7 Salary Negotiation Strategies Every Office Professional Should Use (but Not)
Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
Honestly – good intentions are making most professionals uncomfortable. Even smart, capable people are not ready for these conversations or avoid them altogether.
But here is the fact: You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. Whether you are exploring new jobs or looking for a pay raise, these are seven negotiation strategies used in an office setting.
These are not heads. They are based on research, practical experience and common sense.
🎯1. Know who you want to convince
Is your salary conversation going with your boss or through HR? If it is HR, please talk to your manager first. They may not be able to control their budget, but they Will affect The result behind the scenes.
✅ Managers are often more aware of their salary decisions than people realize. 📚Source: Harvard Business Review
🗣2. Script your question – then practice
Don’t wings. Most people know their phone number but stumbled upon it to ask.
Avoid saying:
“I want to have a price of $60,000 to $70,000.” You’ll hear: “Let’s make $60,000.”
Instead, say:
“Based on my experience and the market, my goal is $68,000.”
Write it down. Say it out loud. rehearse. role play. Confidence is a muscle – build it before a conversation.
🧠3. Looking forward to their pushback
You are not negotiating in a vacuum. Think in advance:
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What are their budget restrictions?
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Are there any internal compensation equity issues?
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Is timing a problem?
Prepare to respond directly:
“I know the timing is tight. But I contributed $40,000 to savings through process improvements, and it’s about how we reflect that.”
📅4. Appear like a professional – First impression is important
Whether in person or on Zoom, Don’t be sloppy, late or unprepared. Before mentioning salary, your professionalism sends a clear message to your value.
🧠 Studies show that people form their first impressions in milliseconds and are often difficult to change. 📚Source: Princeton Research, Willis and Todorov (2006)
💬5. Start with harmony, no need
Chatting is not fluff. It builds trust and softens the conversation that could have been high-stakes.
Smile. Ask a question. Reflect their tone. It means you are a person, not a transaction.
🤝Building rapport increases the possibility of collaborative negotiation outcomes. 📚Source: Stanford University School of Business
📈6. Back up your questions with real evidence
Don’t think they remember your achievements. With receipt:
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KPI, you hit
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Projects you lead
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Recommendations from customers or peers
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Positive evaluation or performance data
“I have led two initiatives over the past six months to reduce operating costs by 18%.
📊”Data beats opinion.” – Jeff Weiner, former CEO of LinkedIn
🔄7. Not just negotiate salary
If you can’t feel at ease with the basic salary, please expand the discussion. consider:
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More PTO
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Remote or hybrid flexibility
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Professional Development Allowance
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Sign or retain bonus
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Commuter or parenting benefits
Negotiate multiple projects Create space for compromise And increase your chances of taking away something valuable.
📚Study shows that multiple negotiations lead to better results than single talks. Source: Harvard Negotiation Plan
💬The last sentence: Closed mouth will not be fed
Being a great employee doesn’t mean quiet. If you are waiting for recognition and rewards without talking, you are playing the wrong game.
“You missed 100% unshot footage.” – Wayne Gretzky (by Michael Scott)
💵Bonus: Know your value before asking
Use data to anchor your questions. Free tools to benchmark your market value:
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Glassdoor Salary Explorer
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Payscale salary research
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Levels.fyi (especially for technology and company roles)
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Talk to peers, mentors and former managers
What you can do now:
✅Script Your salary
✅Back it with 3 clear achievements
✅Check your market price
✅Practice loudly before your next conversation
ⓒThe Big Game Hunter Company in Asheville, North Carolina 2025
Put your hands in salary negotiations
About Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
People hired big game hunter Jeff Altman to not offer any BS job coaching and career advice worldwide because he makes your career easier.
Thanks
You will find excellent information and job search coaches at Jobsearch.community to help you with your search job.
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Schedule a phone call that you found and talk to me to learn about your one-on-one or group coaching while you are working www.thebiggamehunter.us.
A great
He is the host of “Base-free Broadcasting Station”, the first podcast in iTunes for job search, with more than 3,000 episodes in over 13 years.
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