Illinois Tech Career Services · Offers & Negotiation
Salary Negotiation & Offer Acceptance
Get what you’re worth — and start your career strong.
Negotiating your salary isn’t just acceptable — it’s expected. The first number you accept sets the baseline for every raise, bonus, and offer that follows, so one conversation can be worth more than almost any other hour of your search. The goal isn’t to be aggressive — it’s to be prepared.
87%
Of Young Professionals Who Negotiate Get At Least Some of What They Ask
$1M+
Lifetime Earnings Left Behind by Never Negotiating That First Salary
42%
Negotiated Their Last Offer — Most People Never Ask
Sources: Fidelity Investments 2022 Career Assessment Study; Carnegie Mellon University negotiation research
Before You Say Yes
Two Rules That Protect Every Offer
Rule one: never accept on the call. Thank them, say you are excited — mean it — and ask for 24 hours to review the full package. Every professional does this, and no legitimate employer blinks.
Rule two: never negotiate without a number in hand. Your counter comes from research — market data plus your walk-away minimum — not from the ceiling of your nerve in the moment.
A respectful, well-researched ask does not cost you offers — employers expect the conversation. Lead with enthusiasm, anchor with data, and you are negotiating the way professionals do.
Build your negotiation — select a row to open it
1Do Your Research First
Glassdoor, Payscale, Levels.fyi, BLS — anchor your number in real data▾
Know Your Market Value
- Glassdoor, Salary.com, Payscale, and The Muse Salaries — ranges by role, company, and city
- Levels.fyi — the standard for tech compensation, with base, bonus, and equity broken out by level
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — official government wage data by occupation and region
- Then triangulate: ask the people from your informational interviews what a fair range looks like — insiders sharpen every number
Build Your Case
- Write a one-page summary of quantified accomplishments and the skills that set you apart
- Set your walk-away number — the minimum you will accept — before any conversation begins
- Adjust for location and cost of living; a Chicago number is not a national number
- Think in total compensation — benefits, PTO, bonuses, and equity all count
2Six Strategies That Work at the Table
Specific numbers, high anchors, and the discipline of silence▾
Use specific numbers. Ask for $64,750, not $65,000 — precision signals real research.
Anchor high. Name your number first, 10–20% above target.
Embrace silence. State your number, then stop talking — don’t concede into the pause.
Focus on value. Frame it around what you bring, not personal expenses.
Take 24 hours. Always ask for time to review the full package.
Stay positive. Lead with excitement — you’re building a win-win, not a standoff.
3If Base Salary Won’t Move, Negotiate These
Signing bonus, PTO, remote days, a 90-day review — the whole package▾
Financial
Signing bonus · performance/annual bonuses · stock or equity · relocation assistance · student-loan repayment · professional-development budget
Quality of Life
Extra PTO · remote flexibility · flexible start times · an earlier (90-day) salary review · enhanced healthcare · commuter or parking benefits
4Scripts You Can Steal
The counter-offer, the multiple-offer, and the beyond-salary ask — word for word▾
Counter-Offer
“Thank you so much — I’m really excited to join the team. Based on my research and the value I’ll bring, I was hoping for $68,500, and I’m confident I can make an immediate impact on [project/goal]. Is there flexibility to get closer to that number?”
Multiple Offers
“Your company is my top choice. I’ve received another offer at $72,000 for a similar role — would you be able to match or come closer to that? If so, I’m ready to accept right away.”
Beyond Salary
“I understand the base salary has limited flexibility. Would an extra week of PTO and an earlier salary review at 90 days be possible? That would bridge the gap and make me confident about accepting.”
5Go Deeper on the Craft
Harvard Business Review’s 15 rules, our Index section, and live practice▾
- Harvard Business Review: 15 Rules for Negotiating a Job Offer — the classic, by a Harvard Business School negotiation professor; read it before any offer conversation
- The #SalaryNegotiation section of our LinkedIn Index — templates and guidance drawn from real coaching conversations
- Then practice out loud — a mock negotiation with a coach is the single best predictor of a calm, confident real one
Have an offer in hand? Congratulations — now don’t answer it alone. Practice the conversation with a coach before you respond.
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All external resources independently verified by Career Services, July 2026.
