Inner Quest - Your Journey Within

68% of people accept the first offer without negotiating, costing them $600K-$1M over a 40-year career. Here's how to negotiate effectively without fear.

The Research

68% of people never negotiate (Fidelity, 2023)
7-15% average salary increase from negotiation (PayScale)
0.5% of offers rescinded due to negotiation (Harvard Business Review)

The 6-Phase Negotiation Framework

Phase 1: Research (Before You Get an Offer)

Determine your market value using multiple sources:

Levels.fyi: Most accurate for tech salaries
Glassdoor: General ranges (tends to skew low)
LinkedIn Salary: Filter by location and experience
H1B Database: Public record of actual tech salaries

Your Target Numbers

Market Rate

50th percentile for the role

Aspirational

75th percentile (exceptional candidates)

Walk-Away

Minimum you'd accept

Phase 2: Delay Salary Discussion

When asked "What are your salary expectations?" early:

Option 1: Deflect Professionally

"I'm focused on finding the right role fit first. Once we both determine this is a mutual match, I'm confident we can agree on fair compensation."

Option 2: Give a Research-Based Range

"Based on my research for [role] in [location], I'm seeing ranges from $X to $Y. Does that align with your budget?"

Phase 3: Receiving the Offer

Step 1: Always express enthusiasm

"Thank you so much! I'm really excited about this opportunity. I'd like to review the full package and get back to you by [specific date]. Does that work?"

Step 2: Calculate total compensation (not just base salary)

Base Salary
Bonus/Commission (expected value, not max)
Equity (value ÷ vesting years)
Benefits (health insurance, 401k match, PTO)
Perks (remote work, learning budget, gym)

Phase 4: The Negotiation

Email Template:

Subject: [Your Name] - Offer Discussion

Hi [Hiring Manager],

Thank you for the offer! I'm excited about joining [Company] and contributing to [specific project].

I've reviewed the compensation package and would like to discuss the base salary. Based on my research for [role] in [market] and my [specific experience], I was expecting $[X-Y].

Given my [1-2 unique strengths], I'd like to propose $[specific number].

I'm confident we can find an arrangement that works for both of us.

Best,
[Your Name]

Phase 5: Handling Objections

Response: "This is the best we can do"

Your Reply: "If base is fixed, could we discuss equity/bonus/signing bonus/PTO to bridge the gap?"

Response: "We typically don't hire at that level"

Your Reply: "Given my experience, would you consider a 6-month performance review to re-evaluate?"

Phase 6: Negotiate Beyond Salary

If base salary won't budge, negotiate:

Signing Bonus

One-time payment to bridge the gap

Additional PTO

5 extra days = ~2% salary increase

Early Review

6-month vs 12-month performance review

Remote Flexibility

Full remote or extra WFH days

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Negotiating too early (wait for official offer)
❌ Accepting immediately (always take 24-48 hours)
❌ Making it personal ("I need this because...")
❌ Being aggressive (collaborative tone wins)
❌ Lying about other offers (will backfire)
❌ Negotiating after accepting (once you accept, stop)

Negotiating a Raise (Current Job)

Build Your Case

Market Data: "Comparable roles now pay $X-Y"
Performance: "I've delivered [specific results]"
Increased Scope: "My responsibilities now include..."
Timing: Ask after a major win or during performance review

Your Negotiation Checklist

Before the Offer:

☐ Research market salary range
☐ Determine walk-away number
☐ Identify unique value proposition
☐ Practice with a friend

After the Offer:

☐ Express enthusiasm
☐ Request 24-48 hours to review
☐ Calculate total compensation
☐ Send professional counter-offer email
☐ Get revised offer in writing

Resources

Research Tools: Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, PayScale, LinkedIn Salary
Book: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
This App: Use your Career Values to evaluate offers beyond just money

Salary & Benefits Negotiation