Negotiate a job offer by choosing a small number of important requests, explaining the reasons and asking for the final agreed terms in writing. Start from an actual offer, not an assumed promise made during an early screening call.
The employer may agree, decline or suggest an alternative. No message guarantees higher pay or a better arrangement. Before responding, understand the offer’s duties, employment type, hours, location, pay components and any stated conditions.
Separate clarification from a counter-offer
An unclear package needs an explanation before it can be negotiated sensibly. Ask whether the amount is base pay or a total package and how conditional payments are treated. Check the actual role and applicable minimum framework using the Fair Work award resources where relevant.
Minimum entitlements are not simply optional bargaining items. For individual contract or entitlement questions, obtain appropriate advice rather than assuming a negotiated headline amount resolves them.
Use our salary comparison guide for broader offer factors. This guide concerns the conversation after an offer exists.
Prepare a priorities worksheet
| Item | Why it matters | Request or question | Acceptable alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay components | Need an accurate comparison | Clarify base, superannuation and conditional amounts | A written breakdown |
| Start date | Existing commitments need resolution | Propose a workable date | A mutually agreed transition |
| Work arrangement | Location or hours affect feasibility | Confirm the actual arrangement | A clearly defined option you can sustain |
| Support | Need clarity about training or review | Ask for the planned process | A named owner and agreed review point |
These are planning categories, not entitlements promised by every employer. Write your own priorities before deciding what to request. Asking for everything at once can obscure the issue that actually determines your decision.
Fictional message one: a pay discussion
This is an original fictional example without a market-rate recommendation.
Dear Recruitment Team,
Thank you for the written offer. I am interested in the role and appreciate the opportunity to join the team. Before confirming, I would like to discuss the proposed base salary in light of the coordination responsibilities and the directly relevant experience I would bring.
Would there be scope to review that component of the offer? I am happy to explain the comparable responsibilities I have considered. Please also confirm the treatment of superannuation and any conditional payments so I can assess the complete arrangement.
Kind regards,
Alex Example
In a real negotiation, make the specific request you can support. Do not invent a competing offer or claim an unverified market rate.
Fictional message two: a start-date request
Dear Hiring Manager,
Thank you for the offer. I would like to discuss the proposed start date so I can complete my existing commitments responsibly. Would a start one week later be workable for the team?
If that creates a difficulty, I would appreciate discussing the priorities for the first week and whether another agreed transition is possible. Please confirm any revised arrangement in the written offer.
Kind regards,
Sam Example
The one-week request is hypothetical, not a recommended notice period. Use the actual commitments and obligations that apply to you.
Confirm the outcome before relying on it
Record the employer’s response, any revised conditions and the acceptance deadline. If the employer cannot change a key condition, decide whether the offer remains workable rather than treating continued discussion as agreement.
Read the revised document carefully. An informal “we will look at it later” is different from a confirmed change or a defined review process. Do not resign from other work based on a change that has not been agreed.
Our opportunity assessment checklist can help evaluate the complete offer. Negotiation supports a clear decision; it cannot promise a particular outcome or remove the need for individual advice where the terms are complex.
