Salary Negotiation Scripts: What to Say When You Get a Job Offer

Short answer: you need three scripts: one to ask for time, one to counter, and one to respond when they push back. Below are versions you can adapt, plus when to use each.

Script 1: Asking for time

Use it when the offer arrives, before you react to the numbers.

"Thank you so much, I'm really excited about this. Could you send the full offer in writing? I'd like to review everything carefully and get back to you by [day]."

Script 2: Making your counter

Use it once you've researched the role and chosen a specific number.

"I'm excited to join the team. Based on my research for this role in [city] and the experience I'd bring in [skill], I was hoping for a base salary closer to [number]. Is there flexibility there?"

Script 3: When they push back

Use it if they say the salary is fixed or the budget is set.

"I understand. If the base salary can't move, would there be flexibility on [signing bonus / start date / an extra week of vacation / remote days]? That would make this an easy yes for me."

Tips that make any script work

• Say it once, then stop talking and let them answer

• Keep the tone warm: you're solving this together

• Get every agreed change in writing

• Practise out loud before the call

Go further

Delega's Negotiate the Offer guide includes more scripts for countering, asking for time and responding to pushback, plus how to set your anchor and a 72-hour planning framework.

About the author: Camille Anne Rancourt is a former P&G Key Account Executive and today a director at a publicly traded company. She writes Delega's career guides for ambitious women.