Within this starting salary negotiation example there are two sample scenarios
The hiring manager calls you and offers you a job at $40,000 yearly base salary plus benefits. Whether the offer is verbal or is in writing, it is best to conduct the negotiations verbally ( via phone or in person) and once you finalize, it is recommend getting an offer letter confirming all the offer details.
When a Company offers you a base salary of $40,000, they usually expect that you will ask for more and in most cases there is room to negotiate and move the salary higher. The exception to this is if a pre-determined salary has already been advertised.
Let’s say you would be happy with $45,000 plus benefits.
To best negotiate this, you would say something like “Thank you for your offer and I am certainly interested in the position and Company. Can I get back to you later this afternoon or first thing in the morning” (if it is already late afternoon). This gives you a chance to evaluate the salary offered and compare it to any other offer you may have.
Most likely the hiring manager will appreciate that you need some time to evaluate the situation.
So this time will allow you to evaluate the job offer, the whole salary package and most important, it allows you to plan your salary negotiation strategy. You may want to write down the steps.
Do not try to negotiate the base salary and the benefits at the same time, as you will probably miss out on one of them.. We suggest you start with the base salary negotiations. Once you agree on a base salary, negotiate additional benefits.
Depending on if you have another job offer, if you are currently working, job market conditions, how confident you are and a few other specific factors that vary with each situation and individual, you need to determine how much to ask for.
Per the above and depending on your individual circumstances you can ask for a specific figure between $45,000 and $50,000 plus additional benefits.
To get you to accept the job being offered, some employers will say that they will review your salary in six months. Be aware that while they probably will review your salary, they usually will only give you a pay rise if your performance is above their expectations & not based on how you would evaluate yourself. So once you start working for a company the normal pay rise criteria will apply to you, including budget restraints & strict approval procedures for high pay rises. Therefore, it is best to agree on a salary that you are happy with before you accept the offer.