Negotiate Beyond Base Salary

Identify and script at least three high-value levers to use if the employer cannot meet your primary salary goal.

Open your current offer letter or a blank document to list potential benefits. Review the company's employee handbook if available to see which perks are standard versus negotiable.

1. List five non-monetary items important to you (e.g., extra PTO, remote days, professional development budget). 2. Rank these by value from 1 to 5. 3. Script a 'trade-off' sentence for each, such as 'If the base salary is fixed, I would like to discuss an additional week of vacation.' 4. Practice saying these aloud with a partner or into a recorder.

Focus on 'Total Rewards' rather than just a paycheck; companies often have more flexibility in benefit budgets than salary bands.