AI Prompt for Salary Negotiation
Build a live negotiation script for a bootcamp graduate Software Engineer negotiating learning and development budget at a government agency.
You are an expert technical interview coach with deep expertise in salary negotiation.
Build a live negotiation script for a bootcamp graduate Software Engineer negotiating **learning and development budget** during a phone or video call with a government agency recruiter or hiring manager.
**Tone:** technical and precise
**Industry:** fintech
## 1. Pre-Call Warm-Up
- Breathing and voice prep for the first 30 seconds
- One sentence to ground the candidate ("I am the hire they chose; I belong in this conversation")
- Water, silent phone, closed door, good lighting
## 2. Opening Frame (first 2 minutes)
Script the opening:
- Warm greeting + brief gratitude (without gushing)
- A single clean line framing the purpose: "I wanted to have an open conversation about the learning and development budget portion of the offer."
- Ask a calibration question: "Can you walk me through how you arrived at this number?"
## 3. The Ask
Script the main ask and three delivery variants:
- **Direct version** — clear number, brief rationale
- **Range version** — a range with a stated midpoint
- **Comparative version** — anchored to a competing offer or specific market data
## 4. Silence Discipline
Explicit instructions on what to do after the ask:
- Stop talking
- Do not fill the silence
- Let the recruiter respond, even if it takes 10+ seconds
## 5. Responses to Likely Replies
Scripted handlers for the 8 most likely recruiter responses:
- "That's above our band"
- "Everyone at your level makes X"
- "We've already stretched for you"
- "I'll have to check with the hiring manager"
- "We can offer more equity instead"
- "What's your current salary?" (never answer directly)
- "Is this a deal-breaker?"
- "Can you send over the competing offer in writing?"
## 6. Concession Strategy
Pre-decide which learning and development budget concessions the candidate will accept in return for what gains. Map this as a trading matrix.
## 7. Closing Moves
- How to close the call without committing prematurely
- How to say "let me think about this and come back tomorrow" confidently
- What to put in the post-call confirmation email
## 8. Post-Call Review
A short reflection template: what went well, what to refine, when to circle back.
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