Negotiate your offer with confidence
Most offers have some room. Here is how to ask for more without putting the offer at risk.
5 min read · Updated November 11, 2026
Never accept on the spot
Express enthusiasm, thank them, and ask for a day or two to review. Ask for the offer in writing and confirm the details: base salary, bonus, equity, start date, location and benefits.
Do your homework first
Look at market data for the role, level and location, and be clear on what you would need to say yes. Your ask should rest on the scope of the role and the value you bring, not on personal needs.
Make one clear ask
"Based on my research and the scope of this role, I was hoping for a base salary of X. Is there flexibility there?" Then stop talking and let them respond. A calm, specific ask is easier to say yes to than a vague one.
Negotiate the whole package
If the base is fixed, there may be room in equity, a signing bonus, the start date, remote work or a review after six months. Know which of these matters most to you before the conversation.
Keep it collaborative
You are negotiating with someone who wants to hire you. Stay warm, stay specific, and be ready to say yes if they meet you at a number that works. Get the final terms in writing before you resign from anything.