Salary Negotiation

Most people accept the first offer they receive. Don't be most people. Negotiating your salary is one of the highest ROI activities you can do for your career.

Why Negotiation Matters

• Compound effect - Even $5K more compounds over your career
• Sets the baseline - Future raises are percentages of your starting salary
• Signals confidence - Employers expect candidates to negotiate
• No downside - Offers are rarely rescinded for reasonable negotiation

When to Negotiate

Good times:

• After receiving a written offer
• When you have competing offers
• When you have unique skills they need

Challenging times:

• Early in your career with no leverage
• When the salary band is truly fixed
• When you're desperate (hide this)

How to Negotiate

Step 1: Research

Know the market rate for your role, level, location, and industry. Use:

• Levels.fyi (tech)
• Glassdoor
• LinkedIn Salary
• Talking to people in similar roles

Step 2: Let Them Go First

If possible, don't share your salary expectations until you have an offer.

Step 3: Respond Thoughtfully

Don't accept immediately. Say: "I'm very excited about this opportunity. Can I have a few days to review the full package?"

Step 4: Make Your Ask

Be specific and justified: "Based on my research and the scope of this role, I was hoping for $X. Is there flexibility?"

Step 5: Negotiate the Full Package

If salary is fixed, consider:

• Sign-on bonus
• Equity
• Vacation days
• Start date
• Title
• Remote work flexibility

Common Mistakes

1. Accepting immediately - Always take time
2. Being too aggressive - Collaboration, not confrontation
3. Negotiating over email only - Phone or video is better
4. Focusing only on salary - Total comp matters
5. Not having a BATNA - Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement

Use AI for Negotiation

These prompts help you research compensation, prepare your negotiation strategy, and practice the conversation before having it.