- How to negotiate salary with HR
- How to negotiate salary in an interview (Sample answers)
- How to negotiate salary in an interview (Mistakes to avoid)
Wondering how to negotiate salary? The mere thought of asking for more money makes most professionals sweat.
How to negotiate salary with HR doesn't have to be a nightmare if you're armed with the right approach.
Learning how to negotiate salary in an interview could be the difference between settling for less and earning what you're truly worth.
Let's begin!
How to negotiate salary with HR
In this section we will address how to negotiate salary in an interview. So, pay attention!!
Review industry standards
Research salary range of different companies for the position that you have applied for. Consider factors such as:
• Level of work experience
• Education and certifications
• Location, etc.
If the difference in the range being offered to you is noticeable, you can use this as one of the points, while you negotiate your salary. Also, once you have a fair idea about the salary range, you’ll know how much you can stretch the salary negotiation.
Assess your market value
Now based on the above research and your qualification and experience, assess your market value. Recruiters generally negotiate the CTC package, so decide a figure beforehand that you consider you are worthy to draw.
Evaluate other components
Apart from the basic salary being offered, the other components like allowances, HRA, insurance, bonuses, incentives, etc. also form a major part of the salary package.
If the recruiter seems rigid during the salary negotiations, you can always ask for a raise in the other components of the salary apart from the basic. For example, you can negotiate performance-based incentives or request the employer to raise non-cash perks and benefits.
Related: Understand salary breakup
Prepare a pitch
Accumulate your past achievements and prepare a pitch on how these achievements will help you contribute to the company. If you have any experience, make sure to smartly mention that in your pitch.
Here are a couple of tips to help you prepare your pitch:
a. Show excitement - Early in the negotiation, you can use a phrase like “Working with (company name) was my professional goal”, this will convey your seriousness for the job.
b. Convey expectations – During the negotiations, you must let the employer know that you are expecting a generous raise from them. To convey this you can say, “At this stage of my career, I wish to take a leap both in terms of my professional responsibilities as well as my compensation.”
Be prepared to tackle arguments
Arguments and counter-arguments are a positive sign as they show that the employer is taking a keen interest in you. However, a good impression can only be created if you remain poised and composed during the negotiation process.
Make sure to speak with confidence and handle the arguments tactfully. Being firm yet gracious is the best way to take it forward.
Rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse
Make sure to practice your pitch as many times as possible, it will ensure that you deliver it smoothly and don’t miss out on anything important.
Get hold of your friends, parents or roommates and narrate your pitch to them. You must also practice answers for the arguments that are most likely to arise during the negotiation process.
Related: How to answer "What are your salary expectations?"
Have conviction in your strengths
When you are in the middle of a grueling negotiation process, there are chances that you may short-sell yourself. To avoid that, it is important to make a realistic self-assessment of your educational qualifications, social competence, attitude, and other strengths, and that you have belief in your competence.
This self-awareness exercise will give you a rooted & strong sense of confidence, and you will remain steadfast even during difficult arguments.
Initiate conversation
Do not hesitate to take the lead and start the conversation about salary negotiation yourself. All you need to do is be gracious and ask the question “Is the salary negotiable?”. This will help you start a conversation with the opposite side and depending on their response you can then negotiate your salary package.
Timing
Although it is a good idea to initiate the salary negotiation talk, do take care of the timing. Salary negotiation is best left to be discussed towards the final round of interview.
Prove your worth with evidence
It is best to come up with hard evidence to prove your competence. If during the salary negotiations you are able to provide some real data about your achievements, your chances of getting a higher salary will rise exponentially. Employers are more likely to accept a story which is backed up with good numbers.
Promise what you can deliver
It is important to not get carried away in the negotiation process and promise more than you can deliver. If you have quoted a figure to your employer, make sure that you have the competence and knowledge to live up to it.
Stand your ground
If you have proved your worth in the negotiations and have confidence in your ability to perform, there is no reason for you to accept an offer that is less than your expectations.
Make it a point to insist on a figure that you think is in line with your job objectives and industry standards. However, take care to not come across as stubborn.
Take your time
You don’t have to accept or reject the offer immediately. If you are not sure about the offer, you should ask for a couple of days to think about it. During this time, you can assess the offer properly and also weigh other promising opportunities.
In case you choose to reject the offer, it is important that you do that graciously so that you continue to communicate for opportunities in the future.
Related: Calculate in-hand salary with online tools like Salary Calculator.
Have a foresight
Even if the monetary benefits are not at par with your expectations, discuss your career growth with your employer and see if they can chalk out a good career path for you. Sometimes having a long-term perspective can be more beneficial than short-term gains.
Walk away
If you quoted a reasonable figure for your salary and know that you have the competence to fulfill your professional obligations, then there is no reason to accept a compromised offer.
If you don’t get what you want, you must gently express that you are willing to walk away. During the negotiation, you must come out as a person who is asking for something that he/she deserves, rather than someone who is desperate for a job or money.
How to negotiate salary in an interview (Sample answers)
Here we will go through sample answers of how to negotiate salary with HR for all experience levels. Feel free to choose and tweak it to your requirements;
How to negotiate salary (Freshers)
Here are sample answers on how to negotiate salary in an interview:
When asked about salary expectations
"Based on my research for entry-level software developer roles in Bangalore, I've found the typical range is ₹6-8 lakhs per annum. With my B.Tech from [college name] and my final year project on machine learning applications, I would be comfortable with a package in this range. I'm also interested in learning about your company's variable pay structure and growth opportunities."
When responding to a lower offer than expected
"Thank you for offering ₹5.2 lakhs per annum. I appreciate your consideration. Based on my understanding of the market for similar roles and my relevant skills in Java development and the MERN stack that align with your current projects, I was hoping for something closer to ₹7 lakhs. Is there scope to discuss this further?"
When negotiating beyond base salary
"I understand that you may have certain constraints on the fixed component. Could we possibly discuss other aspects like joining bonus, performance-linked incentives, or support for pursuing certifications from NIIT or Coursera that would help me contribute more effectively to your projects?"
When concluding negotiations
"Thank you for revising the offer to ₹6.5 lakhs with the additional relocation allowance for moving to Hyderabad. I'm excited about joining your team and contributing to the fintech solutions we discussed. I'll review the offer letter and revert by Wednesday as mentioned."
How to negotiate salary with HR (Mid-level professionals)
Here are sample answers for mid-level professionals on how to negotiate salary:
When asked about salary expectations
"Based on my 4 years of experience leading development teams at [Previous Company] and successfully delivering three major projects for banking clients, I'm looking for a package between ₹18-22 lakhs per annum. This aligns with market standards for a senior developer with my expertise in cloud architecture and microservices. I'm also interested in understanding your ESOP options and variable pay structure."
When responding to a lower offer than expected
“I appreciate the offer of ₹16 lakhs. Looking at my contributions in my current role - managing a team of five developers and reducing deployment time by 40% through CI/CD implementation - along with my AWS certifications that directly apply to your cloud migration project, I believe a compensation closer to ₹20 lakhs would better reflect my value addition. Could we explore bridging this gap?"
When negotiating the complete package
"While the base salary of ₹17.5 lakhs is slightly below my expectation, I'd like to understand more about the complete compensation structure. What percentage of variable pay can I expect? Also, considering my relocation from Pune to Gurgaon, could we discuss a relocation package and perhaps flexibility for remote work 1-2 days per week?"
Countering with specific achievements
"The industry average for someone with my skill set and experience level is approximately ₹19-21 lakhs. In my current role, I've implemented data security protocols that reduced vulnerability incidents by 70% and saved the company approximately ₹30 lakhs in potential breach costs. These specific security skills will be directly applicable to your fintech platform's compliance requirements. Given this specialized expertise, could we reconsider the offered package?"
Closing the negotiation professionally
"Thank you for revising the offer to ₹19.5 lakhs with the quarterly performance bonus structure. The career progression path you've outlined, particularly the opportunity to lead the new product initiative after six months, makes this a compelling package. I'm excited about joining the team and contributing to your expansion into the APAC market. I'll send over the signed offer letter by tomorrow."
How to negotiate salary in an interview (Experienced professionals)
When discussing compensation expectations
"With over 12 years of leadership experience in enterprise software development and my track record of scaling teams from 15 to 85 professionals at TCS, I'm targeting a CTC of ₹45-55 lakhs. My recent experience delivering a ₹12 crore digital transformation project for an BFSI client positions me well to lead your core banking modernization initiative. I'd like to understand how your compensation structure balances fixed components, variable pay, and long-term incentives."
When responding to a lower offer
"Thank you for the offer of ₹38 lakhs. I appreciate your interest. Having successfully led the AI implementation at my current organization that generated ₹8 crores in additional revenue last fiscal year, and considering my specialized expertise in regulatory compliance within the financial sector, I believe a package of ₹48-50 lakhs would align better with market standards for professionals at my level. Could we discuss how to bridge this gap?"
Negotiating executive benefits
"The base compensation is getting closer to my expectations. At this career stage, I'm also evaluating the complete rewards structure. Could we discuss the executive benefits package – particularly the long-term incentive plan, leadership development programs, and retirement benefits? Also, given my relocation from Hyderabad to Mumbai, what housing assistance and education support for my children might be available?"
Positioning unique expertise
"As one of the few professionals in India with experience implementing large-scale quantum-resistant cryptography systems, I've helped my current employer secure contracts worth over ₹25 crores from government agencies. This specialized knowledge will be crucial for your upcoming defense sector projects. Considering this rare expertise, a package of ₹60 lakhs including ESOPs would reflect fair market value for this specialized skill set."
Closing negotiations professionally
"I appreciate the revised offer of ₹52 lakhs with the additional performance-linked incentives and joining bonus. The leadership position on your international expansion team aligns perfectly with my experience establishing operations in APAC markets. I'm excited about contributing to your growth strategy and building the Singapore office from the ground up. I'll review the detailed offer document and confirm my acceptance by Thursday as discussed."
How to negotiate salary in an interview (Mistakes to avoid)
Now that, you know how to negotiate salary with the HR, let’s walk through the mistakes to avoid while doing so;
- Don't discuss compensation too early - bringing up salary before the interviewer does shows you're more focused on money than the role.
- Never go unprepared - walking in without knowing industry standards and market rates for your position puts you at a severe disadvantage.
- Avoid providing a specific number when first asked - this limits your negotiation range immediately.
- Don't lie about your current salary or competing offers - this can backfire when references are checked.
- Never appear desperate - phrases like "I really need this job" or "I'll take anything" severely undermine your negotiating position.
- Avoid emotional responses - showing frustration, anger, or disappointment is unprofessional and weakens your position.
- Don't accept the first offer immediately - responding with "I'll take it!" gives away potential negotiation room.
- Never make personal needs the basis for negotiation - statements like "I need more because of my loan" aren't compelling to employers.
- Don't use aggressive or entitled language - phrases like "I deserve" or making demands can create a negative impression.
- Avoid mentioning salary figures on your resume or in initial application materials.
- Don't compare yourself directly to colleagues - saying "Rahul gets paid more than what you're offering me" is unprofessional.
- Never issue ultimatums unless you're prepared to walk away.
- Don't negotiate over email if you can help it - phone or in-person discussions allow for better reading of responses.
- Avoid settling for verbal promises about future raises without documentation.
- Don't focus solely on base salary - overlooking benefits, bonuses, and growth opportunities could mean missing valuable compensation.
Conclusion
How to negotiate salary? This crucial skill will serve you throughout your career journey.
Whether learning how to negotiate salary with HR during annual reviews or mastering how to negotiate salary in an interview for a new position, these abilities pay lifelong dividends.
When your compensation falls short of your performance or your raise disappoints, these negotiation techniques will help you advocate effectively for your true worth.
Further suggested reading:
7 Ways To Ask For Promotion And Hike
FAQs:
How to negotiate salary in an interview (example)?
"Thank you for the offer. I’m really excited about this opportunity and being part of your team. Based on my research and industry standards, a competitive salary for this role is around [your desired salary range]. Given my experience and the value I bring, is there flexibility to adjust the offer to better align with my expectations?"
How do you politely ask to negotiate salary?
You can frame it professionally and respectfully like this:
"I really appreciate the offer and the opportunity to join your team. I wanted to discuss the salary—based on my experience and market research, I was expecting something in the range of [desired salary]. Is there room for discussion on this?"
What is the best answer for salary negotiation?
The best answer is confident, data-driven, and open to discussion:
"I appreciate the offer and am excited about this role. Given my skills, experience, and the industry benchmarks, I believe a salary of [your target amount] would be more in line with my expectations. Is there flexibility in the budget to accommodate this?"
Can you negotiate salary at an interview?
Yes, but timing is key. If salary comes up early, it’s best to express openness and revisit it after an offer. If the employer brings it up later, you can negotiate.
"I’m open to discussing salary and would love to understand more about the role and expectations before finalizing a number. Based on my experience and the industry standards, I would be looking at a salary in the range of [your expected range]. Would that be feasible?"
