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Writing a salary negotiation counter offer letter is all about producing a well-balanced negotiation. Once you receive an offer, it’s likely you’ll be thrilled and want to readily accept the position on the spot.
However, it’s in your best interest to ensure that you’re fairly compensated for the position.
If the offered compensation or salary isn’t what you expected, constructing this kind of letter will necessitate that you take a sensible approach that won’t jeopardize your job proposal in any way.
Primary Points In Counter Offer Letters
A job proposal counter offer letter is the secret to getting a better job offer overall. Most hiring managers are open about negotiating the details surrounding a particular position.
Therefore, if you feel that the specifics or compensation of your potential employment aren’t fair based on your previous experience and what you can offer the organization overall, consider writing this kind of letter.
Essentially, your counter proposal letter should ideally address a number of primary points, some of which may include:
- Thank the company for their job proposal
- Ask for more negotiations
- Clearly point out what aspects of the contract you would like to negotiate
- Ask for the hiring manager’s response to your subsequent negotiations and your conditional statements
Job Proposal Counter Offer Letter Format
The general outline of your job proposal counter letter should ideally follow the same format as a traditional business letter for best results.
Be sure to include the date, name, and work address of the individual with whom you wish to negotiate along with a professional greeting as well.
At the very minimum, your letter should consist of three paragraphs. However, the overall length will depend on the number of aspects of the position you are negotiating. In truth, there’s not an actual standard format for this kind of letter.
The following paragraph guide and sample letter will help you get your letter going in the right direction and hopefully lead you to a successful end result.
Paragraph #1:
- Politely convey your appreciation for the job proposal
- Establish a tone by remaining sincere and direct
- Express your keen interest in working for their organization
- State how you can positively impact the company and emphasize your best selling points
Paragraph #2:
- Point out the first part of the job proposal you want to negotiate
- Name your counter offer
- Justify your counter offer with plausible research facts and statistics and your desire for fair compensation
Optional Paragraphs
If you have more than one point you want to negotiate concerning the job proposal, use one paragraph per point you want to make within your job offer counter letter.
It’s best to avoid putting every point of the negotiation into just one paragraph in a job proposal rejection letter.
Address one aspect of the job proposal in each. Once you’ve addressed each aspect you want to negotiate, you’re ready to write the final paragraph of your letter.
The Final Paragraph
- Use modesty and respect when negotiating your requests
- Restate how you can be an asset to the organization
- Express how much you are looking forward to working for their company
- If you’re comfortable with it, ask for a face-to-face negotiation or simply request a written reply if you are not
Here is a sample counter offer letter you can use:
Sample Counter Offer For Higher Salary
Jane Myers
123 Anywhere Road
Center City, IL 61081
February 16, 2022
To:
James Jones
Hiring Manager
Belford Hospital
123 Hospital Drive
Center City, IL 61081
Dear Mr. Jones
Thank you for graciously offering me the position for Medical Staff Administrator at Belford Hospital. I am very pleased and honored to be given the chance to fulfill the position and flattered that you’re considering me as a top candidate.
Before I join your elite team, I am hoping to negotiate a somewhat higher salary base. While your salary offer is generous, I am looking for an annual salary of $56,000.
I truly believe this dollar amount is more reflective of my current skills and past experience, which includes a full 12 years in the medical management field.
I hope we can set up a meeting in order to negotiate my salary at your earliest convenience. I am available all week and can be reached on my cell phone at (444) 444-4444 or by email at 123abc@example.com.
Again, thank you so much for this great opportunity and I look forward to finalizing the negotiations in the near future.
Sincerely,
Jane Myers