How to negotiate a job offer calmly and fairly

Before you talk numbers, find out what similar roles pay. Look at several sources: salary survey reports, job posts that list a range, and conversations with people in your field. No single source is exact, so look for a range.

Compare roles of the same level, in a similar kind of company, with the same working arrangement. A remote role with an international company is not directly comparable to a local office job.

Decide three figures before the conversation.

• Your walk-away number: the lowest offer you would accept.
• Your target: a fair figure that you would be happy with.
• Your ask: a bit above your target, so you have room to meet in the middle.

Base your ask on the market and your experience, not on your current salary or your needs. Your value to the new employer is what matters, and a company that pays you what it pays the market is not doing you a favour.

When an offer arrives, thank them and show you are interested. Do not accept or reject on the spot. A calm answer is: Thank you, I am excited about this role. Could I have until Friday to review the details and come back to you?

Almost every company will give you a few days. Use that time to read the offer carefully and check it against your numbers.

State what you want and why, in a friendly and specific way. Avoid long apologies and avoid ultimatums.

An example: Thank you again for the offer. Based on my experience with these technologies and what similar roles pay, I was hoping for a monthly salary closer to X. Is there room to adjust?

Then stop talking and wait. A short silence is normal. Do not fill it by lowering your request.

If they say the salary is fixed, ask about other parts of the offer. Often there is more flexibility there.

• The start date and how long you must work a notice period.
• Paid leave, public holidays and sick days.
• A learning budget for courses, books or conferences.
• Equipment: a laptop, monitor or a contribution toward internet costs.
• Working hours, flexibility and expected time zone overlap.
• A salary review after six months, with clear criteria.
• For remote roles: the currency of payment, who pays the transfer fees, and how often you are paid.

A company that cannot raise the salary may still agree to some of these, and they can be worth a lot over time.

Whatever you agree on, ask for it in the contract or in a clear written offer. Check the job title, pay, currency, payment schedule, probation period, notice period and whether you are an employee or a contractor.

If something in the contract is different from what you discussed, ask about it before you sign. It is much easier to fix a document than to fix a misunderstanding later.

Sometimes the employer cannot move. You then have a simple choice: accept the offer as it stands, or decline politely. Either is fine. Stay friendly in both cases, because the people you meet today may help you in the future.

Asking never costs you a good offer when you do it respectfully, and it often earns you more. The only guaranteed way to get nothing extra is to say nothing.

With remote work, you may be paid by a company in another country, so the numbers need extra care. Ask which currency the salary is in, how and when you are paid, and who covers transfer fees and taxes. A figure that looks large can shrink after conversion and fees.

Also ask whether you are hired as an employee or as an independent contractor. The difference affects leave, benefits, tax and how easily either side can end the agreement. If you are unsure, ask someone who has signed a similar contract before you accept.