Salary Negotiation Prep
Know your number, understand the range, and practice saying it out loud.
Most people leave money on the table in salary negotiations because they haven't prepared. This workflow helps you research the market, anchor your ask appropriately, and practice the actual conversation until it feels natural.
The Workflow
Research the market rate
Before any negotiation, know the range. Use AI to interpret compensation data you've gathered from Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, or LinkedIn.
Help me interpret salary data for [JOB_TITLE] and determine my target range. Data I've found: - Glassdoor range: [GLASSDOOR_DATA] - LinkedIn data: [LINKEDIN_DATA] - Other sources: [OTHER_SOURCES] My situation: - Years of total experience: [TOTAL_EXPERIENCE] - Years specifically in this role type: [ROLE_SPECIFIC_EXPERIENCE] - Location: [LOCATION] (or remote if applicable) - Company size I'm targeting: [COMPANY_SIZE] - Special skills or certifications relevant to this role: [SPECIAL_QUALIFICATIONS] Please: 1. Help me interpret this data — what's the realistic range for someone with my profile? 2. Tell me what factors push me toward the top vs. bottom of the range 3. Recommend a specific anchor number and justify it 4. Give me a walk-away number (the minimum I should accept)
Replace: [JOB_TITLE], [GLASSDOOR_DATA], [LINKEDIN_DATA], [OTHER_SOURCES], [TOTAL_EXPERIENCE], [ROLE_SPECIFIC_EXPERIENCE], [LOCATION], [COMPANY_SIZE], [SPECIAL_QUALIFICATIONS]
Prepare your negotiation script
Practice the exact words you'll use — especially the awkward moments.
Help me prepare for a salary negotiation for [JOB_TITLE]. Offer I received: $[OFFER_AMOUNT] base + [OFFER_BENEFITS] My target: $[TARGET_SALARY] My walk-away: $[WALKAWAY_SALARY] My current or most recent salary: $[CURRENT_SALARY] Write scripts for these specific moments: 1. They ask "What are your salary expectations?" before making an offer 2. They make an offer below my target — my response 3. They say "That's the top of our range" — how I respond without immediately backing down 4. They push back and ask why I think I deserve more — my evidence-based response 5. The moment to stop negotiating and decide For each script: write the exact words, then note the tone (firm but warm / deferential / confident).
Replace: [JOB_TITLE], [OFFER_AMOUNT], [OFFER_BENEFITS], [TARGET_SALARY], [WALKAWAY_SALARY], [CURRENT_SALARY]
All Prompts for This Workflow
Help me determine my salary target for [JOB_TITLE]. Data sources: [SALARY_DATA] My experience: [TOTAL_EXPERIENCE] total years, [ROLE_SPECIFIC_EXPERIENCE] in this type of role Location: [LOCATION] Company size: [COMPANY_SIZE] Special qualifications: [SPECIAL_QUALIFICATIONS] What's my realistic range? What pushes me toward the top vs. bottom? Recommend a specific anchor number with justification and a walk-away minimum.
Replace: [JOB_TITLE], [SALARY_DATA], [TOTAL_EXPERIENCE], [ROLE_SPECIFIC_EXPERIENCE], [LOCATION], [COMPANY_SIZE], [SPECIAL_QUALIFICATIONS]
Prepare salary negotiation scripts for [JOB_TITLE]. Offer received: $[OFFER_AMOUNT] + [OFFER_BENEFITS] My target: $[TARGET_SALARY] Walk-away: $[WALKAWAY_SALARY] Write exact word scripts for: (1) when they ask my expectations before an offer, (2) when their offer is below my target, (3) when they say "that's the top of our range," (4) when they ask why I deserve more. Note tone for each.
Replace: [JOB_TITLE], [OFFER_AMOUNT], [OFFER_BENEFITS], [TARGET_SALARY], [WALKAWAY_SALARY]
Help me evaluate this total compensation package. Base salary: $[BASE_SALARY] Bonus structure: [BONUS] Equity: [EQUITY] (options / RSUs / vesting schedule) Benefits: [BENEFITS_LIST] PTO: [PTO_DAYS] days + [OTHER_TIME_OFF] Other perks: [OTHER_PERKS] My current total comp: $[CURRENT_TOTAL_COMP] Location comparison: [CURRENT_LOCATION] vs. [NEW_LOCATION] Calculate: 1. Total comp value annualized 2. How it compares to my current package (apples to apples) 3. Red flags in the structure I should negotiate on 4. What I should ask to improve if the base won't move
Replace: [BASE_SALARY], [BONUS], [EQUITY], [BENEFITS_LIST], [PTO_DAYS], [OTHER_TIME_OFF], [OTHER_PERKS], [CURRENT_TOTAL_COMP], [CURRENT_LOCATION], [NEW_LOCATION]
A market-calibrated salary target with justification, exact word scripts for the key negotiation moments, and a total compensation analysis to evaluate what's actually on the table.
- !Salary data from Glassdoor and LinkedIn can be significantly skewed — especially for senior roles or specialized fields. Use multiple data sources and weight them against each other.
- →Practice your anchor number out loud at least five times before the call. Most people flinch when saying a high number — practice reduces the flinch.
- →Negotiate via email when possible. It removes time pressure and lets you say what you actually mean rather than what comes out under stress.