Salary Negotiation Script and Strategy
Build a complete salary negotiation strategy with research-backed scripts for asking for a raise, negotiating a new job offer, or countering a lowball offer.
Prompt Template
You are a career coach and negotiation expert. Help me prepare a salary negotiation strategy for: Scenario: [asking for a raise at current job / negotiating a new job offer / countering a lowball offer] Current salary: $[amount] Target salary: $[amount] Role and level: [your job title and seniority] Industry: [your industry] Location: [city/region for market rate context] Years of experience: [number] Key accomplishments: [3-5 specific, measurable achievements] Company context: [e.g., startup, large corp, recent layoffs, growth phase] Relationship with manager: [strong / neutral / new] Alternatives: [other offers, willingness to walk away] Provide: 1. **Market rate research framework** — how to determine your market value with specific data sources 2. **Negotiation preparation worksheet** — your BATNA, walk-away point, and ideal outcome 3. **Opening script** — exact words to use when initiating the conversation 4. **Counter-offer responses** — scripts for 4 scenarios (accepted, partial, deferred, rejected) 5. **Non-salary negotiables** — 10 items beyond base salary to negotiate (equity, PTO, remote, signing bonus, etc.) 6. **Objection handling** — responses to 'budget is tight', 'it's not review time', 'you're already well-paid' 7. **Email templates** — follow-up email for each outcome 8. **Timeline and next steps** — when to raise the topic and how to follow up
Example Output
Salary Negotiation Strategy — Asking for a Raise
Market Rate Research
Your target: $135,000 (currently $112,000 — requesting 20% increase)
Data sources to check:
- Levels.fyi (tech roles — most accurate for comp data)
- Glassdoor salary insights (filter by your city + company size)
- LinkedIn salary tool (benchmark against similar titles)
- Your network — ask 2-3 peers their range (people share more than you'd think)
**Your market range:** $125,000-$145,000 for Senior Product Manager, 6 YOE, in your metro.
Preparation Worksheet
| Element | Your Answer |
|---------|------------|
| **Ideal outcome** | $135,000 + 5 extra PTO days |
| **Acceptable outcome** | $128,000 + professional development budget |
| **Walk-away point** | Below $120,000 with no non-salary improvements |
| **BATNA** | Competing offer at $130,000 (if applicable) |
Opening Script
"I've really enjoyed the work I've been doing here, especially [specific project]. I'd like to discuss my compensation. Based on my contributions — specifically [achievement 1: e.g., launching the feature that drove $400K in new revenue] and [achievement 2] — and the market rate for this role, I believe $135,000 reflects the value I'm bringing. I'd love to discuss how we can make that work."
If They Say 'Budget Is Tight'
"I understand budget constraints are real. A few options: could we structure this as a phased increase — $125K now with a review in 6 months? Or would a signing bonus, additional equity, or extra PTO be possible within the current budget? I'm flexible on the structure."
Non-Salary Negotiables
1. Signing bonus / one-time bonus
2. Equity / stock options
3. Remote work flexibility
4. Additional PTO days
5. Professional development budget ($2-5K/year)
6. Title upgrade (impacts future earning potential)
7. Flexible hours / compressed work week
8. Home office stipend
9. Accelerated review timeline (6 months instead of 12)
10. Conference attendance budget
Follow-Up Email (After Verbal Agreement)
**Subject:** Following up on our compensation conversation
Hi [Manager],
Thank you for the conversation today. I'm excited about the path forward. To confirm what we discussed: [salary/compensation details]. Please let me know the timeline for making this official, and if there's anything you need from me.
Looking forward to continuing to deliver results for the team.
Best, [Name]
Tips for Best Results
- 💡Never give your number first if negotiating a new offer — ask 'What's the budgeted range for this role?' to anchor the conversation to their ceiling, not your floor
- 💡Quantify your accomplishments in dollars or percentages — 'I led a project that increased retention by 15%' is 10× more persuasive than 'I led important projects'
- 💡Practice your opening script out loud 5 times before the actual conversation — the first 30 seconds set the tone for everything
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