How to Negotiate After a Written Offer

When you receive a written offer for a job, pay raise or settlement, and are not completely satisfied with it, contact the party making the offer as soon as possible to express your intent to negotiate an agreement that better fits your needs. If your received a time-sensitive offer, consider scheduling an in-person negotiation session so that you can work out the issues quickly. You can negotiate less pressing offers through written proposals and counter-proposals.

Instructions

1. Take time to think over the offer. Before you begin to negotiate a new offer, review the details of the initial proposal and assess its terms carefully, taking notes on what provisions you wish to modify during negotiations.

2. Determine your must-have items in an offer. As a basis for your negotiations, think about what items are absent from the initial offer that you must have and think about ways that it can be integrated into a new proposal.

3. Ascertain what it unacceptable to you. If you have any serious objections to any provisions the current offer, make a note of these and prepare to explain your reasoning.

4. Create a written counter offer. Using the initial written offer as a template, create a new document, integrating your proposed changes and additions. Send this new offer to all pertinent parties, along with a cover letter outlining your revisions.

5. Communicate regularly. As you prepare your counter offer and think about terms you would like in the new agreement, stay in contact with the other party so that they know that status of the agreement at all times.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unable to reach a new agreement, consider retaining a third-party mediator to help you negotiate your offer.

• If the negotiation involves a legal matter, ask your attorney to review all offers, counter-offers and proposals before making any verbal or written commitments.

References

• "Negotiation"; Roy Lewicki; 2005