Speaking Situation: Negotiating Salary and Job Offers

The Situation

You've received a job offer — or you're asking your manager for a raise. Many newcomers accept the first number because negotiating feels rude or risky. In Canada, the US and the UK, polite negotiation is expected in many professional roles, and employers often leave room for it. The key is tone: enthusiastic about the role, calm and evidence-based about the numbers.

Key Phrases

Responding to an offer (don't say yes or no immediately)

• Thank you so much — I'm really excited about this role.
• Could I have a day or two to review the full offer?
• Would you be able to send it in writing, so I can look at the details?

"What are your salary expectations?"

Tip: make the bottom of your range a number you'd be happy with — employers often offer near the bottom.

Making a counter-offer

• I appreciate the offer. Based on the market rate for this role and my experience with X, I was hoping for something closer to $85,000.
• Is there any flexibility on the base salary?
• If we could get to $82,000, I'd be ready to accept today.

Negotiating the package

• If the salary is fixed, would you be open to discussing...
  • a signing bonus?
  • an extra week of vacation?
  • a professional development budget?
  • flexible or remote working days?
  • an earlier salary review — say, at six months?

Asking for a raise

Focus on value, not personal need:

• Over the past year, I've taken on the supplier contracts and reduced costs by 8%.
• My role has grown since I was hired — I now manage two people.
• I'd like to discuss bringing my salary in line with these responsibilities.
• What would I need to achieve to reach the next level?

Avoid: I need more money because my rent went up.

Closing positively

• Thank you for working with me on this.
• I'm really looking forward to getting started.
• Could you send the updated offer by email?

Dialogue 1: Negotiating an Offer

Recruiter: So, we'd like to offer you the position at $76,000, with three weeks' vacation. Oksana: Thank you so much — I'm really excited about the role and the team. Could I ask whether there's any flexibility on the base salary? Recruiter: What did you have in mind? Oksana: Based on my research for similar roles in Toronto, and given my experience leading the ERP migration at my last company, I was hoping for something closer to $84,000. Recruiter: That's above our range for this level, I'm afraid. I could probably go to $80,000. Oksana: I appreciate that. If the base is capped at $80,000, would you be open to a salary review after six months instead of twelve? Recruiter: I think we can do that. Oksana: Great. And would an additional week of vacation be possible? Recruiter: Let me check with the hiring manager, but I think so. Oksana: Thank you — that works for me. Could you send the updated offer in writing?

Dialogue 2: Asking for a Raise

Tariq: Thanks for making time, Julie. I'd like to talk about my compensation. Julie: Of course. Tariq: Over the past year, my role has grown quite a bit. I've taken over the three biggest client accounts, and renewals on those are up 15%. I'm also training the two new analysts. Julie: That's true, and it's been noticed. Tariq: I appreciate that. Given those responsibilities, I'd like to discuss bringing my salary in line with a senior analyst role. Julie: I can't promise a number today — the budget is set in January. But I can take it to the director. Tariq: That's fair. In the meantime, could we agree on what I'd need to show to make the case as strong as possible? Julie: Yes, let's put some targets on paper this week.

Tips

• Research first: job sites, salary surveys and professional associations give realistic ranges for your city.
• Let silence work. After you state your number, stop talking.
• Never lie about other offers. You can say: I'm in conversations with other companies — only if true.
• Get it in writing before you resign from your current job.

Common Mistakes

• Accepting on the spot without reading the full offer.
• Apologizing: Sorry, I know it's a lot, but maybe... → state your number calmly.
• Giving a single number too early instead of a researched range.
• Using personal need (rent, family) as the main argument instead of market value and results.

Your Turn: Practise Speaking

1. Research the salary range for your role in your city. Say your answer to "What are your salary expectations?" out loud.
2. Practise Dialogue 1 with your own numbers and one non-salary request.
3. Write three achievements with numbers that you could use to ask for a raise.