Guide
How to negotiate a job offer
Base salary is only one lever. Here is what to ask for, how to say it, and how to protect yourself if the role disappears later.
Six things worth asking for
Signing bonus
When base is capped by a salary band, a one-time bonus often comes from a different budget and is the easiest ask to grant. Ask for a number and a payment date.
Base salary
Written offers usually carry some room. Ask for a specific number and give one sentence of justification — scope of the role, a competing offer, or market range from your own research.
Equity and vesting
Ask for the grant in writing, the cliff, and the vesting cadence. A 12-month cliff means a short tenure forfeits everything; a 6-month cliff or quarterly vesting is a cheap concession.
A 6-month review
If you accept below target, ask for a written review at six months with a defined raise or title change. This is the standard fix for a base you could not move today.
Severance protection
Ask for a written severance floor, for example two weeks per year of service. It costs the employer nothing unless it is used, and it is rarely refused in writing.
Start date and flexibility
Use the start date to collect a pending bonus, vest, or severance from your current role. Ask for remote or hybrid days to be written down rather than verbally understood.
A five-line script
- 1Open warm"Thank you — I'm genuinely excited about this role and I want to make it work."
- 2Name the ask"I'd like to discuss two things: the base and a signing bonus."
- 3Give one reason"Based on the scope and my research, I was targeting [number]."
- 4Offer a trade"If base is fixed, could we close the gap with a signing bonus or an earlier review?"
- 5Close in writing"Could you send the revised offer in writing so I can review and sign?"
Common questions
Will negotiating make them rescind the offer?
Rescinded offers are rare when the ask is specific, professional, and limited to a few items. What leads to trouble is a vague ultimatum or a long list of demands. Ask in writing and stay warm about the role.
How much more can I ask for?
There is no universal number. Ask for a specific figure with one line of justification, and be ready to accept a signing bonus or an earlier review instead if base is banded. Employers expect a counter and usually budget for one.
Should I mention a competing offer?
Only if it is real. A verifiable competing offer is strong leverage. A bluff is a risk you cannot take back, and recruiters in the same industry talk to each other.
What is a vesting cliff?
A cliff is the first date any of your equity vests. With a one-year cliff on a four-year grant, leaving before the first anniversary usually means forfeiting the whole grant. Ask for the schedule in writing before you sign.
When should I negotiate — before or after signing?
Before. A written offer is the moment of maximum leverage. After you sign, changes depend on a future review that may or may not happen.
Draft your counter in a minute
Paste the offer letter. The copilot extracts the numbers, builds a ranked ask list, and writes a counter email or call script you can edit before sending.
Related: Severance negotiation · Severance basics
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