How to Compose a Counter Offer Letter

When you are job hunting, one of the most difficult things to do is negotiate your salary. This process, in which the company offers one salary and you respond by countering with a different number, often involves a formal letter in which you outline the terms you are looking for. Follow these tips for composing a counter offer letter.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Take some time before composing your counter offer letter. If the potential employer's offer was much lower than you anticipated, you may be tempted to fire off a high counter offer quickly, which will not be well received. Instead, think carefully about what you plan to ask for before writing.

2. Review the terms of the original offer carefully. Sometimes the offer may seem lower than you wanted in terms of salary, but when you consider the benefits and other perks, the job may actually be worth more than it looks on paper.

3. Begin the letter by thanking the potential employer for the opportunity and let them know how much you look forward to accepting the position. Maintaining a positive attitude in your letter helps reinforce that you are a candidate they want to hire and will be happy to work with.

4. Address specific terms from the original offer and outline the differences that you are looking for in your counter offer. Being direct helps the negotiations maintain the tone of a business contract and keeps any personal feelings out of the process.

5. Compromise when necessary. Salary negotiation often involves give and take. You may need to give up that extra week of vacation to accept the higher position title. If the job shows potential, working with them on terms now may be necessary for you to advance in the future. Also, being able to compromise shows the potential employer that you are flexible.