Nobody told me the offer was just the opening bid.
I signed my first offer the same afternoon I received it. Grateful, relieved, and terrified of seeming difficult. Six months later, a male colleague at the same level casually mentioned his salary over lunch. He was earning 18% more than me. Same role. Same title. He had negotiated. I had not.
That lunch changed everything. Here is exactly what I do now.
The Exact Script I Used To Negotiate My Salary(And Got 22% More Than They Offered)
Do This Before You Say a Single Word
Spend one hour pulling salary data from Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and one peer conversation. You need the median and the top of the range for your exact role in your exact city. Not national averages. Your city. Your title.
Then write down three quantifiable achievements. Revenue influenced. Costs cut. Clients retained. Numbers only. You are bringing facts to a facts conversation.
Never Give Your Number First
When they ask what salary you are looking for, say this:
“I would love to hear what range you have budgeted for this role first, so we can make sure we are in the same ballpark.”
They will almost always tell you. Now you know their ceiling. Everything changes.
The Exact Script When You Receive the Offer
Wait 24 hours, then request a phone call, not an email exchange. When you are on the call, say this:
“Thank you so much, I am genuinely excited about this role. Based on market research and my background in [specific achievement], I was hoping we could get to [a number 10 to 15% above your actual goal]. Is there any flexibility there?”
Then stop talking. The first person who breaks the silence tends to make the concession. Let it be them.
When They Push Back
Do not fold. Say this:
“Is there flexibility anywhere else in the package? A signing bonus, an early performance review, additional leave? I am happy to be creative about how we get there.”
This is where most women leave money on the table. Base salary is one line in an offer. The total package has ten variables.
If the Answer Is Genuinely No
Accept gracefully, but say this before you hang up:
“Can we agree to a formal compensation conversation at six months if I exceed expectations?”
Then get that in writing. Even a follow-up email confirming the conversation is enough.
The Reframe That Makes All of This Easier
Negotiating is not asking for a favour. It is completing a transaction. Your employer is buying your skills at a price you both agree on. When you do not negotiate, you are not being gracious. You are subsidising them.
The salary you accept today is the base every future raise is calculated from. That number compounds for decades.
You have the script. Now use it.
Join us on this journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and celebration! Here’s to strong women – may we know them, may we be them, may we inspire them!
With love and inspiration,
Women on Topp Magazine
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