3 answers
Genevieve
Student
Charleston, South Carolina
1
Question
Asked
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What are the recommended strategies and best practices for initiating a salary negotiation during a job interview?
I would like to understand the appropriate timing, the language that conveys professionalism and confidence, and how to respond if the interviewer asks about my salary expectations before I’ve had the chance to learn more about the role.
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3 answers
Johnson Tran
Tutor
93
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Johnson’s Answer
Hi Genevieve,
Great question, and the fact that you are thinking about this before you need it puts you ahead of most new graduates.
On timing: salary talks work best late in the process. During a first interview, keep the focus on the role and what you bring; if pay comes up early, it is fine to redirect politely. The strongest moment to negotiate is after an offer, when they have decided they want you, because that is when your leverage is highest. If they ask expectations before an offer, a graceful line is: "I'm sure we can agree on a number that's fair once I understand the full scope of the role. Could you share the range budgeted for this position?" That flips the question professionally without naming a number first.
On language: negotiate from data, not need. Research typical pay for the role and city (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, LinkedIn Salary, and the school's salary outcomes data all help), then anchor with a range you can justify. Phrases that work: "Based on my research and the responsibilities of the role, I was targeting something in the range of X to Y," and "Is there flexibility on the base salary?" Both are confident without being confrontational. Say "I'm excited about this role" before and after the number; it keeps the negotiation warm.
On responding to an offer: always take 24 to 48 hours before accepting, and remember negotiation covers more than salary. Signing bonus, start date, professional development budget, and PTO are all negotiable, and sometimes easier to move than base pay.
One more tip: get every agreed change in writing before you sign. Good luck, Genevieve.
Warm regards,
Johnson Tran
Math Tutor / Educator
Before your next interview, research the typical salary range for the exact role and city on Glassdoor and LinkedIn Salary, and practice your deflection line out loud until it sounds natural.
Great question, and the fact that you are thinking about this before you need it puts you ahead of most new graduates.
On timing: salary talks work best late in the process. During a first interview, keep the focus on the role and what you bring; if pay comes up early, it is fine to redirect politely. The strongest moment to negotiate is after an offer, when they have decided they want you, because that is when your leverage is highest. If they ask expectations before an offer, a graceful line is: "I'm sure we can agree on a number that's fair once I understand the full scope of the role. Could you share the range budgeted for this position?" That flips the question professionally without naming a number first.
On language: negotiate from data, not need. Research typical pay for the role and city (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, LinkedIn Salary, and the school's salary outcomes data all help), then anchor with a range you can justify. Phrases that work: "Based on my research and the responsibilities of the role, I was targeting something in the range of X to Y," and "Is there flexibility on the base salary?" Both are confident without being confrontational. Say "I'm excited about this role" before and after the number; it keeps the negotiation warm.
On responding to an offer: always take 24 to 48 hours before accepting, and remember negotiation covers more than salary. Signing bonus, start date, professional development budget, and PTO are all negotiable, and sometimes easier to move than base pay.
One more tip: get every agreed change in writing before you sign. Good luck, Genevieve.
Warm regards,
Johnson Tran
Math Tutor / Educator
Johnson recommends the following next steps:
Shivam SHAH
Software Engineer
6
Answers
Redmond, Washington
Updated
Shivam’s Answer
Check out the area where the job is posted and compare the cost of living and average salaries for similar jobs. There are great websites that show what different companies pay based on experience. It's a good idea to wait until you get an offer to talk about salary. You don't need to bring it up at the start or during the interview. Good luck!
Anne Houle
Human Resources Consultant
1
Answer
New York, New York
Updated
Anne’s Answer
The *only* time to negotiate a salary is after you've received an offer. It is at this moment when you have the most leverage and power in the interview process because the company has signaled that they want you.
If you anticipate getting an offer and believe it is imminent, do some research on all the things that you can negotiate. People often just think it's base salary, but there are many other things you can negotiate such as: job title, vacation time (depends), work from home (depends), location to work out of (if there are multiple choices), sign-on bonus, etc. Companies have leeway on some things and not on others. For example, if everyone is coming into the office 5 days a week, the company would probably not allow you to WFH 2 days a week. Plus, it wouldn't sit well with your colleagues with whom you'd be working (!)
When negotiating a salary, you always want to convey your excitement about the role and the company and be positive throughout the conversation. They are still evaluating you and how you behave even during this final stage. They might really want you but if they sense that you have an 'attitude' that is forming, the company could potentially rescind the offer. They're thinking, if you have an attitude before you've even started, what will you be like to work with once you've joined?
When they ask about your salary expectations during the screening interview, they want to know if everyone is on the same page at this early stage. And you want to know this too! No one wants their time wasted by going through several interviews to only find out at the end that the salary is way off. Do your research for what the salaries are for your particular job, the years of experience required, what the industry pays, the size company, and the location. That way you'll have a good idea of what the salary band should be.
When they ask you the salary expectations question, you can respond by saying that what you're expecting will depend on the scope and responsibilities of the role. Then you ask them what has been budgeted for the role? If they don't answer the question and press you, that's when you'll want to give them the range of what you want. Before going into the conversation, you need to understand 1) what the market pays for your level, role, industry, etc. and 2) what you're worth in the marketplace. If you're a new college graduate with little to no work experience, then you need to adjust your expectations accordingly. If you have some experience and some great accomplishments, then those things factor into what you would consider to be your 'worth'. You need to be as objective as possible and think of your 'worth' as simply the level of skill you bring to the company. If you've done your homework and evaluated yourself objectively, the salary range should match your expectations.
If you anticipate getting an offer and believe it is imminent, do some research on all the things that you can negotiate. People often just think it's base salary, but there are many other things you can negotiate such as: job title, vacation time (depends), work from home (depends), location to work out of (if there are multiple choices), sign-on bonus, etc. Companies have leeway on some things and not on others. For example, if everyone is coming into the office 5 days a week, the company would probably not allow you to WFH 2 days a week. Plus, it wouldn't sit well with your colleagues with whom you'd be working (!)
When negotiating a salary, you always want to convey your excitement about the role and the company and be positive throughout the conversation. They are still evaluating you and how you behave even during this final stage. They might really want you but if they sense that you have an 'attitude' that is forming, the company could potentially rescind the offer. They're thinking, if you have an attitude before you've even started, what will you be like to work with once you've joined?
When they ask about your salary expectations during the screening interview, they want to know if everyone is on the same page at this early stage. And you want to know this too! No one wants their time wasted by going through several interviews to only find out at the end that the salary is way off. Do your research for what the salaries are for your particular job, the years of experience required, what the industry pays, the size company, and the location. That way you'll have a good idea of what the salary band should be.
When they ask you the salary expectations question, you can respond by saying that what you're expecting will depend on the scope and responsibilities of the role. Then you ask them what has been budgeted for the role? If they don't answer the question and press you, that's when you'll want to give them the range of what you want. Before going into the conversation, you need to understand 1) what the market pays for your level, role, industry, etc. and 2) what you're worth in the marketplace. If you're a new college graduate with little to no work experience, then you need to adjust your expectations accordingly. If you have some experience and some great accomplishments, then those things factor into what you would consider to be your 'worth'. You need to be as objective as possible and think of your 'worth' as simply the level of skill you bring to the company. If you've done your homework and evaluated yourself objectively, the salary range should match your expectations.