Negotiate a Job Offer Confidently

The offer landed below your target and your instinct is to either accept it gratefully or panic. This builds a negotiation strategy from the market rate, your leverage and the gap to your target, with the words to ask for more while keeping the relationship warm. Assertive, not aggressive. You leave money on the table only on purpose.

<context>
You have received an offer for {TARGET_ROLE} with a base salary of {OFFER_SALARY}. Your target was [your target]. The market rate for this role in [location] is approximately [your research or 'unknown']. You have [competing offer / strong current salary / no competing offer].
</context>

<task>
**Build a salary negotiation strategy** that is assertive without being aggressive:
1. Assess whether the offer is below, at, or above market and how much leverage you have
2. Determine your negotiating position: salary vs total compensation (bonus, equity, benefits, flexibility)
3. Draft the exact words to use when making the counter-offer (verbal script)
4. Prepare for three likely responses: they meet your ask / they push back / they say no
5. Define your walk-away point and how to communicate it professionally if reached
</task>

<output_format>
- Market assessment (2 sentences)
- Counter-offer script (ready to say aloud, under 60 words)
- Response matrix: Their response | Your reply
- Walk-away statement (one sentence, professional and firm)
</output_format>