Write down the complete offer
Record the currency, pay period, base salary, bonus conditions, equity terms, benefits, working arrangement, start date, and response deadline. Mark anything you do not understand as a question for the employer. Compare like with like: annual base pay should not be treated as equivalent to a package that depends on a target bonus.
Treat equity and benefits separately until you understand the terms. Do not count a potential future equity value as cash available to spend. This worksheet organizes the offer; it is not a tax, investment, or legal assessment.
Fictional offer worksheet
Annual base salary: $90,000. Target annual bonus: 8% of base, subject to the employer’s conditions. Target bonus calculation: $90,000 × 0.08 = $7,200. Target annual cash: $97,200. The base is $90,000; the additional $7,200 is a target, not guaranteed pay.
Keep a one-time signing payment separate from recurring annual compensation. For example, a $3,000 signing payment would affect the first year only and may have repayment conditions to review.
Choose a request and supporting reasons
List the parts of the offer that matter most to you. Base pay, flexibility, leave, responsibilities, development support, or a later review date may have different value in your situation. Decide privately which terms you would accept and which unresolved issues would prevent acceptance.
Research current compensation information for the role, location, and level using independent sources. Check the date, sample, and whether a figure represents base pay or total compensation. Generated figures are preparation estimates, not verified market benchmarks.
Support your request with the scope of the role and relevant experience you can demonstrate. Do not claim a competing offer you do not have or present a hypothetical market number as a verified fact.
Make a clear, specific request
Acknowledge the offer, state your interest, and name the change you are requesting. Give one or two concrete reasons, then leave room for a response. Avoid a long apology or a list of every possible concession.
Fictional counter-offer email
Subject: Operations lead offer
Hi Morgan, Thank you for the offer. I’m interested in the operations lead role and the opportunity to improve the onboarding process. Given the cross-team responsibilities and my experience managing onboarding handoffs, would you be able to consider a base salary of $98,000? I’d be glad to discuss the package and answer any questions. Thank you for considering the request. Alex
The $98,000 request is illustrative. It is not a recommended salary or evidence of the market value of a particular role.
Prepare for a constraint
If the employer says the base salary is fixed, ask what flexibility exists before suggesting alternatives. Pick an alternative that matters to you, rather than negotiating for a benefit you would not use. A future salary review is different from an agreed increase: clarify the timing, criteria, and who makes the decision.
Fictional response to a fixed base salary
“Thank you for clarifying. Is there flexibility in the working arrangement or development budget? If a compensation review is possible after six months, could we discuss the criteria and include the agreed review timing in the offer?”
Review the written terms
Take time to read the revised offer and check that it reflects the conversation. Confirm the amounts, currency, conditions, deadlines, and any one-time payments. Ask for clarification when a term is ambiguous instead of relying on an informal impression.
An employer may decline a request or have limited flexibility. Preparation can help you communicate and compare options; it cannot guarantee an increase or a particular hiring outcome.
- I have separated guaranteed, variable, and one-time compensation.
- My request has specific reasons and uses figures I can explain.
- I know which alternatives matter to me.
- Any agreed changes appear in the written offer.