Salary Planning and Negotiation

Offers and Salary Negotiation Information

Formal Job Or Internships Offers

Congratualations! Your hard work has landed you a job or internship offer! Now you may have to choose whether or not to accept and/or negoriate the offer(s). Offer letters or calls provide formal confirmation of the position offered and may clarify terms such as:

  • Job/Internship title
  • Salary
  • Start date
  • Supervisor's name
  • Deadline for responding.

The organization may also provide information about benefits. Benefits may include:

  • Vacation
  • Sick leave
  • Health plans
  • Disability insurance, short term
  • Relocation/moving expenses
  • Stock options
  • Retirement (401k or403b plan)
  • Profit sharing
  • Educational assistance/tuition reimbersement
  • Training and development
  • Health and fitness
  • Bonus-signing or performance
  • Commission
Ways To Evaluate The Salary Offered
  1. List the criteria you were looking for when you started your search. 
  2. Look over your critieria and give them a number rank
  3. Evaluate the offer by analyzing how well it meets your ranked criteria

Does the position offer you most of the items that you definitely want? Do you need more time or information to make your decision? If so, you can ask the employer for an extention but be prepared to explain why you need the extra time. If you are having a hard time deciding, make an appointment with a career advisor. 

Should I Negotiate?

If you have conducted salary research and found that the offer is fair, you may decide to accept it. Some emplyers have a policy of starting new employees at a set pay rate, while others allow for some negotiation. Public sector employers often have salary scales for various classes of jobs, and inexperienced hires generally start at the first step on the salary scale. In the private sector there is more possibility of there being a negotiation of your pay. Do your research before the interview so you can advocte fairly for yourself.

Salary Negotiation Research/Links

Source: Offers and Negotiation, UCBerkeley Career Center