How to Ask For a Salary Raise While Accepting a Job Offer
Asking for an increase to the salary while accepting a job offer is a normal part of negotiations when taking a job. In most cases, job candidates do not officially accept a position until they are comfortable with the salary or are convinced that more money isn’t possible. A candidate should not accept a position and then later contact the employer to ask for a salary increase. That’s why it is important to carefully research salary information for the position before accepting the job.
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Instructions
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Tell the employer that you want the job but would like to discuss the salary. Emphasize that you are going to accept the position but you believe that the job should pay more. Ask for a day or two to study the offer and get back to the employer.
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Get salary information for positions similar to the job you are about to accept. Consult online guides such as CBsalary.com and The Riley Guide. Also, if possible, talk with people in your professional and social networks who hold similar jobs. Tell them about your offer and level of experience as you seek opinions on asking for more money. Other possible sources for salary information include the career center at your college or university and industry associations.
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Call the hiring manager or recruiter after completing your homework. Start the conversation by once again making it clear that you want the job. Then spend a few minutes making a strong argument for why the job should pay more. Base your argument on your research. For example, tell the recruiter that you have consulted with online salary guides and working professionals and they agree that this particular job should pay about $5,000 more than the company is offering. Tell the recruiter that you would like the company to increase its offer based on the information.
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Ask for a $2,500 salary increase and two salary reviews the first year if the recruiter balks at increasing the salary to $5,000. Two salary reviews instead of one could help you reach your salary target in 12 months.
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Negotiate other compensation-related terms if a salary increase is not possible. For example, ask for a $5,000 sign-on bonus and semi-annual reviews. The sign-on bonus is a compromise that the company can consider a one-time payment while keeping your salary at the level offered. You win by boosting your overall compensation in the first year. The semi-annual salary reviews could provide even more money. Accept the position after negotiating the best deal you can reach.
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