- Negotiate Early to Minimize Risk
- Align Skills with Company Objectives
- Advocate for Interests Positively
- Expand Negotiation Beyond Base Pay
- Frame Counter Offer as Considerate Request
- Show Integrity with Bottom Line
- Foster Transparency and Alignment
- Use Deliberate Silence Effectively
- Prepare Research for Credible Negotiation
- Balance Needs with Enthusiasm
- Inquire About Maximum Salary Range
- Negotiate Holistic Compensation Package
- Present Data-Backed Justifications
- Focus on Value and Mutual Benefit
- Clarify Offer with Enthusiasm
- Adjust and Compromise Willingly
- Negotiate Benefits Alongside Salary
Support Request with Market Research
Ask for a small increase in compensation and be prepared with market research to support your request. Before entering into negotiations, conduct thorough research to understand the salary range for similar positions in the industry and location.
This will provide you with valuable data to back up your request and demonstrate that your desired compensation is reasonable and aligned with market standards. When articulating your reasons for the increase, focus on highlighting your qualifications, relevant experience, and the value you can bring to the organization. Don’t forget to emphasize your enthusiasm for the role and your commitment to contributing to the company’s success.
Rubens Basso, Chief Technology Officer, FieldRoutes
Negotiate Early to Minimize Risk
Negotiating early is key if you want to minimize risk.
As a recruiter, I know candidates are often surprised when I recommend this strategy. They assume that it’s better to wait to negotiate until the hiring manager has a real connection to them.
But this can backfire if the company feels blindsided late in the process. They may feel duped for investing a good deal of energy into an applicant out of their price range.
Coming in strong with a high number feels scary, but actually, it is respectable and can even heighten your value as it’s seen as a sign of confidence.
Travis Hann, Partner, Pender & Howe
Align Skills with Company Objectives
While negotiating, emphasize your unique value by aligning your skills with the company’s objectives. Highlight specific instances where your contributions have driven results in your previous experiences.
Express enthusiasm for the opportunity while subtly indicating your worth, backed by measurable achievements. Remain flexible and open to compromise, ensuring the negotiation maintains a positive tone.
Roop Reddy, Founder and CEO, ChatWithPDF
Advocate for Interests Positively
When negotiating a job offer, it’s essential to strike a balance between advocating for your interests and maintaining a positive impression. One key strategy to negotiate without jeopardizing the opportunity is to emphasize your unique value.
Know Your Worth: Research industry standards and salary ranges for the position. Understand the value you bring based on your skills, experience, and qualifications.
Highlight Contributions: During negotiations, focus on what you can contribute to the organization. Discuss specific achievements, relevant projects, or unique skills that set you apart.
Frame It Positively: Instead of saying, “I need more money,” say, “Given my track record in improving efficiency, I believe my contributions warrant a higher compensation.”
Be Respectful: Express gratitude for the offer and convey your enthusiasm for the role. Show appreciation for the opportunity while advocating for fair terms.
Remember, negotiation is about finding a win-win solution. By emphasizing your value and maintaining a positive tone, you can negotiate effectively without risking the opportunity.
Azeem Hassan, Director, Bags Hub
Expand Negotiation Beyond Base Pay
More than a transactional tug-of-war, artful negotiation is a dance of deeply understanding mutual needs to choreograph an arrangement where both parties feel victorious. Early on, I focused solely on compensation, rigidly quoting market rates without context.
Quickly, I learned employers often have valid constraints shaping budgets, so reframing value as a spectrum of rewards aligned to their realities frequently won more than myopic dollar demands. Now, I coach candidates to approach offers as conversations, not ultimatums. Express authentic excitement for the opportunity while asking open-ended questions to uncover hidden priorities.
Perhaps they’re grappling with skill gaps jeopardizing product roadmaps—suddenly, negotiating a coding bootcamp sponsorship or an accelerated review cycle contingent on delivery benchmarks becomes a creative win-win. The key is expanding the pie through curiosity to discover what matters most on both sides.
Lead with collaborative language emphasizing shared goals, and be willing to bargain beyond base pay. When you demonstrate investment in their success, negotiations shift from zero-sum to mutually prosperous partnerships.
Lou Reverchuk, Co-Founder and CEO, EchoGlobal
Frame Counter Offer as Considerate Request
One strategy I’d recommend is to express your enthusiasm for the position while seeking clarification or adjustments. Start by expressing your gratitude for the offer and reiterating your excitement about the potential to contribute to the team.
Then, rather than presenting your counteroffer as a demand, frame it as a request for consideration based on your qualifications, research, and the value you believe you can bring to the company. For example, you might want to say: “I’m truly excited about this opportunity to work with you, and I’m confident I can contribute significantly to the team.
Based on my research and understanding of the role’s responsibilities, I was wondering if there’s any flexibility on [salary, start date, or benefits]. I’m looking to find a mutually beneficial agreement that can reflect the value I’ll be bringing to the team.”
Bayu Prihandito, Founder, Psychology Consultant, and Life Coach for Men, Life Architekture
Show Integrity with the Bottom Line
I respect candidates who are clear about their bottom line and are prepared to make tough decisions if necessary. This readiness to walk away from an offer that doesn’t meet their essential needs shows a strong sense of self-worth and professional integrity.
It’s a difficult position to take, but it emphasizes the importance of respect and mutual benefit in the negotiation process, qualities we highly value in our team members.
Chad Sultana, Founder, Chad Sultana
Foster Transparency and Alignment
I advocate for transparency and alignment. When negotiating a job offer, ensure you understand your worth and the market value of your skills. Craft a compelling narrative highlighting your unique contributions. Emphasize mutual benefits and seek to understand the employer’s perspective.
Present a well-researched proposal that respects both parties’ interests. Avoid ultimatums or aggressive demands; instead, focus on collaborative problem-solving. By fostering an atmosphere of respect and cooperation, you can negotiate effectively without jeopardizing the opportunity or damaging relationships.
Gregory Rozdeba, CEO, Dundas Life
Use Deliberate Silence Effectively
I find it impressive when candidates thoughtfully pause before responding during negotiations. This moment of silence indicates they’re considering their responses carefully, which often leads to more meaningful dialogue.
It’s a subtle yet powerful tactic that demonstrates confidence and respect for the negotiation process. Candidates who employ this strategy tend to communicate their points more effectively, showing they value reasoned and deliberate discussion, which is a trait we highly regard in our team members.
Bert Hofhuis, Founder, Every Investor
Prepare Research for Credible Negotiation
Pulling a number out of your hat is unconvincing, so the last thing you want to do in a hiring meeting is suggest a salary you came up with on the fly. If you can’t back it up, keep your mouth shut until you have a chance to do some research.
Coming in prepared is key to negotiating a job offer without risking your position. Put together a list of comparable roles and what they are offering. Be harsh and examine your own education and experience carefully. Don’t tell yourself six years in the industry is pretty close to ten; it’s not. The same goes for school rankings: if you didn’t attend an Ivy League school, don’t compare yourself to those who did. Hiring managers will be turned off by your delusion.
But, if you’re able to put together a few roles that show the wage you’re looking for is reasonable, you stand a good chance of working with the offer until a compromise is reached.
Linn Atiyeh, CEO, Bemana
Balance Needs with Enthusiasm
When negotiating a job offer, it’s crucial to strike a balance between expressing your needs and showcasing your enthusiasm for the role. There is no magic trick with negotiation; you simply have to sell yourself and your passion for the opportunity in unison.
First things first, you should express gratitude for the offer and highlight your eagerness to contribute to the company. You may be thinking you deserve far more, and that might be your priority, but simply stating that without any thanks could see you immediately separate yourself from the company and come across as entitled, which could instantly make your potential new bosses retract their offer.
Remember that any concerns you have should be shared politely and professionally. Your goal is to keep the people you are bargaining with on your side and really sell them your story. So rudeness and abruptness—even if you are offended by the offer—won’t do you any favors at all.
Brett Downes, Founder, Haro Helpers
Inquire About the Maximum Salary Range
I’ve always encouraged people going into an interview to ask what the maximum salary range for the position is. When you get your offer, you know you have the ability to justify your worth and ask for up to the maximum range. That way, you know exactly where your offer sits and what the company’s maximum is.
Matthew Sanjari, Founder and Business Coach, PRIME Consulting
Negotiate a Holistic Compensation Package
One effective strategy for negotiating a job offer without risking the opportunity is to focus on the overall compensation package, including non-monetary benefits. Express gratitude for the offer and highlight your enthusiasm for the role.
Politely discuss aspects like flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, or additional vacation days. This allows you to negotiate without directly challenging the salary, showcasing your interest in holistic job satisfaction and demonstrating flexibility.
It’s crucial to maintain a positive and collaborative tone throughout the negotiation process, emphasizing your commitment to contributing value to the organization.
Steven Mostyn, Chief Human Resources Officer, Management.org
Present Data-Backed Justifications
Before negotiating a job offer, extensively investigate the market value of comparable roles in your industry and geographic area. Armed with this knowledge, you can negotiate appropriate compensation without jeopardizing the opportunity.
Presenting data-backed justifications for your desired pay and benefits will demonstrate your professionalism and ensure that your requests are realistic. This technique shows your potential employer that you are knowledgeable and serious about your worth, which is less likely to jeopardize the offer.
Andy McKenna, Owner and Managing Director, Best Reception
Focus on Value and Mutual Benefit
One effective strategy for negotiating a job offer without risking the opportunity is to focus on the value you bring to the role and the organization. Start by expressing gratitude for the offer and your excitement about the opportunity. Then, diplomatically highlight specific areas where you believe there’s room for negotiation, such as salary, benefits, or additional perks. Back up your requests with research and data to support your position, demonstrating your understanding of industry standards and market trends.
Frame the negotiation as a collaborative process aimed at finding a win-win solution that aligns with both your needs and the employer’s objectives. Emphasize your enthusiasm for joining the team and your commitment to contributing positively to the organization’s success. By approaching the negotiation with professionalism, respect, and a focus on mutual benefit, you can advocate for your interests without jeopardizing the opportunity.
Abhay Thakkar, Founder, CEO, and NLP trainer, NLP Training International
Clarify the Offer with Enthusiasm
One effective strategy is to express your enthusiasm for the role while asking for clarification or adjustments. Start by thanking them for the offer and highlighting what excites you about the position and the company.
Then, transition into your request by stating, “I was wondering if there’s any flexibility on [specific aspect, like salary, start date, or benefits]?” This approach shows you’re eager to join the team but interested in ensuring the offer aligns with your expectations. It opens the door for negotiation without coming across as demanding or unappreciative.
Ana Alipat, Recruitment Team Lead, Dayjob Recruitment
Adjust and Compromise Willingly
Be willing to make adjustments. In my experience, I have learned that your dream job doesn’t always come with your dream paycheck. Hence, I have always found it useful to be prepared for this stage, even before you get to it. With negotiating a job offer, one of the most effective ways of guaranteeing you don’t risk the job opportunity is the enthusiasm with which you express your gratitude for being offered the opportunity.
However, no matter how dissatisfied you are with the pay offer, it might not always be a good idea to jump right into negotiation. I have found that it is important to understand that the point of a negotiation isn’t just so that you get what you want, but that both parties reach a compromise; hence, it helps to be willing to make adjustments when negotiating a job offer.
You need to be seen as a team player, and being willing to make adjustable compromises helps you achieve that. It also helps you know when to stop and accept the offer on the table or to decline and walk away, because even choosing to walk away is yet another subtle way of negotiating. If the employer is persuaded by your skill, experience, and the value you have promised to offer, and is able to match your pay, or make a better offer, they would definitely call you back. However, it also helps to understand that walking away with the intention that you will be called back is a risky mistake that is sure to backfire.
Tim Hastings, General Manager, Topratedlaw
Negotiate Benefits Alongside Salary
Give some consideration to non-salary benefits if you’re worried that the number might be too high and could scare off your employer. In my experience, you’ll have a lot more luck if you negotiate for the middle range of your salary expectations and then push a bit harder on benefits than if you were to go all in on getting your upper-bracket salary number.
See if you can get away with getting a company car, better retirement contributions, vacation time, remote work options, or professional development opportunities baked into your offer, as this is the best time to get those on paper if you can manage it.
These benefits can be just as valuable as additional money, and hiring managers are often a lot more flexible with throwing these things in rather than budging on a salary number that they likely cannot be that flexible with.
Dragos Badea, CEO, Yarooms
