How to Compare and Negotiate a Job Offer

Read the offer carefully

Ask for the offer in writing, and read every line before you reply. A verbal offer is only the start. The written document, usually a letter or a draft contract, is what counts. Note the following points and write down anything that is missing or unclear:

• Salary: is it gross or net, monthly or yearly, and in which currency? Gross is the amount before tax and social contributions, so it is not what arrives in your bank account. How many payments are made per year?
• Bonus and extras: is any bonus guaranteed, or does it depend on targets? Who decides, and how is it measured?
• Contract type: permanent, fixed-term, freelance or contractor, or an internship agreement. This affects your rights, your stability and sometimes your tax situation.
• Start date, working hours, overtime rules and the place of work, including how many days you can work remotely.
• Probation period: how long it is, and what the notice terms are during it.
• Notice period: how long you or the employer must give to end the contract after probation.
• Leave: paid holidays, public holidays, sick leave and any parental or study leave.
• Benefits: health insurance, pension contributions, transport, meals, equipment, training budget and similar items.
• Relocation: whether the employer pays for moving costs, temporary housing or visa support, and whether you must repay anything if you leave early.
• Conditions attached to the offer, such as background checks, references, proof of a degree or a work permit.

Compare offers beyond the salary figure

Two offers with the same salary can be very different in value. Before you compare, put them in the same form: the same period (yearly is simplest), the same currency, and the same basis (gross or net). If the offers are from different countries, check the real take-home pay with the official tax information of each country or a reliable local calculator, and compare it with the local cost of housing and transport. A high number in an expensive city may leave you with less than a modest number elsewhere.

Then look at what the number does not show. A simple way is to give each offer a score from one to five in these areas, and to write a short note beside each score:

• Learning: will you work with experienced people, get feedback and take on real tasks?
• Stability: contract type, the financial health of the employer and the length of the commitment.
• Growth: is there a clear path to more responsibility, and have people before you been promoted?
• Working conditions: hours, flexibility, commute, travel and the team culture you saw in interviews.
• Benefits and security: insurance, pension, paid leave and support for visas or relocation.
• Fit with your goals: will this job help with the next step you want, such as a master's degree, a specialist career or a move to another country?

Research a fair range

You cannot negotiate well without a realistic idea of the market. Use several sources and compare them, because any single figure can be wrong or old. Useful sources include salary information published by professional associations or government labor statistics offices, salary surveys, public pay scales for public-sector and international organizations, job postings that state a range, and conversations with people in similar roles. Online salary sites can help, but treat their numbers as rough, since they depend on who chose to enter data.

Adjust for the things that change pay: the country and city, the size and type of the organization (a startup, a large company, a university and a non-profit pay differently), your level of experience and the exact scope of the job. Write down a range with three numbers: the figure you would be happy with, a figure you would accept and a figure below which you would say no. Do this before the conversation, not during it.

When and how to negotiate

The best time to discuss terms is after you have an offer and before you accept it. At this point the employer has decided that it wants you, and your position is as strong as it will be. Avoid giving a firm salary number early in the process if you can; if a recruiter asks for expectations, give a researched range and say that you would like to understand the full role first.

Start by thanking the employer and showing that you are interested. Then ask for time to review the offer. A day or two, or up to a week for a major decision, is normal; ask politely and say when you will reply. Prepare your points, keep them few, and give reasons based on the job and your experience, not on personal needs. Raise everything in one conversation or one message rather than returning with new requests each day.

Decide what matters most to you. If the salary cannot move, other items sometimes can: a later or earlier start date, a signing payment, extra training, a flexible schedule, an early salary review, a clearer job title or relocation support. A request for a different item shows flexibility and gives the employer a way to say yes.

Example wording

Thanking and asking for time: "Thank you very much for the offer. I am very interested in the role and the team. Could I have until Friday to review the details and reply?"

Asking about salary: "I am excited about the position. Based on my research for similar roles in [city] and the responsibilities in the job description, I was expecting a salary closer to [figure or range]. Is there any flexibility on the salary?"

Asking about something else: "If the salary is fixed, would it be possible to review it after six months, or to include a training budget for [course or certification]?"

Asking for clarification: "Could you tell me more about how the bonus is calculated, and whether it is part of the contract?"

Accepting: "Thank you for considering my request. I am happy to accept the offer on these terms, and I look forward to joining the team on [date]. Please send me the final contract."

Keep the tone warm and factual. Do not say that you have other offers if you do not, and do not give ultimatums. If you do have another offer, you can say so honestly, for example that you have another offer with a deadline and would like to give an answer by then.

What is realistic, especially for graduates and interns

Some employers have fixed pay scales, especially public institutions, universities and many international organizations, and the starting salary may be set by grade and years of experience. In those cases, the room for negotiation is small, but you can still ask whether your previous experience, your degree or your language skills are counted when placing you on the scale.

As a graduate or intern, you have less bargaining power, but you can still ask politely. Reasonable requests include a clear description of tasks, a mentor, a review of pay after the probation period, help with transport or housing, or paid time for study. Check the rules about unpaid internships and minimum pay in the country where you will work, because they vary and are sometimes strictly regulated. If you are asked to work for free, ask what you receive in return and check the local rules from an official source.

Remember that a small difference in the first salary can add up over time, but the experience, the people and the reputation of the first role often matter more than a small gain in pay. Do not risk a good opportunity over a minor point.

How to decline an offer politely

If you decide not to accept, reply as soon as you have decided. A quick, kind answer helps the employer move to the next candidate, and keeps the door open for the future. You do not need to give a long explanation.

Template: "Dear [Name], thank you very much for offering me the position of [title]. I enjoyed meeting you and the team, and I appreciate the time you spent with me. After careful thought, I have decided to accept another opportunity that fits my current plans more closely, so I must decline. I wish you and the team every success, and I hope our paths cross again. Kind regards, [Your name]"

Do not accept an offer and then withdraw without a very serious reason. Once you have signed or accepted in writing, check the conditions in your contract and the local rules.

Red flags to watch for

• The employer refuses to put the offer or the contract in writing, or avoids questions about pay, hours and the type of contract.
• You are asked to pay a fee, to buy equipment from the employer, or to send money for a visa, training or a background check before you start. This is a classic scam sign.
• Pressure to answer within hours, with no time to read the contract.
• The job description in the contract is very different from what was discussed, or tasks are described vaguely, such as "other duties as required" without limits.
• Unclear legal status: no registered company, a freelance agreement for what is clearly a full-time job with fixed hours, or payment that is only in cash.
• Passport copies, bank details or other sensitive documents requested before there is a signed contract.
• Reviews from former employees that describe the same problem again and again, such as unpaid overtime or late salaries.