How to Get a $10,000+ Salary Increase with a Email Script

Since I released my book Five Minutes to a Higher Salary last year, I've gotten emails from my readers on how they've used my book's 60+ killer salary negotiation scripts (email and phone) to help them get more money.

One reader successfully negotiated a 10% increase for his six-figure salary, and I received his permission to share his negotiation lessons learned here.

Good luck with your negotiation,

Lewis C. Lin

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I read your book, Five Minutes to a Higher Salary, the night before I was waiting for the offer from [Fortune 500 company]. I did manage to get the original offer increased by 10% and I will be joining next Monday.

Here are my takeaways from the book and other readings:

1. It's definitely best to not disclose your current salary and expected salary. It has no upside for you as a candidate. The only upsides are for hiring managers and recruiters who now know your min and max limits.

- In my case, I had mentioned my current base, but thankfully, did not mention the expectation.

2. Do ask for a raise. Worst case, you will get a No. Best case, you will get one. Most people do not counter.

- I did, and got one.

3. Do not react to the informal offers from the recruiters via phone or email. Wait for the formal letter before doing your due diligence and responding on your own time.

- I was intent on not reacting on phone, and mentioned that I would like to wait for the formal letter. The recruiter insisted twice and I unfortunately gave in and mentioned about expecting a higher base. Sure enough, he triggered a revision of the offer on his own and I never actually got a chance to "formally" counter the offer. I feel I could have gotten a better revision if I had the chance to do it my way...No wonder the recruiter moved quickly! :-)

4. Do not wait until the night before the offer to get up to speed on how to negotiate offers!

- Customer, Five Minutes to a Higher Salary

Photo credit: Ulisse Albiati, Lewis C. Lin

2 Follow Up *Must Do's* with the Recruiter After the Interview

Recruiters and hiring managers are super busy.

Just imagine, the average recruiter has 12-15 open roles to fill...multiply that by the # of candidates, internal interviewers they have to manage, resumes they have to review...you get the idea.

Long story short, it's VERY common that they'll drop the ball or drag their feet on your candidacy.

To prevent having them drop the ball, you need to do two things:

1. Check in frequently
2. Build your perceived value

How do you do that tactically? Here are my recommendations:

Check In

"Hello ______! I enjoyed chatting with the team on Monday. You told me I'd hear back from you on Wednesday, so I'm just sending you a friendly email today (Thursday) to see where things are at."

Build Perceived Value

"Hello ______! I just wanted to check in with our interview last week. I'm preparing for my on-site interview with Google tomorrow, but I just can't help but think I'd much rather work for Facebook, which has a lot more ________."

Photo credit: Sebastiaan ter Burg

How to Learn Something Fast

To have a successful career, you'll have to learn and master new domain knowledge...all the time.

A couple years ago, I read Tim Ferris' book on rapid knowledge acquisition, and I absolutely loved his concepts. I've summarized my favorite takeaways from his book below.

Start with DSSS

DSSS, or DS3, is an acronym on how to learn quickly. It stands for:

• Deconstruction. Identify the minimal (learning) building blocks you need to know.
• Selection. Of those building blocks, what 20% do you need to focus on to get 80% of the outcome? A 1 page cheat sheet is a great deliverable to distill and select the most important concepts.
• Sequencing. What order should I learn these topics? Sequencing is important because it not only increases learning efficiency but also minimizes learning frustration. (And giving up is a surefire way to NOT learn something fast.)
• Stakes. What kind of consequences or rewards should I setup to follow through on my learning?

Good Questions to Learn Something Fast

Shoulders of Giants Questions

To help deconstruct the key learning building blocks quickly, start by identifying the top thought leaders in the domain (the giants). Here are some good questions to do so:

1. Who are the most impressive, lesser-known teachers?
2. What are the most impressive, lesser-known books in the space?
3. Who are the top 3 thought leaders in the space?
4. What are the top 3 books that industry experts have on their bookshelf?
5. What are the best instructional books on this subject?

Forced Choice Questions

To help select which 20% you should learn, here are some clever questions to get that more quickly:

1. If I could only do X things to get better in this area, what would that be?
2. If I had only 24 hours to prepare for competition where I have to perform X for a shot at winning a $1,000,000, what Y things should I do?

Mistake Questions

To help sequence your learning effectively, ask mistake questions:

• First, what are the biggest mistakes novices make when learning X? What are the biggest misuses of time?
• Even at the pro level, what mistakes are the most common?

Photo credit: Rijans007

Salary Negotiation Expert

Have an upcoming salary negotiation?

Use our negotiation service.

The easiest way to get better job offers. Guaranteed.

Negotiation is Painful

That's why we reinvented it. We believe in getting what you deserve without stress and anxiety. So we've created a service where we do all the work for you!

 If you've ever wanted to tell the recruiter, "Talk to my agent." Hire us. Just like Hollywood's power negotiators, we'll take care of the details while getting you more.

Just Follow the Script

How do we do this? If you're negotiating via email, we'll craft customized negotiation phrases that you can cut-and-paste. And when you get the response, we'll repeat the process until you get the salary you deserve. No need to worry about how negotiation works, what to say, or whether you're leaving money on the table. Leave that to us.

If you're negotiating via phone, our customized negotiation scripts will also pay off. You'll know the exact words to open the negotiation and be prepared to counter their tactics.

Guarantee

Our salary negotiation experts are just that: experts. We are so confident in our service that if we do not get you at least a $1000 increase in your job offer, we'll refund your money. That's no risk to you!

About Our Chief Salary Negotiator

LEWIS C. LIN is the Chief Negotiator of salaryBoost.

Formally trained in negotiations at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Lewis is responsible for providing his formal negotiation expertise and training to every client engagement. He’s known for negotiating a 75% salary increase in his last corporate role.

He authored the bestselling salary negotiation book, Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.

His favorite negotiation tip: know what you’re worth. If you don’t know your value, you’ll never know if you’ve asked for too little or pushed for too much.

In his free time, Lewis plays tennis, enjoys board games, and loves speaking in front of audiences, including his latest negotiation talk at Ignite Seattle, Negotiate Like an Angry Bride.

Here's What Others Say About Lewis

With one email and your four magic words, you got me additional stock worth $7,000. - O.C.

I got a raise! Lewis' insights and perspective were eye-opening. I could not have gotten this increase without his negotiation scripts and experienced advice. I highly recommend Lewis for your next job offer. You will regret it if you don't. - R.O.

I got a 100X ROI working with Lewis. Needless to say, best career investment ever. Not even the best IPO could get you that return. - D.F.

Lewis had fantastic insight into negotiation dynamics. I achieved a win-win situation with my salary compensation. - M.C.

Following your script, I got a raise on my base and more on-hire stock grants. What a experience! Thank you so much Lewis.  - S.W.

Fees for Our Salary Negotiation Service

Frequently Asked Questions about the Salary Negotiation Service

How long will this process take?

The length of the process depends largely on the speed of your employer. While we can gather your information and create the initial negotiation script in a couple of days, the length that your employer returns a counteroffer may create delays in the process.

Can you negotiate benefits other than the salary?

Yes. We can negotiate for any benefits that are a part of your compensation package. This includes bonuses, vacation time, and stock options. 

Do you negotiate raises in current jobs as well?

Absolutely! Many of the same principles of a salary negotiation at an initial job offering also apply to raise reviews. Just tell us your situation and we can customize the analysis and script for you.

I don't know my market value. Can you still help me?

Of course! You just need to fill out a questionnaire and answer some follow up questions about yourself. Then we'll do the research to ensure that you're getting a fair deal.

Can you tell me more about your guarantee?

The offer applies only for salaries $50,000 and above, so no hourly work either. The $1000 increase applies to either annual base salary or a signing bonus. You can send refund submissions with a copy of your original offer letter along with your first pay stub. If we have clear evidence that your pay has not increased, we will send you a refund check within 60-90 days. Altered offer letters, pay stubs, and other documentation will be refused.

Photo credits to Tracy O, Stefan Neuweger, Ramunas Geciauskas, Lauren Manning, Kent, NTNU Trondheim, Ariana Matos, Andrea Sugden, St0rmz from Flickr.

4 Situations Where You Shouldn't Negotiate Your Salary

This guest post from Christine Ko, my co-author for our latest salary negotiation book, Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.

If you have read the post titled "4 Motivating Reasons Why You Should Negotiate Your Salary", you know that negotiating your salary is crucial to your financial development. However, there a few special circumstances when it is wise not to do so. 

If you have already accepted the offer and it is close to a fair salary.

Sometimes, going back to the negotiation table isn’t worth the extra money you could get. If you have already accepted the offer, going back to ask for just a little more will make you seem greedy. It could ruin your goodwill with the employer, so make sure that going back to negotiations after you accepted the offer is worth the time and the risk.

If they offer you the top of your range (or more).

You don’t want your recruiter to think that you’re just in it for the money, so don’t ask for more if they give you a job offer with a salary on the high end of what you asked for. If you give them a range of your salary expectations and they graciously agree to pay you at the top of your range, don’t try to haggle for more. Accept the win instead.

If the other benefits need more attention.

Salary isn’t the only thing up for negotiation. Other benefits can be vital to your financial situation as well. Some of the obvious ones are bonuses and stock options, but there are other creative solutions as well. Have you thought about the commute and how it could be reduced or subsidized if it is really long? Maybe you want to go back to school and would like some help with tuition. There are ways that you can improve your financial situation when just a salary increase won’t help.

If you actually don’t want the job.

This may be tough to hear, but even in a sluggish economy, taking a job offer you don’t want just because of the money can be a debilitating career choice. In the long run, negotiating for a bigger salary in a company you don’t like is just a waste of time for you and your employer. After all, adding sugar to a bad lemonade still makes it bad lemonade. While it might seem worth it in the short term, the long term consequences aren’t that great. You could get stuck within the company, not able to escape because the money is too good to pass up. You could feel discouraged in the company and start to deliver poor performance because you don’t love your job, leading to termination. You could quickly jump ship and leave the company, but a short time period at a previous company is suspicious to recruiters in the future. While paychecks are important, it may be worth your time to search for opportunities that you truly care about.

These are definitely unique situations that don't apply to everybody. If you're not in any of these situations but still need to be convinced why you should negotiate, check out our previous blog post titled "4 Motivating Reasons Why You Should Negotiate Your Salary."

Photo credit to Guercio

Top 10 Best Jobs for Veterans

For veterans, transitioning from the military to civilian life can be a difficult process. One of the most difficult parts of the process can be finding a new job. Some veterans think that their years of service just look like a gap in their employment history, a turnoff to private companies. However, serving in the military often gives you a chance to learn new skills, such as leadership, IT, and medicine – valuable skills in the private sector. So include your service in your resume and make sure your potential employers know what you’re capable of.

This begs another question: where should I look for a job to apply these skills?

Let’s look at the 10 best jobs for veterans. This information is from CareerCast. All stated salaries are average medians.

1. Training and Development Manager: $95,400
Transferable skills: Problem solving, crisis management

2. Industrial Production Manager: $89,910
Transferable skills: Leadership and team building

3. Software Engineer: $85,430
Transferable skills: Information technology skills from the military

4. Construction Program Manager: $82,790
Transferable skills: Leadership, team building, exposure to heavy machinery

5. Administrative Services Manager: $81,080
Transferable skills: Team building, oversight

6. Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer: $54,530
Transferable skills: Real world experience installing and maintaining sophisticated telecommunications equipment for the military

7. Industrial Engineering Technician: $50,890
Transferable skills: efficiency insights and exposure to heavy machinery

8. Paralegal and Legal Assistant: $46,990
Transferable skills: On-the-job training sometimes given to military members during service

9. Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver: $38,200
Transferable skills: Willingness to be on the road, reliability

10. Emergency Medical Technician: $31,020
Transferable skills: Medical skills learned while in the military

These positions are specific and may be listed because of a growing industry. However, there are many jobs that require the same skills as the ones listed here with different position names and in different industries, so don’t be tied down to these specific positions. This list is to show that there are opportunities out there for veterans and that your skills are valuable.

You can read the full article here.

Photo credit to Maryland GovPics

Top 10 Reasons to Get an Internship During College

Nowadays, people seem to get internships in college just because they’re told they should. However, there are plenty of reasons why it’s a good idea to get an internship before you graduate.

1. Put professional experience on your resume
College is the intermediate step between the part-time high school jobs and a full fledged career, so you should make sure that you gain the necessary experience along the way. Since your high school employment history filled with babysitting and working minimum wage part time jobs won’t impress a recruiter looking to fill a full-time position, get more professional experience to include in your resume.

2. Show you have ambition
If you’re working full-time at an internship while everyone else is lounging on the beach, you’ve gained a competitive advantage. By giving up your summers to learn new skills and gain experience, you’re proving that you’re ambitious and ready for a career.

3. Network
No matter how small the company, you’re going to meet people interested in the same things you are and already working in the industry you might want to join. That’s what makes an internship a great place to network. Many people find jobs and opportunities through the people they have met, so meeting your co-workers and having them as contacts could open a lot of new doors.

4. Make new friends
People often overlook the social benefits of doing an internship. Your coworkers often become close friends that you go out to lunch with, attend company events, and have over for dinner every once in a while. Making friends that are going through the same challenges you are can be very rewarding as well. You can support and encourage each other to continue to pursue the career you want.

5. Make money
While most internships pay little or no money, you can still make thousands of dollars during your summer. For example, if you work at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for 40 hours a week for 12 weeks, you’ll make $3,480 before taxes.

6. Learn what you like
Think you want to work in a certain industry? Get an internship in it! For a short three months, you can plunge into a career that you’re interested in and get a real honest look at what that career might look like. You can take all the classes on the subject you want, but you won’t be able to truly learn if it’s right for you. Once you try it, you might find that it’s exactly what you’re looking for.

7. Learn what you don’t like
On the other hand, you might learn that the career you’re previewing is not right for you. What you imagined the career would be isn’t what you’re getting in the internship. While some of the aspects you don’t like could be because of the certain company, you’ll be able to see if the core parts of the job don’t fit what you’re looking for. After all, it’s better to find out that you don’t like a job during a short three month internship than once you get a permanent position after graduation.

8. Learn new skills
You can learn a lot about an industry through school, but there is also a lot you won’t be able to learn just by sitting in a classroom. Diving into the professional world and completing an internship gives you relevant, real world experience that can set you apart from the other candidates. You can learn the actual skills it takes to succeed in a career, making you a more attractive candidate in the future.

9. Find a mentor
If a company provides an internship, then they want to invest in the education and learning experience of students. That means that your coworkers and managers are probably interested in your own learning too. By working over the summer, they already know that you’re ambitious, you’re interested in their industry, are eager to learn new things, and that you need guidance because you’re new. Try talking to your coworkers and boss about your interests and career goals and see if anyone is willing to be your mentor. A good mentor can be an invaluable resource. They can help you learn the skills you need and find you great opportunities to advance your career.

10. Turn it into a full time offer
Your success in an internship can often lead to being offered a full time position in the company. During your internship, the company learned a lot about you. They learned about your work ethic, commitment, skills, and other characteristics that they couldn’t have learned without working directly with you. Since they’ve seen what you can do, the company is more likely to offer you a full time position than someone outside the organization with similar credentials. It’s also a plus for you because you don’t have to go through the job search, the interview process, or entry level training.

Even if you don’t get a full time offer at the end of your internship, your experiences have given you qualifications to flaunt when you apply for other job offers.

Photo credit to Visha Angelova

The Pros and Cons of Salary Transparency

There has been a flurry of talk recently about the words “Salary Transparency”. At first glance, it seems intimidating. Salary transparency? As in my salary will be transparent? That’s exactly what it means. Everyone’s salary in the company is available for everyone else to see.

Sound dreadful? 
Well, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, there are a lot of great aspects of salary transparency that might not be too obvious.

Pro 1: Allows discussion of salary

You can’t improve the wage gap or even increase your own salary if you can’t talk about it with your manager. With salary transparency, it invites people to look over their own salary, compare it to others, and encourage people to talk about it. Once it’s no longer taboo, people can start to fix wage inequalities.

Pro 2: Will clear up any suspicions that they’re being underpaid

If they see that other employees of the same position are being paid more, they can bring it up to their supervisor. Without the transparency, employees may not know that they’re not getting a fair deal. If the higher paid employees are being fairly paid more, the supervisor can explain why that is the case. If employees know why they’re being paid a certain salary, it will also lead to more job satisfaction.

Pro 3: More job satisfaction

If employees can talk about their salaries and get explanations for their wages, they’ll know that they're being paid a fair salary. Once they know that, they can focus on their work and have greater job satisfaction.

Pro 4: Encourages competition

Everyone wants a better salary, so lower paid employees will strive to be more productive in order to get higher wages if they know what skills translate to more money. By opening up the company to salary discussions, employees can talk with their boss about how they can improve and move up the ranks.

While there are some great pros of salary transparency, there are some negative aspects that need to be considered.

Con 1: People might feel embarrassed

If your company has operated with confidential salaries for a long time, suddenly switching to a transparent salary system may be too shocking and embarrassing for current employees. Salaries need to adjust before revealing them or else there may be a riot over disparate salaries.

Con 2: Time consuming

Transparent salary cultures tend to take more time discussing salary than companies with secret salaries. While it is a positive aspects that transparency encourages discussion, it also means that the company will take more precious time than usual to talk about salaries.

With the world and the workplace changing, companies need to consider non-traditional ideas to implement into their culture and business.

With both pros and cons to consider, should new companies implement salary transparency? 

While you’re there, check out our salary negotiation cheat sheet with tips about salary negotiations.

Photo credit to Mast3rod

4 Reasons Why You Should Negotiate your salary

This guest post from Christine Ko, my co-author for our latest salary negotiation book, Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.

Everyone has heard a child whine "do I really need to?" about an unappealing task. But just like he needs to go to school and eat his vegetables, you really do need to negotiate your salary. Here are some pretty convincing reasons why.

You’ll make more money

The main reason you should negotiate your salary is obvious – to increase it. The company isn’t going to fight on your behalf, so it is up to you to ask for what you want. Companies usually put a little wiggle room in the salaries that they offer as well, so you don’t have to assume that the salary is fixed.

A little extra: Don’t sound demanding or entitled, even if you really do believe you deserve a certain compensation package. Being polite and professional will help you get there.

And in case you still need more reasons...

You’ll earn your recruiter’s respect

Negotiating your salary can impress your recruiter, especially if done professionally and effectively. They want to know how competent and confident you are, so showcasing your achievements as reasons for a raise is an excellent tactic to impress your recruiter.

A little extra: Make sure your reasons are relevant and true. A fake accomplishment can jeopardize your job offer.

You’ll fall behind in wages if you don’t

Once you get your first salary in a company, all future raises will be based on the initial one. That is why it is important to earn a fair salary from the very beginning. Even if everyone in your team gets a 5% raise, you’ll still be underpaid if you were underpaid from the start.

A little extra: On the other hand, if you negotiate for a fair initial salary, you’ll start riding the upward spiral, where a good salary in the beginning leads to bigger and better ones down the road.

You’ll feel more valued in the company

Being underpaid is not a motivating influence. In fact, in the long run, you’ll feel underappreciated and feel resentment toward your company. You and your employer both want you to feel satisfied with the company, and a fair salary is one way to make sure you want to stay.

A little extra: Of course, being paid a fair salary means you have to show that you deserve it. That means no slacking off! You told your recruiter you deserve more, so make sure that they don’t regret it. It could hurt your chances later on.

Photo credit: Bhaskar Peddhapati

Best Negotiation Practice Exercises

SEE ALSO: 60+ Killer Salary Negotiation Scripts

This guest post from Christine Ko, my co-author for our latest salary negotiation book, Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.

Want to practice your negotiation skills? You probably shouldn’t use your salary negotiation for practice, so let’s look at some ways you can get comfortable negotiating in low stress, low pressure situations.

The Farmer’s Market

Why: Unlike at a superstore, you’re probably buying from the owners of the farm at the farmer’s market. Since they own the merchandise, they decide which prices to set their products.

How: If you see that a particular item you want is not selling well, try to see if they’ll accept a lower price for it. After all, getting something out of a product is better than getting nothing. 
If you’re buying multiple items from the same vendor, ask if they’ll give you a bulk discount.
If you’re buying with cash when they accept cards, ask if you can get a small discount by paying in cash instead of credit so that they don’t have to pay any transaction fees.
If you’re shopping near the close of the farmer’s market, check out any vendors that still have perishables for sale, such as produce or food products. Since these items will not last very long, the vendors will often want to sell their product for some money instead of tossing all the items in the dumpster.

Goal - Practice this skill: Know the best timing to start negotiations. A farmer's market is often a bustling center of activity, so it's important to know when to negotiate and when to walk away. For example, if there's a line behind you at a vendor's stall and they all want a certain item, it's not the time to negotiate it. They simply don't need to negotiate because there are plenty of people to buy. Timing is also important when considering perishable items. As stated above, it's crucial to wait until the farmer's market is nearly over to start negotiating on products with a short shelf life or else they won't have an incentive to sell their products cheaply.

An Apartment

Why: Empty rooms will cost the landlord money whether it is occupied or not, so they definitely have an incentive to have tenants. It helps if you already live in the building and have a clean rental record. It is a lot more work for the landlord to get a new tenant than keep an existing one, so they can usually wiggle the rent a little bit to keep you there.

How: Research other similar apartment buildings in the area and compare prices. You can also hint that you’re considering moving out and not renewing your lease. If you don’t get complaints filed against you and you pay your rent on time, it is risky for the landlord to lose you in case he/she gets an unruly tenant in your place.

Goal - Practice this skill: Go to the negotiation prepared with your BATNA (Best Alternatives to a Negotiated Agreement). Find other apartments you can rent in case negotiations don't go your way. You should always have backup options. 

Garage Sales

Why: People usually hold garage sales for two reasons.

1) To get rid of stuff they don’t want or need
2) To make some quick cash
3) To make room in the house or lighten their belongings before a move

In short, they want this stuff gone.

How: If you buy more than one item, ask them to give you a discount. Always quote lower than what you’re willing to pay because they’ll probably try to make you a counter offer. Just ask “Will you take $X for this?”

Goal - Practice this skill: Try seeing the negotiation from the other party's perspective. Imagine that you want the golf clubs that your neighbor is selling. You can ask them plainly "What will you do with the golf clubs if nobody buys them?" They might say "I could sell them online for $50, but I'd rather do it here so I don't have to ship it across the country." Now you have a little more information and you can offer $55 for the golf clubs knowing that their backup option is getting $50. 

Furniture Store

Why: furniture stores often mark up their prices so that when there is a sale, it looks like a great deal. Furniture styles also go out of fashion quickly, so having inventory quickly leave the floor is important. Another factor: commissions. A big reduction for you might mean a small reduction in their commission: something that a sales agent is willing to do if they really need a sale.

How: Mention any small defects that you notice in the furniture. While it might not really matter to you, the sales agent might give you a discount to make up for it. Another tactic is to look for a style/color/model that the store currently doesn’t have in stock. Act like you really wanted that specific type, but you’re willing to “settle” for a different style/color/model if the price was a little cheaper.

Goal - Practice this skill: Give up something you don't care about to get something you do care about. In this scenario, you give up something you don't care about (a perfect, defect-free, in style, exact color couch) for something you do care about (a cheap but quality couch). 

With Internet/Cable/Cell phone Provider

Why: The reason you can negotiate these bills is similar to why you can negotiate your rent: it’s easier for them to renew a contract than to find a new customer. They want to keep you as a customer because you’ll probably renew your contract again and buy more products and services from them.

How: Research the other providers in your area and compare prices. If you see better prices at another company, ask your preferred company if they can match it. You can also threaten to not renew the contract and buy from another company.

Goal - Practice this skill: Be willing to listen. With internet/cable/cell phone, not all providers all the same. While in general they provide the same service, there will be differences in their implementation. Maybe you found that another provider has lower prices, but when you reach out to a customer representative of your current provider, they tell you that the difference in price is due to a difference in speed or reliability. If you solely focus on what you know and not on what the other party says as well, you're missing out on valuable information. Perhaps once you know your current provider is faster and more reliable, you'll want to continue purchasing from them even if they are more expensive. 

Negotiation is a skill that you can foster in many situations. Practicing these skills and tactics will make you more likely to
a) be more comfortable negotiating
b) learn new tactics as you come across new situations
c) recognize situations where negotiation is possible.

Good luck and let us know if you successfully negotiated in any of these situations! We would love to hear from you.

SEE ALSO: 60+ Killer Salary Negotiation Scripts

Photo credit to Flazingo Photos, kaybee07, Wicker Paradise

Salary Negotiation Script: Higher Pay Bracket

Here's a salary negotiation script to negotiate for a higher pay bracket.

Want more samples? Check out salary negotiation scripts from Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you for offering me the Software Developer position. I’m very excited to start contributing to Company Z.

Before I can accept however, I would like to discuss the company policy of pay brackets. I understand that I have more experience and qualifications than other developers in my team which is why I was placed at the top of pay bracket 4. However, it is more difficult to switch pay brackets than moving up in the same pay bracket. Therefore I would like to request being placed at the bottom of pay bracket 5.

Although the salary is a little lower than my current offer, I plan to stay for a long time, so I would like a better chance of getting raises. I’m confident that I can bring a lot of value to the company; I hope that we can come to a mutual agreement.

Thank you,

Potential Hire

Want more samples? Check out salary negotiation scripts from Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.

Salary Negotiation Script: Cost of Living Adjustment

Here's a salary negotiation script to negotiate for a cost of living adjustment.

Dear Mr. Boss,

I’m excited to relocate to New York and join a new team within the company. I see this new location as an enriching learning opportunity. I’m confident that I will be a new valuable team member in New York City.

However, New York has a much higher cost of living than Dallas, and I have not seen any sign that my compensation will change for relocating. According to the XYZ Cost of Living database, New York will have a 10% higher cost of living.

In order to maintain my current standard of living, my salary will have to increase to $88,000 from $80,000.  I will also have to incur additional expenses for selling my home and finding a new one in New York.

Therefore I would like to kindly ask you to consider a salary adjustment to account for the difference in the cost of living and to cover other relocation expenses. Specifically, I would like to request an 8% increase in my salary and a $10,500 additional bonus for relocation expenses. I understand if this is not possible, but I hope that we can come to an agreement.

Thank you,

Employee

Salary Negotiation Script: Better Job Title

Here's a salary negotiation script to negotiate for a better job title.

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you for offering me the Account Manager position. I’m very excited to begin working at Company Z.

Before I can accept, I would like to discuss my title in the company. As I was researching the company and its organizational structure, I noticed that there are no managers above me, but I would be responsible for managers below me. Since I will be the top manager for the larger accounts, I would like to request that my position be renamed from “Account Manager” to “Senior Account Manager.” I am not requesting any salary increases or other benefits, so this change will not cost the company any more money.

I’m confident that I can bring value to the company, and the new title will help me advance in my professional career.

Thank you,

Potential Hire

Salary Negotiation Script: Severance Package

Here's a salary negotiation script to negotiate for a severance package.

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you for offering me the Lead Developer position. I’m excited about the job and I’m confident that I can bring a lot of value to Company Z. I’m glad that we could work out the terms of the salary and the compensation package.

Before I can accept, I have one last aspect I would like to talk about. I am concerned about the lack of a severance package. I am a very thorough person, so I would like to solidify the terms of a severance package before I accept. I do not anticipate creating a reason to get fired, but I would like to know what would happen if a layoff did occur. In particular, six months wages and continued health and dental insurance coverage for nine months seems like a typical and appropriate severance package. Of course, discussing the severance package will not cost the company any money up front, and if I am never laid off, the company will not pay any money at all.

Once we solidify the details of the severance, I’ll be ready to accept the job offer.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Potential Hire

Salary Negotiation Script: Stock Options

Here's a salary negotiation script to negotiate for more stock options.

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you again for offering me the Marketing Manager position. I’m very excited to join the team and start contributing to the company.

Before I can accept however, I would like to discuss the terms of the compensation. The benefits package includes a stock option plan that I am very interested in. I believe in the potential of the company and would like to invest in it. Because the total compensation is not as attractive as other offers, I was hoping we could discuss changing some of the terms of the stock option plan. Your current offer includes .75% equity. I’d like to propose an increase from .75% to 1.25%

I believe that this change will make your offer more competitive. I’m confident that we can come to a mutual agreement.

Thank you,

Potential Hire

Salary Negotiation Script: Flexible Work Hours

Here's a salary negotiation script you can use to negotiate for flexible work hours.

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you for offering me the Director of Human Resources position. I’m excited about the position and I’m confident that I can bring a lot of value to Company Z.

Before I can accept the offer, I would like to discuss compensation with you. I think  that the salary is fair and in line with the market value of this position, but I would like to discuss some possible changes in the benefits.

As you are well aware, I was the Director of Human Resources for four years at my previous company. In that time I have made valuable changes for them and saved them thousands of dollars through my innovative processes. Because of my qualifications, I believe that my value added to the company is more than the average Director of Human Resources.

While I am happy with the base salary, I am hesitant to accept the offer because of the increased commute to the office from my home. Taking this new job will increase my daily drive by an hour. To save time, I would like to request a day every week to work from home instead of at the office. I can perform my job adequately at home while saving time and gas on my commute. This arrangement will also not cost the company any more money. Of course, we can discuss which day would be most convenient for everybody. I’m confident that we can come to a mutual agreement.

Thank you,

Potential Hire

7 Qualities for a Good Negotiation Coach

Negotiation coaches can be found in many places. They range from teaching you how to negotiate to doing it for you. They listen to your situation and draft a customized negotiation script that you can send to your hiring manager. But how do you know when you chose the right coach? Read on for the 7 qualities of a great coach to find out.

1. Knowledgeable

Conducting a salary negotiation requires knowing what you’re doing. A good negotiation coach knows proven negotiation tactics and can effectively utilize them. It’s not just about knowing everything either. Even the best negotiation coach doesn’t know the value of every job, position, or skill, so they know where to find the information they need.

2. Adaptive

Lewis Lin once told me that people aren’t like gold bars, where all of them are identical and have a set price. Instead, people are more like houses. They’re all unique in different ways, but are comparable to each other. Even though it’s a new client and new situation every time, a good negotiation coach can adapt to each person’s job history, skills, and future goals to give educated advice.

3. Good listener

It’s not only the people themselves who are different. Some people have different desires too. A good negotiation coach has to be willing to listen to your story. For example, not everyone wants a higher salary. Instead, a client might want more flexible work hours or be able to work from home. A good negotiation coach will listen to your individual desires instead of assuming that you just want a salary increase.

4. Persistent

The job market and the economy is always changing, so the value of a certain position or skill is always changing too. That means that a good negotiation coach has to always be willing to do more research. What they knew about a certain job in the past may not be the same now. Even a very knowledgeable negotiation coach will also run into an industry or position that they don’t know about. When they don’t know something, they have to be willing to do extra work and find the relevant information.

5. Honest

A good salary negotiation coach understands that he has a fiduciary duty to his clients. That’s why he will be honest with you about your market value and the fairness of your job offer and give you advice about what’s best for you, not his business. Even if a job offer is generous, a dishonest negotiation coach will tell you that you need more so you’ll buy his service.

6. Creative

A good salary negotiation coach knows that there a wide variety of benefits and perks you can ask for in salary negotiations. They should be able to educate you on more creative perks so that you can decide if you want benefits other than a salary increase or extra vacation days. A good coach can also be creative in their combination of benefits to fit your needs.

7. Experienced

Expert negotiation skills come from practice, so you want to make sure that your salary negotiation coach has experience in negotiations. They don’t have to be formally trained, but should be able to tell you how they helped themselves and others through their negotiation skills.

Photo credit to GoIowaState.com

Salary Negotiation Script: Job Relocation Package

Here's a salary negotiation script to negotiate your job relocation package. 

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you for offering me the Marketing Director position in Seattle. I’m excited about the position, and I’m confident that I can contribute a lot to the company.

Before I can accept however, I would like to discuss compensation with you. I am currently living in Moses Lake in Eastern Washington making $70,000. While the salary you offered me of $83,000 is more than what I make now, the cost of living in Seattle is much more expensive than living in Moses Lake, making my actual pay worth much less than what I make now.

For example, according to the CNN Cost of Living Calculator, housing in Seattle is 71% more, utilities are 31% more, and transportation is 19% more. I would have to make at least $91,000 in Seattle to continue my same standard of living. I would really like to work for Company Z, and I’m excited about my future potential, so I am willing to transfer for $89,500. I hope that we can come to a mutual agreement.

Thank you,

Potential Hire

Salary Negotiation Script: Signing Bonus

Here's a salary negotiation script to negotiate for a signing bonus.

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you for offering me the Assistant Sales Director position. I would like to express again how excited I am to begin working for your company.

Before I can accept, I would like to discuss the matter of compensation. I am happy with the salary and I think that it is in line with my market value. However, I would be leaving my current job for this one, and I would lose out on my year-end bonus. In particular, I would be leaving a $10,000 annual bonus. To make the transition easier, I would like to request a signing bonus of $6,000 to partly bridge the gap in pay.

I can certainly see a future for myself at the company, and I’m confident that I can bring a lot of value. I know that we can come to a mutual agreement on an acceptable compensation package.

Thank you,

Potential Hire

Salary Negotiation Script: Competing Offers

Here's a salary negotiation script to use when you have competing offers. 

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

Thank you for offering me the sales position. I’m excited about Company Z and the contribution I can make here.

However, I would like to discuss compensation before I can accept the offer. While Company Z is my first choice, I have received other job offers that are offering me more compensation. In fact, the highest offer is $7000 more than the offer from here with four additional vacation days from Company Y.

I’m very interested in Company Z and I would happily accept if you could match what the other company is offering. I understand that not everything can be accomplished, but I’m willing to be flexible and find a good solution. I’m confident that I can make valuable contributions to the company, and I hope we can come to a mutual agreement.

Thank you,

Potential Hire