Salary negotiation scripts and strategy

Plan a raise or job-offer negotiation with a target range, word-for-word scripts and answers to likely pushback.

Change note: Initial version

Prompt

Be my negotiation coach. I need a practical plan and exact wording, not general advice.

Situation: {{situation}}
Role and level: {{role}}
Location: {{location}}
Current or offered compensation: {{current_offer}}
My market research or target: {{target}}
My leverage and strengths: {{leverage}}
Other things I value besides base pay: {{other_priorities}}
Channel: {{channel}}

Produce:
1. A brief assessment: how strong my position is, what could be missing and what to research before talking.
2. A target range with three numbers: ideal ask, acceptable outcome, walk-away point. Explain the reasoning and how to anchor with a specific number rather than a range.
3. A word-for-word opening script for the {{channel}}, then scripts for these moments: they say budget is fixed; they ask for my current salary or expectations; they need time to think; they offer less than my target.
4. A non-salary list (equity, bonus, title, review timeline, flexibility, learning budget) ranked by my stated priorities, with phrasing for each ask.
5. A short list of mistakes to avoid.

Keep the tone collaborative and confident. Do not suggest bluffing or false claims about other offers. If key information is missing, ask up to three questions first.

Variables

• {{situation}}Situationselect

  Options: I received a job offer, I want a raise at my current job, I am being promoted

  Default: I received a job offer

• {{role}}Role and leveltext

  Default: senior data analyst

• {{location}}Locationtext

  Default: Chicago, IL

• {{current_offer}}Current pay or offertext

  Default: $112,000 base offered

• {{target}}Target or market datatext

  Default: comparable roles are $120,000 to $135,000

• {{leverage}}Your leveragelong

  Default: Led a project that saved $400k; two years with SQL and Tableau; hired quickly after two interviews.

• {{other_priorities}}Other prioritiestext

  Default: remote days, a learning budget, review at six months

• {{channel}}Channelselect

  Options: email and phone call, in-person meeting, email only

  Default: email and phone call

Example output

**1. Assessment**
Your position is solid: the offer is about 7% under the low end of the market you found. Before the call, confirm the numbers with two more sources, since employer data can lag.

**2. Range**
Ideal ask: $130,000. Acceptable: $122,000 plus a six-month review. Walk-away: below $116,000 with no review.
Anchor with one number: "Based on the scope and what I've seen for comparable roles, I'm looking for $130,000."

**3. Scripts**
Opening: "Thank you, I'm excited about the team. I'd like to talk about compensation. Based on the scope and my experience, I was expecting something closer to $130,000. Is there flexibility?"
Budget is fixed: "I understand. If base can't move, could we look at a signing bonus or a six-month salary review?"
They ask for expectations: "I'd rather focus on what the role is worth in the market. For this scope, I see $125,000 to $135,000."

**4. Non-salary asks (in order)**
Review at six months, two remote days, $1,500 learning budget.

**5. Avoid**
Accepting on the call, apologizing for asking, quoting a range with a low bottom.

Notes

The walk-away number and rehearsed pushback answers are what keep people from caving in the moment. Practice the scripts aloud before the real conversation.