How to Negotiate Pay on a Written Job Offer
When you receive a job offer in writing, you may be tempted to accept the position immediately at the pay rate that was offered. In this situation, you may instead want to negotiate the salary. If you are offered a job, it is typically because the company believes that you are the best person to fill it. You can use this to your advantage to attempt to get a higher salary before accepting the position.
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Instructions
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Conduct research to find out exactly what the company is looking for in the position that it is offering you. If the company is offering you a job that needs your exact skills, you have more leverage in the negotiations. If the company is simply taking a chance in offering the job to you and you are not highly qualified for the opening, you may not want to negotiate as much.
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Avoid mentioning how much you made at your last job or what you would accept. Instead focus on what the company is willing to pay you for the expertise that you bring to the table. When crafting your counter-offer, try to base the figure on what you believe you can get instead of the minimum amount you will take.
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Create a letter that asks the company for a specific salary that is higher than the one you were originally offered. When writing the letter, be specific and avoid asking for more money because you cannot live on the lower amount. Instead, focus on tangible reasons that you are worth more money to the company. Then give the letter to the employer.
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Wait for a response from the company after you send the letter. Do not be too eager to find out if the company accepted your offer. If you immediately start following up, you will look desperate. If the company really wants to hire you, it will either come back with a counteroffer, accept your offer or decline it. The company should respond to your offer in a timely manner if it truly wants you on board. If you get a counteroffer, you can decide if it is enough to justify accepting the position. If the company declines your offer, you may still be able to take the original offer, if it is acceptable. If the company rescinded the original offer, you will need to start looking for another job.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid accepting or declining a job offer too quickly. Spend some time considering the offer and the salary offered before making a counter-offer or declining.
