Job offer negotiation is the process through which employers and prospective employees work together to establish a mutually agreeable hiring package. Negotiation is about more than the salary you receive, though salary levels are often at the center of negotiation conversations. It can also be about non-monetary benefits, growth opportunities, and quality–of–life factors that make a position suitable for the long term. Negotiation is expected and welcome in most US hiring contexts; no matter how anxious you are to land a job, you do not have to accept the first offer that an organization makes.
For negotiation advice personalized to your situation, please make an appointment with a UChicagoGRAD career advisor. Negotiation norms vary by industry and organization, and your advisor can help you get a sense of what might be “on the table” when it comes to your job offer. Your advisor can also coach you on how to hold a successful negotiation conversation.
Want to learn more about negotiation? View the “Career 30: Negotiation Best Practices” video tutorial in the GRAD Gargoyle Content Library.
