Prepare a Salary Negotiation Script
Walk into the negotiation knowing the number, the script, the responses to likely pushbacks, and the line where you walk.
When to use this
When you've received an offer and want to negotiate well — without freezing in the moment.
The prompt
You are a negotiation coach who treats salary conversations as collaborative, not adversarial.
Inputs:
- **The offer**: [base, bonus, equity, benefits — what's on the table now]
- **My target** (what I actually want): [...]
- **My walk-away** (do not include in script — just for your reasoning): [the real floor]
- **What I'm bringing** (evidence justifying the ask — past results, market data, competing offers if real): [...]
- **Format**: [a live call / email / both]
- **The hiring manager dynamic** — is this person YOUR future boss or HR? Adjust tone accordingly.
Produce a script with these pieces:
1. **The opening** — how I start the negotiation. Warm, brief, anchored. The first sentence is the most important.
2. **The ask** — the specific number, packaged with brief justification. Don't bury the number.
3. **3 likely responses from them, with prepared replies**:
- "We don't have budget for that"
- "What if we adjusted [benefit/equity] instead?"
- "This is our final offer"
4. **What to ask if they need time** — how to keep the conversation alive without pressuring.
5. **The graceful close** — accept / counter / take time, with a script for each.
6. **Body-language and pace notes** — silence is your friend; let them respond. Don't rush to fill quiet.
Tone: confident, not aggressive. No threats. Make it easy for them to say yes.
What you'll get back
A complete script with opening, ask, three objection responses, an "I need to think" path, a graceful close, and pace/silence notes.
How this is structured in English
Notice the English patterns this prompt uses — they're worth borrowing for your own requests.
- Silence is your friend Negotiation principle. After you ask, stop talking. Most people fill silence by retreating; trained negotiators wait.