How to Negotiate Salary After Receiving a Job Offer Letter?

The feeling of excitement you get after receiving a job offer letter is unexplainable, especially if you have undergone a lengthy and grueling interview process. However, your excitement may run short as soon as you realize that the salary offered is not what you had in mind or expected. When this happens, you should know how to negotiate salary in order to accept the job offer confidently.

While most job applicants do not negotiate the salaries offered in a job offer letter, the majority of employers actually do leave room for salary negotiation. Therefore, as a candidate, negotiating the salary for the new job should be done skillfully and carefully. 

Replying to the job offer letter should be the first step in a salary negotiation. Most employers prefer to negotiate salary via email, so reply using the same means that the offer letter was sent. Others who choose phone call communication should also negotiate salary over the phone.

Also known as a counteroffer, your new salary proposal should be received well by the employer. The last thing they want to do is reject it and go over the recruitment process again. 

What to Say When Negotiating Salary

First of all, you have to be grateful when responding to a job offer letter. Remember that many candidates out there are fighting for this spot, and in reality, you are also striving for it. The only difference is that you want more salary than the one offered by the employer. 

Your counteroffer must be written in the right tone to ensure that the employer positively receives it and the job offer negotiations run smoothly. To ensure a successful salary negotiation, here are what to say or include in your counter offer letter.

1. Obviously, it is only polite to start your job offer negotiations with a humble and straightforward greeting to the hiring manager or employer. Coming in guns blazing will not do you any good.
2. Add a gratitude and excitement statement expressing how impressed you are to be considered for the position. You can refer to salary negotiation conversation examples to polish your skills in job negotiations. 
3. Explain to them the value you will bring to their organization should they increase your salary. State the amount that you are counter-offering and state that you are open for more negotiation.
4. End your counter offer letter with additional gratitude expressing how you appreciate being considered for the position. Also, let the employer or hiring manager know that you are eagerly waiting to see what the future holds should you reach an agreement and get hired. 

Salary Negotiation Tips

Now that you have an idea of how to counter offer salary, it is up to you to understand the rules for negotiating a salary in order to win over the hiring manager. You have to be worthy of a salary increase, or else your efforts will only become futile and affect your chances of getting hired. So, for them to believe and be convinced that you are worth the salary you propose, consider the following tips for negotiating salary. 

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  Conduct Your Market Research 

  
  

Before you send a counter offer letter, you should understand the salary rates that other employees holding similar positions in various companies are receiving as compensation. For instance, online sites like Payscale work best for individuals looking for such information. You can also ask other employees in the industry about their thoughts to ensure that your salary adjustment request is within the correct range. 

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  Be Grateful

  
  

Although this element was noted above, it is worth repeating for you to understand how essential it is in a counteroffer job letter. Express your gratitude to the hiring manager and let them know that you are excited and hope to enjoy your stay with them. Make them understand that as much as you are excited about the job, you still aren’t comfortable with their salary offer. 

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  Be Clear Expressing Your Value

  
  

Ensure that you leave no stone unturned when explaining why you believe you deserve the salary you are proposing. Remind your potential employer of the reasons why they chose you over other applicants. For example, note any additional coursework that has made you more skillful to perform a task. If you have over-the-top recommendation letters from former employers, you can also include them in your counter offer letter.

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  Ask for More Than You Want

  
  

Your salary adjustment proposal should be higher than what you actually want so that in case the employer comes back with a different proposition. In this regard, it will be easier for you to reach a middle ground. However, be careful with the amount you propose since you do not want to scare away the employer. Ensure it is within the industry’s salary range. 

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  Be Open for Employee Benefits Negotiation

  
  

Some employers do not provide room for salary negotiations, and when this happens, you can opt to negotiate employee benefits in order to bridge the gaps. Benefits like paid time off, health benefits packages, and work schedules can be negotiated with a potential employer. 

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  Consider What to do Incase Your Counter Offer is Turned Down

  
  

Do not send a counter offer blindly without a plan or understanding of what you will do if the employer refuses to accept or negotiate your offer. Know your worth and decide whether you will walk away or stay in this regard. Factors like benefits, industry, job market, and more should be what to consider in case your counteroffer is rejected. 

Learning how to negotiate salary after offer letter is the first step towards salary negotiations. Before you counteroffer an original job offer, use the salary calculator to understand the total amount you will take home after the necessary deductions have been made. It also gives you the confidence to negotiate for a pay increase based on additional skills you will bring into the organization. That being said, follow the above guideline and tips to negotiate for a better package that you deserve.