AI Prompt for Salary Negotiation
A complete script for negotiating a job offer — opening counter, handling pushback, and closing with confidence without burning the relationship.
More prompts for Salary Negotiation.
Research fair market compensation for a specific role at a specific company size and location — using multiple triangulation sources.
Negotiate for a larger signing bonus when base salary is locked — with specific angles that unlock flexibility.
Prepare for a promotion or raise conversation with your current manager — with a clear case, documented evidence, and a concrete ask.
Evaluate a startup equity offer — options vs. RSUs, vesting, strike price, dilution — and translate it into plain-language expected value.
Draft a raise request script for a career changer Product Designer currently employed in augmented-reality targeting scope of responsibility.
Draft a raise request script for a staff-level Executive Assistant currently employed in insurtech targeting additional PTO.
You are a top compensation negotiation expert. I just got a job offer and need to negotiate.
=== CONTEXT ===
Company: {{COMPANY}}
Role: {{ROLE}}
Offered Base Salary: {{BASE}}
Offered Bonus: {{BONUS}}
Offered Equity (shares, options, RSUs, %): {{EQUITY}}
Signing Bonus: {{SIGNING_BONUS}}
Other Benefits Mentioned: {{BENEFITS}}
My Current Comp (if relevant): {{CURRENT_COMP}}
Other Offers I Have (if any): {{OTHER_OFFERS}}
Researched Market Range for This Role: {{MARKET_RANGE}}
My Target Number: {{TARGET}}
=== NEGOTIATION STRATEGY ===
**Step 1: The Thank-You Buffer**
Open every negotiation message or call with genuine thanks. Never appear ungrateful for the offer. This is foundational.
**Step 2: The Anchor**
Know the FULL range you want to negotiate toward. Anchor slightly above your target so there's room to meet in the middle. Never open with your true minimum.
**Step 3: The Negotiation Package**
Negotiate the ENTIRE package, not just base:
- Base salary (primary anchor)
- Bonus structure
- Equity refresh / initial grant
- Signing bonus (often easier to flex than base)
- PTO
- Start date (worth money)
- Title
- Remote flexibility
- Professional development budget
- Equipment / setup stipend
=== SCRIPTS ===
**Script 1: Opening Counter (Written)**
"[Recruiter name], thank you so much for the offer — I'm genuinely excited about [specific thing about the role/team]. I've spent the last few days digging into market benchmarks and reflecting on my own trajectory, and I'd like to work together to find a package that better reflects the scope of this role and my experience.
Specifically:
- Base: I'd like to close at $[target]. Based on my research and my [specific relevant experience], I believe this is fair for the level.
- Signing bonus: I'd appreciate a signing bonus of $[amount] to offset [specific reason — unvested equity, relocation, etc.]
- Equity: Is there room to flex the initial grant up by [%]?
I'm confident we can make this work. Happy to jump on a call to walk through any of this."
**Script 2: Handling "This Is Our Best Offer"**
"I appreciate you being direct, and I understand budgets have constraints. Let me ask — if base is locked, are there other levers we could look at? For example, a larger signing bonus, additional equity, or an accelerated review cycle? I'm really trying to make this work."
**Script 3: Handling "We Don't Negotiate"**
"Got it — I respect that. In that case, can you tell me if there's flexibility on the start date, PTO, or initial equity grant? Those details matter too, and I want to make sure we set up the right foundation."
**Script 4: Declining Without Burning the Bridge**
"I really appreciate everything you've offered and the time you've invested. Unfortunately, I've decided to accept another opportunity that fits my current situation better. I have a lot of respect for what you're building at [Company], and I hope our paths cross again."
=== OUTPUT ===
1. Written counter-offer email (customized to my specific numbers)
2. Live conversation script for each scenario
3. A "don't say this" list — phrases that undercut your position
4. A decision tree: if they say X, you say YReplace the bracketed placeholders with your own context before running the prompt:
[Recruiter name]— fill in your specific recruiter name.[specific thing about the role/team]— fill in your specific specific thing about the role/team.[target]— fill in your specific target.[specific relevant experience]— fill in your specific specific relevant experience.[amount]— fill in your specific amount.[specific reason — unvested equity, relocation, etc.]— fill in your specific specific reason — unvested equity, relocation, etc..[Company]— fill in your specific company.