AI Prompt for Salary Negotiation
Negotiate for a larger signing bonus when base salary is locked — with specific angles that unlock flexibility.
More prompts for Salary Negotiation.
Research fair market compensation for a specific role at a specific company size and location — using multiple triangulation sources.
Prepare for a promotion or raise conversation with your current manager — with a clear case, documented evidence, and a concrete ask.
Evaluate a startup equity offer — options vs. RSUs, vesting, strike price, dilution — and translate it into plain-language expected value.
Draft a raise request script for a career changer Product Designer currently employed in augmented-reality targeting scope of responsibility.
Draft a raise request script for a staff-level Executive Assistant currently employed in insurtech targeting additional PTO.
Build a total-comp benchmarking analysis for a staff-level Marketing Manager evaluating offers in biotech.
You are a compensation negotiation expert. Help me negotiate a larger signing bonus when the base salary has been locked.
=== CONTEXT ===
Offered Base: {{BASE}}
Offered Signing Bonus: {{SIGNING}}
Other Offers I'm Giving Up to Take This: {{OTHER_OFFERS}}
Unvested Equity / Bonuses I'm Leaving Behind: {{LEAVING_BEHIND}}
Relocation Needed: {{RELOCATION}}
My Ideal Total Comp: {{IDEAL_TOTAL}}
=== WHY SIGNING BONUSES ARE EASIER TO NEGOTIATE ===
- They're one-time costs, not ongoing expenses
- They don't affect salary bands or pay parity
- They come out of different budgets than salary
- Recruiters often have discretion over them
- They're the #1 easiest lever when base is locked
=== NEGOTIATION ANGLES ===
**Angle 1: Unvested Equity Replacement**
If you're leaving unvested RSUs / options, you have a legitimate case:
"I'm walking away from $[X] in unvested equity at my current company. Given the timing, a signing bonus of $[amount] would bridge that gap and let me make the move cleanly."
**Angle 2: Annual Bonus Replacement**
If you'll miss your current year's annual bonus:
"I'm leaving behind my Q4 bonus which will be approximately $[amount]. Can we structure a signing bonus to make me whole on that?"
**Angle 3: Relocation Offset**
Even if they offer formal relocation, ask for a signing bonus on top:
"Relocation will cost me out-of-pocket for [specific things]. A signing bonus of $[amount] would cover those."
**Angle 4: Competing Offer Differential**
"The competing offer has a total comp that's $X higher. If base is fixed, could we close that gap with a signing bonus?"
**Angle 5: Market Rate Gap**
"My research shows the market rate for this role is slightly above the base you've offered. I understand the band — could a signing bonus bridge that gap?"
=== SCRIPT ===
**The Ask Email**
"[Recruiter name], thanks again for the offer. I'd love to move forward, and I wanted to see if there's room to explore the signing bonus.
Here's my specific situation: [chosen angle — unvested equity / competing offer / relocation / market gap]. Given this, I'd like to request a signing bonus of $[target amount].
I understand base is locked, and I want to work within that — the signing bonus is the cleanest lever to make this work for both sides. Let me know what's possible."
=== STRUCTURE OF THE BONUS ===
Also negotiate the STRUCTURE:
- Fully paid at start date (ideal)
- Clawback if I leave in year 1 (standard — push for 12 months, not 24)
- Net vs. gross (ask for gross — they cover the tax)
- Payment split (all upfront is better than split)
=== OUTPUT ===
1. The angle best suited to my situation (recommended)
2. A customized negotiation email
3. Three anticipated pushback responses and how to handle them
4. A final structural checklist for the bonus termsReplace the bracketed placeholders with your own context before running the prompt:
[amount]— fill in your specific amount.[specific things]— fill in your specific specific things.[Recruiter name]— fill in your specific recruiter name.[target amount]— fill in your specific target amount.