My First Salary Negotiation

When the company offered me the job, they told me the salary. It was lower than I expected. My friend said, "Ask for more." I said, "I can't, they'll take the job away!" She said, "They won't. Just ask politely."

I practised in front of the mirror. Then I emailed the HR manager. I thanked her for the offer and said that, based on my experience, I hoped they could consider a slightly higher salary. I wrote a number that was ten per cent more. I pressed send and felt sick.

She replied the next day. They couldn't give ten per cent, but they could give six, and a review after six months. I said yes. Six per cent, every month, for one polite email. My friend was right. They didn't take the job away.