Negotiation happens when you receive an offer and want to improve one or more factors of the offer in your favor. At times negotiation can be the difference between a candidate accepting or declining an offer. Negotiation takes preparation, understanding your priorities, and doing research to provide justification for your request(s).
Factors you may consider negotiating:
- salary
- signing bonus
- start date
- location of role
- in-office work, remote work, or a hybrid
- some benefits
- …and many more
-
Before You Have an Offer
- Begin learning about negotiation best practices from resources like Harvard’s Program on Negotiation (helpful information in blog and newsletters), Coursera Course on negotiation, LinkedIn Learning course on negotiation, Payscale’s Salary Negotiation Guide, the Negotiation Curriculum within the Big Interview’s Learn section, and the Duke Career Center’s Negotiation Guide
- Conduct salary research using sites below and other trusted sites specific to your industry:
- comprehensive.io
- levels.fyi
- Glassdoor.com
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- O*NET
- Educate to Career Salary Calculator
- Indeed.com
- Salary Expert (includes cost of living calculator)
- Determine an expected salary range, taking into account your market value along with your experience, skills, and education
- Use cost of living calculators, like Payscale’s to determine salary parameters you may have based on location
- If you are an international student, educate yourself on OPT and start date considerations
- Prepare for a phone conversation. Most negotiations take place by phone or video call instead of email. If phone calls are uncomfortable for you, start practicing now so you’re more confident. Communication Consultants are a great resource for practicing your communication skills.
- Meet with a Career Coach to discuss your research and questions you may have about negotiation
-
Once You Have an Offer
- Maintain communication during the process – don’t wait until your deadline to ask to negotiate
- Ask, via phone or email, to set up a time to talk with the individual who made the offer and ask specific questions you have about the offer
- Be prepared for yes or no — practice what your response will be
- Remember that each negotiation conversation is unique
- Schedule an appointment with a Career Coach to discuss your options and practice your negotiation conversation
-
During the Negotiation Conversation
- Share your excitement for the role
- Ask questions that demonstrate you have done thorough research about the point(s) of negotiation
- Don’t make demands, focus on asking questions
- End on a positive note by thanking the person for their time. If they say they will need to get back to you about a negotiation point, ask when you should check back in with them.
-
After the Negotiation Conversation
- Follow-up as you agreed in the conversation
- Thank the individual for the conversation and considering your requests
- Ask for a new written offer if the employer is willing to make changes to the original
