Salary Negotiation: How to Ask for More (With Scripts)

Do Your Research First

Before any negotiation, know the market rate for your role, experience level, and city — not a vague sense of it, actual numbers from salary-comparison sites, industry contacts, or recruiter conversations. A specific, well-researched number is far more persuasive than "I think I deserve more."

Negotiating a New Offer

Never accept or reject on the spot — always ask for 24-48 hours to review. A simple, effective script: "Thank you for the offer — I'm excited about the role. Based on my research and experience with [specific skills], I was expecting a base closer to ₹X. Is there flexibility here?" This is direct, specific, and doesn't apologize for asking.

Negotiating a Raise in Your Current Role

1. Time it around performance reviews or after delivering a measurable win
2. Document your impact — numbers, projects, responsibilities gained since your last raise
3. Ask your manager privately for a dedicated conversation, not a hallway chat
4. State a specific number or range, not "whatever you think is fair"

What to Do If They Say No

Ask what would need to be true for a raise to happen in 6 months, and get it somewhat in writing (a follow-up email summarizing the conversation). If salary genuinely can't move, negotiate other levers: extra leave, remote flexibility, a title change, learning budget, or an earlier review cycle.

Use our Percentage Calculator to quickly work out what a given raise percentage means in actual take-home terms.