How to Negotiate a Job Offer
An offer is the single moment in the whole process where the balance of power moves to you: they have chosen, they have told their manager, and starting again is expensive for them. Negotiating is not rudeness and it very rarely loses an offer that was real. The move is simple — thank them, ask for the offer in writing, take a day, then come back once with a specific number and a reason that is about the role rather than about your rent.
What is actually happening
The person calling you is usually not the person who owns the budget. They have a band with a floor and a ceiling, and almost always an approved range above their opening number. Your counter is not an argument with them; it is ammunition they carry back to someone else. Give them something they can repeat.
Say this
Adapt the bracketed parts. The shape is what matters.
- Buying yourself time: "Thank you, I am really pleased. Could you send that through in writing? I would like to read it properly and come back to you tomorrow."
- The counter: "I am excited about this role and I want to accept. Based on the scope we discussed — particularly owning the reporting side — I was hoping for [number]. Is there room to get there?"
- When they say the number is fixed: "I understand. If base is fixed, could we look at the signing bonus, the review date, or the holiday allowance instead?"
- Closing it: "If you can do [number], I am ready to sign today."
Rehearse this one part
The counter and the five seconds after it. Most people say the number, panic at the pause, and immediately negotiate against themselves — "but obviously I am flexible". Say the line out loud, then stay quiet, until the quiet stops feeling like something you have to fix.
Mistakes that cost money
The errors that quietly cost candidates money.
- Naming a number before they do, then discovering their range started higher.
- Justifying the ask with your costs. Rent, commute and childcare are real, and none of them are a reason the role is worth more.
- Negotiating over email only. Tone carries the whole thing; a written counter reads as a demand where a spoken one reads as a conversation.
- Filling the silence after you name your number. Say it, then stop talking.
- Accepting on the call because it felt awkward not to.
Frequently asked questions
Can negotiating lose me the offer?
It is rare for a genuine offer to be withdrawn because a candidate asked once, politely and specifically, for more. Employers expect a counter. What does damage an offer is negotiating repeatedly after they have already moved, or accepting and then reopening the conversation.
How much more should I ask for?
Ask for a specific figure you can justify from the scope of the role and the market range for it, not a round percentage above their offer. A specific number sounds researched; "could you do 10% more" sounds like a reflex.
Should I negotiate over email or on a call?
Say it on a call and confirm it in writing afterwards. A spoken counter lets you hear their reaction and adjust; an email counter is a fixed position with no tone attached to it.
What if I have no other offer?
You do not need a competing offer to negotiate, and you should never invent one. Anchor on the scope of the role and what the market pays for it. If they ask directly whether you have another offer, answer honestly.