Salary Negotiation Scripts That Will Work for You in 2022

If you need a little inspiration or instruction for how to talk to a recruiter, your boss, an HR manager, or anybody else about negotiating your salary, then the following salary negotiation scripts are for you.

It is said that the journey begins with a single step. Well, a salary negotiation begins with a single sentence. But for many people, that first sentence is the most difficult part of the negotiation.

Find the script that fits you best, then take a deep breath and start the negotiation conversation.

1. Start by Evaluating What you Offer

You must know exactly how much value you can offer an employer before you begin negotiating a salary. Several factors can influence your compensation, such as:

When you begin your salary negotiation, be sure to reiterate why you’ll be a valuable employee, and consider using the above factors to justify your desired salary.

2. Research the Market average

Having this data can help support a more successful negotiation and can be found by using Indeed Salaries.

Knowing the market average can give you a good baseline for your salary request and can even be used as a justification.

This tool uses salaries listed from past and present job postings on Indeed as well as data submitted anonymously by other Indeed users. Here are some questions to consider as you begin your market research:

3. Prepare your Talking Points

As you’re developing negotiation notes, it might be helpful to answer the following question as a framework for your conversation: Why do you feel you deserve a higher salary than the one the employer is offering?

Put together a few talking points before you contact the employer and be as specific as possible. Those details might include information like:

4. Rehearse with a Trusted Friend

Practicing your talking points can help you gain confidence and identify areas of improvement. The best way to practice would be in front of a trusted friend or colleague that can provide helpful feedback.

Alternatively, you can try recording your conversation on a camera or speaking in front of a mirror.

This step is especially important because talking about money can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but the more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel when it comes time to have the conversation.

5. Be Confident

Delivering your negotiation with confidence is as important as the words you say. The more confidence you convey, the more confident the employer will be in their consideration of your feedback.

Confidence—an appreciation of our own abilities and qualities—should not be confused with arrogance—an exaggerated sense of our importance.

Lack of confidence can also result in over-explaining or apologizing for your ask—neither of which is helpful in a negotiation scenario.

Instead, confidently and simply state your ask including a summary of your reasoning, and let your contact process your request thereafter.

Remember that you’re bringing an important set of skills and experience to the organization, and the pay an employer offers should account for the value you provide.

If you feel the employer’s original offer is below the value that aligns with your skills and experiences, have done market salary research, and have personal value data that supports your ask, have confidence in your decision to ask for more.

6. Ask for More

One fundamental rule of salary negotiation is to give the employer a slightly higher number than your goal.

This way, if they negotiate down, you’ll still end up with a salary offer you feel comfortable accepting.

If you provide a salary range, the employer will likely err on the lower end, so be sure the lowest number you provide is still an amount you feel is fair.

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7. Share Job-related Expenses you’re Incurring

Another reason you may ask for an increased salary is to cover any costs you’re accumulating by taking the job.

For example, if you’re relocating to a new city for the job, you’ll have to pay moving expenses as well as any costs associated with selling or leasing your current home.

If you’re taking a position further away from home, you’ll have to factor in commute expenses such as train fare or gas and wear and tear on your vehicle.

It’s not unusual for candidates to ask employers to adjust the salary to account for expenses related to accepting the position.

8. Be Flexible

Even if the employer cannot provide the salary amount you want, they may offer other forms of compensation.

For example, you may negotiate more stock options, extra vacation days, or additional work-from-home days to combat a lengthy commute.

Don’t be shy about asking for alternatives. Sometimes, they may be just as valuable (or more so) than a paycheck.

9. Don’t be Afraid to Walk Away

Sometimes, an employer may not meet your minimum salary requirement or offer additional benefits that make it worth your while.

Or the employer may counter-offer with a salary that’s higher than their first offer but not as high as your request. In this case, you’ll need to decide if the job is worth the lesser amount.

If it’s less stressful than your current position, closer to home, or offers you more flexibility or more free time, you may be open to taking a lower salary.

However, if not, you should away and seeking other opportunities elsewhere.

10. Express Gratitude

Once you reach the job offer phase of the hiring process, you’ve probably invested a great deal of time and energy applying and interviewing for the position.

The employer has also invested time in the process, so you must recognize this and thank them for considering you for the opportunity.

Be sure to share any specific reasons you’re excited about the job, such as the culture or the product.

Even if you end up declining the offer, it’s important to do so in a friendly and professional manner. After all, you never know what opportunities they may have available for you in the future.

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Salary Negotiation Examples

Here is how you might approach the situation if you want to begin the negotiation process via email:

Ms. Jackson,

Thank you for sending over the job offer package for the Marketing Director position. I want to state again how honored I am to be considered for this exciting position and appreciate you sharing these details.

Before I can accept your offer, I want to address the proposed compensation. As I shared with your recruiting manager, I have more than ten years of experience in digital marketing and have worked in leadership positions for the past six years.

In my last role, I increased the number of marketing influenced leads by nearly 40% year over year and helped secure the company a 25% higher annual revenue. Given my experience and expertise, I am seeking a salary in the range of $125,000 to $130,000, which is slightly higher than your offer of $115,000.

I know I can bring a great deal of value to ABC Company and help you exceed your revenue expectations this year. Please let me know when we can discuss the salary further.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Thank you,
Oliver Perez

Here is how you might approach the situation if you are negotiating face-to-face or via phone:

“Thank you for sending over the job offer package for the Regional Sales Manager position. First and foremost, I want to reiterate how excited I am about the opportunity. I believe in your product and know I could help you drive even greater results.

Before I accept the offer, I do want to address the proposed salary.

As I shared during the interview process, I have more than twelve years’ experience in sales, including eight years of experience in medical equipment sales, and two more years of management experience than stated in the job description.

In my last role, my team exceeded the monthly quota by 15% for two years in a row and landed three of the largest accounts in company history.

Given my background, I am seeking a salary in the range of $145,000 to $150,000. I am definitely open to discussing alternative compensation, such as opportunities for additional stock options or increased performance-based bonuses. I’d love to hear your thoughts.”

Salary negotiation is a critical step in the hiring process. By taking the time to talk through why you feel you need more compensation, you can help employers better understand the value you provide.

As with any new skill, the more you negotiate, the more you’ll improve, and the easier it will become.

By using the above tips to negotiate your salary, you can walk into the conversation confident, prepared, and ready to secure the pay you deserve.

Kindly share this with your friends and you won’t regret you did.

StudentsandScholarship Team.