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Hiring Managers expect you to negotiate.

“But if I ask for more, they might pull the offer," you say.

If you’ve ever thought that, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common fears I hear from clients - especially when they finally land a role that seems like the perfect next step.

(I recently had a client who came to me after 18 months on the job search and once he got an offer, he definitely didn't want to do anything to jeopardize it).

But here’s the truth:
​Hiring Managers expect you to negotiate.

In most industries - especially in functions like tech, finance, marketing, consulting, and in any type of leadership role - the first offer isn’t the final offer. It’s a starting point. When you accept too quickly, it doesn’t make you look grateful. It makes you look inexperienced.

That might sound harsh. But it’s also freeing.
Because once you stop seeing negotiation as a risk, you can start using it as a strategy.

Negotiation ≠ Conflict

Negotiation doesn’t mean you're being difficult.
It means being clear.

You're not threatening anyone. You're having a professional conversation about aligning the offer with your value, your priorities, and your life.

At the end of the day a hiring manager wants to understand what you need so that they can create a positive working contract - so that you want to stay working on their team.

If you don't communicate, they'll never know (remember, hiring managers aren't mind readers).

But most of us weren’t taught that.

Especially if you were raised to “just be grateful” for opportunities…
Especially if you’re part of a group that’s been conditioned to be “easy to work with”…
Especially if you’ve been burned before for asking for more…

…it makes total sense that your first instinct is to smile, say thank you, and sign the offer as fast as possible.

That instinct? It's expensive.

The $10K Mistake (and What It Really Costs You)

Let’s say you leave $10K on the table because you don’t want to rock the boat.

That $10K doesn’t just disappear once. It becomes your new baseline - your next salary anchor, the starting point for future raises, bonuses, even promotions.

Give it a few years - and that $10K mistake quietly becomes $30K… then $60K… then six figures.

Not negotiating isn’t playing it safe.
It’s quietly shrinking your financial future.

What You’re Leaving on the Table

Here’s the good news: you can negotiate way more than just salary. Sometimes the extras matter more.

Here’s what’s usually on the table:

• Base Salary – Start here, but don’t stop here. Use market data + your value (need help? I got you).
• Signing Bonus – A one-time cushion to ease your transition.
• Equity or RSUs – Ask about vesting and secondary options.
• Flexibility – Remote days, async options, compressed weeks.
• Vacation Time – Especially if “unlimited PTO” is code for “never used.”
• Professional Development – Coaching, conferences, continued ed.
• Title & Scope – Make sure your title matches your impact.
• Start Date – Need more runway? Ask.

🟡 Pro tip: Bundle your requests. Don’t nickel-and-dime. Be thoughtful and concise.

Ask Smart, Not Scared

You don’t need a TED Talk. Just a few confident sentences. Try these:

You're not demanding. You're discussing.
Remember, it’s just a conversation.

(also, how a hiring manager handles this conversation is an important indicator as to whether they'll be a good boss or not. Pay attention!)

The Negotiation Checklist

Before you say yes, ask yourself:

✅ Do I know what matters most to me in this offer?

✅ Have I asked for what I actually want?

✅ What are all the options available to me?

✅ Am I making this decision from clarity, not fear?

Remember, you can do this.

Need help working though an offer? Book an on-demand coaching session to work through your offer details with me. ​

I'll help figure out your strategy as well as what to say and how to say it.

(the last client who I helped do this was able to negotiate a 9% raise on a multi-6-figure offer, that was 37.5x ROI on his coaching investment)

👉 Click here to book your Negotiation Coaching Session.

Sitting on an offer? Let’s talk through it.

Until next week,

Beckie

​

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