How to Negotiate Salary After Job Offer

Learn how to effectively negotiate your starting salary to get the value that you deserve. I've successfully negotiated increased salaries and packages with companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Accenture, and have advised others with companies like Google and Facebook. Not only have I negotiated packages, I've also served on the other side where I've delivered offers to candidates.
0:00 Introduction
0:30 My first negotiation
2:15 Understand your value in the eyes of the company
4:15 Tip 1 - Negotiate no matter what
8:41 Tip 2 - Get offers from multiple companies
11:20 Tip 3 - Get as much information as possible
11:53 Tip 4 - Don't set a low anchor
13:40 Tip 5 - Always focus on the value you'll bring
14:34 Wrap up

[@vivianmyers1536]

Great tips! Thank you Kevin. I most appreciated the candor and your providing actual examples of what has worked. Awesome sauce!

[@TheKarenjh]

Kevin!!! This is tremendously helpful. Continue breaking the mold, these are great!

[@KevinStratvert]

Thanks for the note Karen. Always appreciate your comments! :)

[@noy6184]

Very powerful advice. Today I negotiated first time in my life and get 45K more

[@elenapark6213]

Kevin! You are a great mentor~~ I've a job interview tmrw & I can use it. THANK YOU!!!!!

[@csimioni1]

Absolutely incredible! Tremendously helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@jingchaowang5532]

Thank you Kevin. I got my dream offer last week and for the first time in my life I negotiated for 10-20% more. Now I'm waiting to hear back and I'm very very nervous that I'm gonna lose the offer😂This video just gave me peace to my mind! Thank you

[@soothingrelaxation.sleepan3224]

Great video as always, Kevin.

[@FranciscoAngelino]

Can't thank you enough for this, really helped me out on my negotiation!

[@marillevelez1797]

WOW this was extremely helpful. I wish I would of negotiated my salary when I first started. Definitely will do this moving forward.

[@noy6184]

Thank you so Macy for sharing. That changes my mind.

[@kanikajindal]

amazing pointers. never thought about them.

[@derranstokes8760]

More brilliant content from you Kevin. Not only in salary negotiations but in day-to-day business your negotiating tips will help anyone just starting their career. Hopefully, anyone starting their first job will gain the confidence to negotiate for an improved offer. A better mobile phone and laptop was something I negotiated for when it was obvious the salary offer could not be increased at that time. I have also said yes to an initial offer with a guaranteed salary review within the first three months.

[@KevinStratvert]

Nice, I like you how negotiated a better mobile phone and laptop! Goes to show that negotiations aren't just limited to salary.

[@arjunsena6815]

I wish if I could speak like you flawlessly and confidently the next time when I am negotiating 😀

[@yogeshtangade1877]

Hi friend, this is really genuine and helpful. I never expected such content on your channel but this is really great. Keep do sharing your thought and guidance on another topics too.

[@evariel]

Great tips. Honest review from someone that I recommended this video a lot of times after he got his contract ended from previous employer. The interview went well, so did second interview. It got its way OK until the negotiations. All was asked was a USD25 increase for the basic. More like an extra hundred bucks if it's one to one basis. The company's HR claims that due to covid19, the max is decreased from 20% from previous salary, to only 15%. The total offered was 10% increase, with USD25 monthly "added bonus". Did the research about the company, from the review of it to feedbacks from customer. Presented well. Negotiated one's worth and more than a decade experience. HR came back a week later and say they're rescinding the offer. They're small company, they said. Management doesn't want to budge they said. Time to move on. First time saying no to the HR pressure. Sad not to be able to contribute to the company because they fit each other nicely. Except the management refused to meet in the middle in regard of salary. He knows he needs to continue looking now, but he needs to also have a financial security while focusing on the job even if it's an extra hundred bucks. At least he knows what is his worth now. Company S in Malaysia

[@habibsicttutorials6684]

This video is absolutely gem for people looking for new venture in the business/job world. I get highly motivated to see your videos and tutorials. Thank you

[@KevinStratvert]

Thanks for the kind words Habib! Btw, love all of your Excel videos!

[@habibsicttutorials6684]

Thank you Kevin! I appreciate your comment and videos. Keep up thr great work mate. Is it possible if I could contact you via email?

[@yittriumchin9699]

This is so helpful! Too bad I accepted my job offer lest few weeks without negotiating the package and I hope this video came out earlier...

[@donpeters2716]

Kevin, great video when preparing for a job interview. I want to mention one thing. I had a supervisor when he interviews, he picks the candidate who is the most quietest. I hired one person, who I picked will me all the department needs. That person has to go through the final interview through the supervisor. My supervisor gave him an offer. He asked can I negotiate on the offer, he asked what you say, can I negotiate. Then my supervisor said, you are not getting the job. Some supervisors are very picky on negotiation. If you don't accept the first offer, they kick you out. I did have some experiences with that.

[@KevinStratvert]

Ah, that's unfortunate :( If the supervisor is unwilling to entertain a negotiation when starting out, I'd hate to see what happens when it comes time to make a case for a promotion. On the interview itself, I usually let the candidate speak 80% of the time and I speak only 20% of the time. Interviews are short enough as is, and if I do most of the talking, it's hard to know what the candidate is capable of (other than being a good listener). Cheers!

[@errrzarrr]

For some managers is a ego thing. Even if they have the money and even if the candidate is worth that much, they won't pay because they see themselves week for paying 10$ more. Same reason they don't increase salaries to old good employers when they request it but they pay more to anew incomer

[@eastsideozzy]

Thank you so much!

[@oluwatobiyusuf]

Thank you for this video'

[@valeriaw.8501]

Hi Kevin.This is really interesting, thank you so much for all of this input! I wished I knew all of this before ... I have been working in a Co. and have been working there for 10 years, after this season, I’m planning on working independently. I provided a great deal of value, but I felt the Co. Was growing and I was part of it, but I wasn’t being acknowledged for it ... to make it more ‘interesting’, someone that is not very nice was hired as a GM, and the morale of the whole place went down ... So now, and have been doing for some time now, I am developing trainings, etc. I also do art and I am little by little writing a book ... There are a lot of things I want to do, and every time I’m developing something new, something new pops up in my mind as a future project ... I am a person that enjoys working on multiple things at the same time and then finish them at the same time, but I understand this is probably not the best from a time management point of view ... As you’re working independently now, I was wondering if you had any advice for me to handle my multiple interests & projects ... I guess focus is important, but we’re all different and I have always worked ‘in motion’, now I’m finding it a bit challenging from time to time to focus and be seating down for far too long ... Do you have any advice, programme, or personal experience that you can share with me ... I have read a lot from the Internet, but I still haven’t find the right way for me to handle both my ‘to do lists’ and my multiple projects ... Thanks a lot for listening to my challenge and sorry for the length of this email!!!!

[@valeriaw.8501]

And adding to the message below, I’m also very detailed orientated ... when I do something, I like doing it well, so I like to make it the best way I can’t ... doing it half way or getting away with it, is not an option for me ......... That delays the closure of projects too ..

[@hellprince1]

Hey man, I liked your video, though I wish you can expand a little more on the low anchor point. I've interviewed a bit, in the past, and that question is guaranteed to come up. So I really wish you could elaborate more specifically on what a good answer would be, with a practical (albeit possibly fictional) example, as I am interviewing for one of the companies you mentioned :D Have a great one, cheers!

[@noy6184]

Very helpful. More people should see this 😊

[@mratomist6850]

I was just scrolling through your channel and got a new video. Thanks for great content. Even before watching video.

[@KevinStratvert]

I appreciate that!

[@mratomist6850]

@@KevinStratvert It's my pleasure.

[@Jiyun124]

Thumbs up!!!! Thank you

[@Aliusmi]

Nice.

[@agcambotmamietvofficial225]

Wow, that's great!

[@KevinStratvert]

Thanks for the note Amanda!

[@a-a-ronn2785]

You are a freaking genius. I love you. Lol

[@wachhagottoday]

Hi Kevin, Great content. Can I just ask about the part where you mentioned if two companies are wanting to hire a candidate then they can use that to their advantage by going back and forth between those 2 Companies to negotiate salary and hence create more value for themselves. My question to you on that is : Anyone can do that even if they did not get a second job offer. Will the companies just give in when one says, " I have another offer" Would the companies ask for proof before they go about negotiating several times?

[@mediatv3085]

Thanks Kevin

[@ajayakumarmohapatra1075]

Nice suggestion,but I missed,bcz I joined a company before 4months ...but I must remember Ur suggestion for next...👏👏👏🙏🙏

[@CuriousMind1011]

Great video!

[@KevinStratvert]

Thanks for the note Bieber!

[@conniemwwong]

Hi Kevin, great video. What do you answer when they ask for your current salary? Could you give an example?

[@YOGAAF]

nice content amazing

[@sarahjeffry3748]

thanks for sharing such valuable information. I managed to pass on site interview with one of the big tech companies and I am 4 months peragnent. And i want to share this with recruiter but I am not sure when and how to share this without damaging my package or even putting the opportunity in jeopardy ! Can you please give me some tips on that?

[@adedayoadebagbo2537]

Hi Kevin, This is impactful and interesting. one question i would like to ask, is it okay for some to negotiate anoffer for an internship position?

[@TheWHADDIX]

Thank you for all the content Kevin, any tips on how to handle a negotiation where the company is pressing you to provide a number for your salary? I don't want to give them an anchor the next time this should come up.

[@KevinStratvert]

Hey Will - many states have laws that you don't have to provide salary histories when applying for a new job. Nonetheless, I'd simply say something like "I prefer to not disclose my previous salaries. Instead, I've demonstrated what my value is for the organization through the interview process and I'll leave it to you to determine what fair compensation for that is." Ideally then they come back at a level well above your current compensation. If it comes in too close to what you're currently making, you can say "the offer isn't significantly above what I'm making today and I need it to be more compelling for me to seriously consider this."

[@TheWHADDIX]

@@KevinStratvert Thank you!

[@mateiacd]

I agree and liked all you've said. What it seems "from the movies" is the story starting from 10:40, I am not sure is a good idea to say you have a better offer from another company, seems a bit unprofessional, unless the person is very skilled and experienced.

[@geekspeak1066]

If u do the research the anchor principal can work in ur favor.

[@pratikshedge]

Thanks for the insightful content. have a question- so i recently got an offer i gave a number and they came back 30k above that so i verbally accepted it. I still havent received official offer letter yet and i have another offer now from a different company- would you advice to use this as leverage at the first company to get more on the RSUs since i havent got official letter yet?

[@maylinnr]

Thanks for the tips! Unfortunately, the MS recruiter pushed me to tell them my current compensation package (which isnt too bad for my age) and I later found out that I said a too low number (im not used to talk in total packages, only base salary). Do you think I still have some negotiation room? I do have another offer from another company I could use.

[@justiner1332]

Would you also apply these tips to internal promotions? Do you have any other advice?

[@johns1159]

Hi Keven, I've already had what I believe to a successful Teams interview with Microsoft. How long do they usually take to get back to you.

[@bitabazooyar20]

Not related to the current video, but I started learning Excel with your videos and really appreciate it. Could you please give some explanation on how to get the number of multiple words in a sheet with just one formula(not the sum of them)? I want to count some words but don't want to use Countif for every word because it is so time consuming.

[@ivanwill]

I have always felt somewhat nervous with negotiating salary. I tend to what to prove myself and skill, THEN, come year two, I press for a high salary. Albeit, I do ask for more time off. Regardless, another great video. In addition, this is a brilliant time to share a video like this. Even more so as 30+ million of Americans are out of work. Good insight and tips!

[@KevinStratvert]

Hey Ivan - agreed, I've also been nervous when it comes to negotiating. Then I got some practice asking up front and I got more out of it, so now I just do it automatically :) It's the easiest money I've ever made.

[@nicoleskipper380]

Hi Kevin, Can you explain a bit more on how you avoid giving a number value for your salary expectations? My main reason for asking is, most online applications only allow a number value be put as an answer. I understand the concept if speaking to the interviewer, but what would you put on the application?

[@KevinStratvert]

I’d leave it blank or put a number considerably greater than what you’re earning now, otherwise you set an anchor.

[@nicoleskipper380]

@@KevinStratvert Thanks! One more question... what is an accepted time expectation for responding to a job offer?

[@TPM1878]

What response should you give to the question "What is salary are you looking for"?.... I know you said it's best not to get into numbers, but what answer do you give when the recruiter jumps into numbers?

[@ShivdevSingh]

I usually go 20-25k more than what you are currently getting. so if you are currently getting 80k and interviewing at other companies, float 100k or 105k. In my experience given inflation and the cost of losing your current network etc, it makes sense.

[@noy6184]

Is it ok after they offer on the phone but I want to ask 3 days to think about it?

[@desmondbelphegor7373]

Hey Kevin! I just got an offer from Microsoft and I managed to avoid the anchor mistake! Thanks so much for your advice! I was wondering, given your experience, how flexible Microsoft is in the base salary / sign-on and new-hire equity? In your video, it seems like the base salary is pretty fixed, but how "fixed" it is? Like a 20% bump is okay? :) How do you negotiate the stock? Are you just asking "I'd like more" or are you asking for a bump of "x%?"? Thanks again so much for your help!

[@snowliezzz]

I'm having troubles thinking about this too as I'm in the negotiations process w Microsoft too... I did wonder too if 20% bump is okay lol

[@AYUSHGamingTV]

What was your salary?

[@avinoamrothenberg1244]

Skills for life. But why the dramatic lighting?

[@KevinStratvert]

Ha, I'll have to adjust that. I have a key light, a back light, and I rely on a window for the fill. In Seattle we've been having a dark beginning to the summer, so the fill wasn't so much of a fill and you get more dramatic lighting :)

[@avinoamrothenberg1244]

@@KevinStratvert 👻

[@gussta1]

I think this works fine with larger companies, but small and mid size companies wont always negotiate. It's worth a shot, but don't be surprised if they wont bump your offer.

[@KevinStratvert]

Asking doesn’t cost anything :)

[@ohdoodleshop4069]

what are you supposed to answer when they ask you what are your salary expectations, You need to answer something could you give an example how to respond to that?

[@austins2424]

First of all you need to know the absolute lowest you are willing to go and make sure the recruiter is aware of this. I think the best practice would be at least 10% bump up from your current salary. You also need to factor in if you are relocating the differences in cost of living (there are calculators for this online). All that being said, I definitely recommend studying up on the average salaries for that particular role/location on sites like Glassdoor, that way you aren’t under selling yourself either and you can maybe get a good grasp of what others are being paid. For the top range, it isn’t necessarily needed but I’d say maybe add 25-30% to your bottom range and that’ll suffice if the recruiter requires it.

[@farjanamoonmoon7777]

Who is the dream thief said (Awesome Sauce)

[@amolkumawat9770]

Are you a Robot which Microsoft has placed to test with humans? I like your content anyway.. Just tell us if you are one.

[@Kai_098.]

CAN YOU MAKE VIDEOS WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING OR VLOGGING

[@KevinStratvert]

Can you tell me more? Are you looking for info on how to make a video of yourself playing a game?

[@tarahoat6901]

A fantastic way to get yourself blackballed from two companies is to conduct more than one round of counter-negotiations trying to up the ante. If you're not a bonafide specialist in a bleeding tech, like AI and ML, you will lose out in the longer run. In fact, it is usually a great way to get yourself blackballed at Company A for a while if you used their offer to up the package of Company B. There are a few ways around this, sure - but many ATS CRM's nowadays keep post-interview notes and they are surfaceable by a name search alone and those records are maintained for an average of 8 years at US tech companies. Source: Me - an experienced SME and worked HR IT in all 3 named tech companies over 20 years.

[@sarahjeffry3748]

@Tara Hoat, you mean company A recruiter can see what company B recruiter has offered to a candidate?

[@KingKing-jj7yl]

My power point is 2007 how can I update plz reply

[@KevinStratvert]

You can get the latest version on office.com. You can use it on the web for free if you sign in or you can subscribe to Microsoft 365 to get the desktop app.

[@phojie6868]

"PRIVATE JET" HAHAHAAHA

[@vaiku8453]

Not a very useful content , you are asking money from big company which they easily do asking from mid level company and startups is way to difficult

[@kuatprintyards]

Your intros are too dang long

[@BellottiSchrader]

Get to the fucking point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jasonrobertsutliff]

Without clearly stating what you have been offered and what you have accepted, you make this video absolutely pointless and useless. I'm out ...