Negotiating your salary over email can feel like a high-stakes task. This requires confidence, tact, and preparation to communicate your value effectively. In a digital conversation, every word counts, and this guide provides a clear path to composing a professional and persuasive salary negotiation email.
Preparing for Your Negotiation
Before writing your negotiation email, you must do your research. Understanding your market value is the foundation of a successful negotiation and requires gathering data to justify your request. Examine what professionals with your experience, industry, and location earn in a similar role.
Online salary aggregators are valuable resources for this research. Websites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and Payscale provide data-driven insights into compensation trends. You can input your job title, experience, and location to generate a realistic salary range, which grounds your request in objective market data.
With this information, determine your ideal salary and your walk-away number—the lowest figure you will accept. Having a clear range provides flexibility during the negotiation. This allows you to present a confident counteroffer while knowing your absolute minimum.
When to Send the Negotiation Email
The timing of your negotiation email is strategic. Send it only after you receive a formal, written job offer. This timing demonstrates your serious interest while signaling that the terms are open for discussion, placing you in a strong position because the company has already invested in your candidacy and selected you.
Attempting to negotiate before receiving a formal offer is often premature. At that stage, the company is still evaluating candidates, and discussing salary can seem presumptive. Negotiating after you have signed the acceptance letter is a misstep, as it implies you agree to all its terms, and reopening negotiations can be seen as a breach of good faith.
Structuring Your Salary Negotiation Email
Professional Subject Line
Your subject line should be professional, direct, and easily recognizable in a busy inbox. Clear options like “Question about your offer” or “Following up on the job offer” are effective. Including your name and the job title, like “Job Offer for [Your Name] – [Position Title],” provides helpful context.
Expressing Gratitude and Enthusiasm
Begin the body of your email on a positive note. Thank the hiring manager for extending the offer and reiterate your excitement about the opportunity. Mentioning a specific aspect of the role or company that you find compelling personalizes your message and reinforces your genuine interest.
Stating Your Counteroffer
After expressing gratitude, transition to the purpose of your email. State your counteroffer clearly and confidently, presenting either a specific number or a narrow, well-researched salary range. For instance, you might write, “Based on my research and the responsibilities of the role, I would be more comfortable with a salary in the range of [$X to $Y].”
Justifying Your Request
Here, connect your request to the value you bring. Refer to your market research, mentioning that industry standards for the role and location support your figure. Briefly highlight your specific skills, years of experience, or unique qualifications that make you a strong candidate.
Professional Closing
Conclude your email by reinforcing your interest and proposing the next step. Express flexibility and your willingness to find a mutually agreeable solution, and suggest a brief call to move the conversation forward. A closing like, “I am excited about the possibility of joining your team and am confident we can find a number that is fair for both of us. Are you available for a brief call next week?” maintains a positive tone.
Key Things to Avoid
When drafting your email, it is important to know what to omit, as certain approaches can undermine your position. Avoid making the negotiation about your personal financial needs, such as high rent or student loans. The discussion should remain focused on your professional value and market rates.
Refrain from issuing ultimatums or making firm demands. Language that suggests you will walk away if your request isn’t met can create an adversarial dynamic and may lead the employer to withdraw the offer. Avoid an apologetic tone; you are not asking for a favor, but initiating a standard business conversation about fair compensation.
Do not accept the initial offer immediately if you feel it is below your market value out of fear. Many employers expect candidates to negotiate and often build flexibility into their initial offers to accommodate a counteroffer. Sending a negotiation email is a standard part of the hiring process.
Following Up After Sending the Email
Be patient after sending your negotiation email. Hiring managers are often busy, so it may take a few business days for them to review your request and respond, so wait at least three to five business days before following up.
If you have not received a response in that time, a polite follow-up is appropriate. A simple email can serve as a gentle reminder. You might write, “Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name], I’m checking in on the email I sent last [Day of the week] regarding the offer for the [Position Title] role. I am looking forward to hearing from you.”