If the company is reaching out to schedule a second interview, reply to the person who emailed you that you are excited to come back and ask if they are the right person to speak to about compensation for this job. [4] X Research source
It is unethical and in some cases illegal for a company to ask about candidates’ confidential information like current salary. This is a privacy violation. The State of Massachusetts made it illegal starting in 2018 for an employer to ask about past earnings. New York City and Philadelphia have passed similar laws. [6] X Research source If a recruiter asks about your current salary, reply by stating the salary range you are focusing on in your job hunt and ask if this position falls in that range. [7] X Research source If the company insists on knowing your current salary, you should probably walk away from the job. They will likely not be good employers since they are behaving unethically. [8] X Research source
You might be asked what your target salary is before the starting salary is disclosed, which is another good reason to have your salary range in mind already. Research will help you to determine your salary range. You can use websites like Glassdoor and Payscale again to get a sense of what professionals with similar experience and education to your own make in your field and city. [9] X Research source Special skills, such as knowledge of specific computer programs, years of experience, and levels of education, for instance having a graduate degree, can make you a desirable candidate and might help you command a higher salary than the average in your field. [10] X Research source
Although it would be helpful if the salary range was listed in the job advertisement, many companies don’t disclose it because they are probably hoping to find a candidate who is unaware of their own market worth and the average salary range in the field, whom they can lowball. That’s why it’s helpful to do your research before asking about salary. [12] X Research source
Another advantage to asking about salary in a reply message is that you don’t have to think of a subject line of your own for the email.
There are some disadvantages to negotiating salary via email. Some experts believe that negotiation is better done face-to-face, and that an email can read more like a list of demands than a dialogue between employer and employee. [15] X Research source
Don’t use a subject line such as “Salary negotiation. " This is too blunt. You don’t want to come across as pushy or entitled. [17] X Research source
If your communications have been formal so far, address the email with “Dear” followed by the recipient’s prefix (Dr. , Mr. , Ms. , etc) and last name, then a comma and a line break before beginning your message. [19] X Research source If you’re unsure of your recipient’s preferred prefix, for example Mrs. or Ms. , simply write out their entire name with no prefix. [20] X Research source If your interactions have been more informal, consider replacing “Dear” with “Hello” or “hi” and using the recipient’s first name. [21] X Research source
Remember to always use complete, grammatically-correct sentences and to proofread your email for typos. You want to convey professionalism. Never use emojis or abbreviations like “LOL” that you might in text messages.
Don’t use phrases like “Are you sure you can’t do any better?” This leaves the company room to simply reply no. When you give an actual counteroffer, you’re making the company respond to that specific amount and making it more difficult for them to say no outright. [24] X Research source Avoid using an argumentative or pushy tone. Making a combative, categorical statement like “I will not accept anything less than [x amount]” is ineffective. [25] X Research source
For example, after listing the qualifications that will make you an excellent employee for the company, you might say that based on your research, the average salary for comparable positions in your city is [x amount], and you would like to discuss moving your proposed salary closer to that figure. [27] X Research source Your justification for your salary should be based on your skills and the average salary range for this position. Don’t try to build your case on arguments about how you personally need a higher salary to be able to pay your bills. [28] X Research source
Be aware that even if you begin negotiating your salary over email, you might end up discussing it over the phone at some point in the process. [31] X Research source
