How to Negotiate Your First Job Offer—and Start Earning What You Deserve

By Jasmine Escalera, Career Expert at MyPerfectResume

Landing your first job after graduation can be more than just thrilling. It can be the setup for long and lasting career success. But have you thought about how your first job offer will shape not just your career but also your financial future? 

There is one critical move that many early career professionals overlook or feel doubtful about and that’s negotiating their starting salary. You might think you don’t have enough experience or you’re just feeling really grateful for landing an offer. But the truth remains, negotiation is one of the most powerful tools to set the tone for your financial growth. If you don’t negotiate, you could end up underpaid and overworked starting day one. In fact, according to data from resume builder MyPerfectResume, 71% of U.S. workers rely on secondary income sources to make ends meet. Even more concerning is that 35% say they need secondary income to cover basic living expenses like housing and groceries. And the impact of being underpaid goes beyond your bank account—a report from Zety, a go-to source for resume templates, found that 70% of workers feel disengaged at work due to their current pay.

You deserve way more than burning yourself out to cover your lifestyle. You deserve a job that will give you the financial stability and foundation to grow, and that starts with negotiating your first job offer. Negotiation is all about recognizing your value and if you’re unsure how to approach it, just follow these key steps. 

Step 1: Setting yourself up before the offer lands in your inbox

Negotiation starts even before the offer. In fact, it begins before you start the interview process. Here is what you need to get started. 

Research the market

The key to starting any negotiation with confidence is knowing what the role typically pays in your industry, location, and at your level. This isn’t about just collecting data. It’s about arming yourself with information that can shape the success of any negotiation. Use tools like Payscale.com, Salary.com, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn Salary Insights to gather reliable salary data. Having these ranges gives you perspective on what to ask for during negotiations and what to expect when an offer comes your way. 

Ask about money in networking conversations

This might feel cringe, but it’s the most powerful and underused way to get the low-down on salary. Talking to other professionals already in your position or field of choice is a great way to learn what you should be making even when you’re starting out. 

Here is a script you can use in any networking chat:

“I really admire the work you’re doing in your career. I’m currently exploring roles in [industry or job type], and I’m doing some research to make sure I have a good understanding of the market. If you’re comfortable, could you share what a typical salary range might look like for someone starting out in this kind of role?”

Having the confidence to ask about salary in networking chats will ensure you are ready to get the best outcome from any job offer. 

Know your financial bottom line

Knowing your bottom line isn’t just about a starting salary. It’s about setting yourself up to meet your financial and life goals longterm. Before going into any job search it is essential to ask yourself some key questions like:

• What do I need to cover my current basic expenses?
• What are my financial goals for the next 1-3 years?
• Do I want to start saving, investing, or have other financial goals my salary should support?

Use this information to create our “walk-away” number which is the lowest salary you can realistically accept without putting yourself in financial distress. Remember that negotiating isn’t just about what you want, but also what you need to build a stable foundation for your future. 

Step 2: After you receive the offer for the role

You got the offer and it’s time to celebrate right? YES, and it is also time to negotiate. Here are some key things to consider. 

Never accept right away

No matter how excited you are about receiving an offer you always have to take the time to review it fully. You can make a request for time by saying something like:

“Thank you so much for the offer. I’m very excited about the opportunity. I’d like to take some time to review everything and get back with questions. What is your timeline for a response?”

This gives you time to assess whether the offer meets all of your needs and start to prepare your negotiation strategy. 

Assess everything that is on the table

Assessing an offer means looking at more than just the base salary. You must also consider:

• Health benefits
• Paid time off
• Remote or hybrid flexibility
• 401(k) match or retirement plans
• Professional development support 
• Signing or relocation bonuses 

If the salary is below your expectations but the benefits are strong, the role might work for you —for now. But never ignore both your professional and financial goals and needs. 

Step 3: Negotiate your offer with confidence and clarity 

There are two important things you need to know about negotiation. First, you can always negotiate even as an early career professional and second, companies actually expect you to do it. So here is how you can handle any negotiation with confidence. 

Lead with gratitude and your value

Negotiation isn’t about making demands but instead communicating clearly your value and the contributions you know you’ll make to the role. When you’re ready to discuss your terms, try out this template script:

“Thank you again for the offer and I’m excited about the opportunity to join the team at [Company]. Based on our conversations, I know you’re looking for someone who can [reference 1–2 key responsibilities or challenges they mentioned in the interview], and I believe my experience in [relevant skill/project] and my background in [relevant training or degree] position me to contribute right away. Based on my research and the value I can bring, I was hoping to see a salary closer to $[your target]. Is there flexibility to meet that number?”

This start to the negotiation shows you aren’t just grateful for the offer, but also knowledgeable about your value and ask. 

Be ready to collaborate

It is key to know that asking for more salary won’t always get you what you desire. Although a company may not meet your exact number, be open to listening to what else they might offer like a signing bonus, mid-year raise, or remote work options. Also, know ahead of time what you are willing to accept and your dealbreakers so that when you say yes, you’re confident it’s the right move for you both financially and professionally. 

Negotiating your first job offer goes beyond just your paycheck. It’s pivotal in setting the tone for your financial future. You deserve a career that doesn’t just fund your living expenses, but sets you up to hit your financial goals. The key to landing what you want is staying strong in the process and knowing your worth, value and needs. Negotiate like your financial future depends on it because guess what, it does.