Job Offer Negotiation Letter

Job offer negotiation letter example. You have received a good job offer but the salary is not what you asked for or expected.

Hand of businesswoman with pen writing letter

A well written salary negotiation email or letter can turn the situation around and help you get the offer you want.

Negotiating a job offer is a perfectly acceptable practice and research indicates that as many as 4 out of 5 companies are prepared to negotiate compensation

Adapt the sample salary negotiation letter to meet your own job offer requirements.

Sample Job Offer Negotiation Letter

Your Name
Your Address
City, State, Zip code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

The Date

Mr Brian Jones
Human Resources Director
XYZ Company
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr Jones

I want to thank you for your job offer of (position) from XYZ Company. The position and areas of responsibility are an excellent fit with both my skills set and my career goals. Your company's exciting growth plans would provide me with the opportunity to make a significant contribution in a challenging environment.

Before providing you with a formal acceptance I would like to discuss the base salary you have offered. The X position demands a high level of commitment that I am fully prepared to give. However, based on the value I can bring to the company coupled with salary data for this type of position, I must request that you re-look at your starting offer of $X. The annual salary range for a (position) in our industry falls between $X and $X and I believe an offer of $X would be more consistent with my qualifications, experience and the industry norms.

Again, thank you for your offer and I look forward to your response. I am confident that we can reach a mutually satisfactory agreement that will allow me to start with XYZ as soon as possible.

Sincerely

Your Name

11 Essential Job Offer Negotiation Letter Tips

  • address your letter to the person who signed your job offer letter
  • start by thanking the employer for the job offer
  • be positive about the company and job
  • highlight your enthusiasm for the position
  • state clearly what you would like to change in the job offer
  • justify your request for a higher salary
  • do your salary research properly. Get help with salary research resources at salary negotiations
  • give valid supporting data for the changes you want
  • clarify that you are open to further discussion and negotiation
  • restate your motivation to start the job as soon as possible under the right conditions
  • convey a respectful tone throughout the salary negotiation letter

A job offer negotiation letter or salary negotiation email, also known as a counter-proposal, clarifies your position and justifies your salary request with facts and figures.

If your arguments are realistic, you should be able to persuade the employer to adjust the offer appropriately.

How to negotiate salary after the job offer

Illustration of two businessman negotiating a job offer with related icons

Frequently asked questions about the salary negotiation email

What should I put as the subject line for the email?

Keep your subject line generic. Good subject line examples include:

Job Title - Job Offer

Thank You for the Job Offer - Your Name

Your Name - Job Offer

Is it better to negotiate in person?

Negotiating in person can be nerve wracking and makes some people feel very uncomfortable. It is often easier to put it in writing.

The advantage of sending an email is that you have a record of your salary negotiations. It also provides the employer with time to think about your proposal before having to respond.

How long should I wait for a response to my email?

You need to give the employer some time to consider your proposal and to confer with the necessary staff members before responding. The starting date of the new job should also be factored in.

After a reasonable time it is acceptable to send a follow up email asking for a date by which you can expect their response.

Follow up after a job offer negotiation email

Subject:  Job Offer Follow Up - Your Name

Dear

I know how busy you must be, but I recently sent you an email regarding the Job Title offer you made to me. I would like to kindly ask if you could provide me with any information regarding a possible review of the compensation package, as discussed in my email of Date.

I am very enthusiastic about both the position and the opportunity to join such an excellent company and would like to come to a mutual agreement as soon as possible.  Please let me know when we can further discuss the compensation for this position.

Kind regards

Your Name

Can I negotiate the job title?

Your job title is part of your compensation package as it often indicates your level within the organization and the value you bring to the company.  Your job title can also impact on your feelings of self-worth and job satisfaction. If you feel that the job title is not representative of your value or your level of responsibility and this is of significant importance to you, you can negotiate it as part of the broader job offer.

Before approaching the job title negotiation do some research to find out how your industry refers to employees in a similar role. It is advisable to have a specific alternative job title to refer to when proposing a change of job title. 

When approaching a job title negotiation or writing a  job offer negotiation letter consider the following:

  • What would I like to change about my job title and why?
  • How would a different job title benefit the company?
  • How would a different job title benefit my job performance

Examples:

"I note that the job title is Supervisor  which is rather generic, could we look at a more specific title to accurately reflect my role in the organization?"

"I believe that the job title Sales Assistant does not adequately reflect my previous level of experience and the responsibilities involved in this role. I would like to propose a title of Sales Coordinator for this position"

Top Job Offer Negotiation Letter Pages

Salary Negotiation Tips

After the Job Offer

Once you have decided to accept the job offer it is best to write a formal job offer acceptance letter or email. If you decide to decline the offer send a polite letter turning down the job offer. Then you can begin your resignation process. Use the sample letters below to help you with this.

Job Offer Acceptance Email Sample

How to respond to a job offer over the phone

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