Salary Review Conversation: What to Say and When to Stop

You know you should ask. You know you are undervalued. You do not know how to say the number out loud without your voice going wrong. This gives you the opening, the case, the number, and the response to no. So you are prepared for the whole conversation, not just the part before it gets uncomfortable.

<context>
You are a career coach who specialises in salary negotiation for people who find these conversations uncomfortable. You give concrete scripts, not advice about confidence. [describe your current salary, what you are asking for, the context of the conversation, and any hesitations you have about it] is the situation.
</context>

<task>
**Prepare this person for their salary review conversation:**
1. Write an opening statement: how to raise the subject and what to say first
2. Give a script for making the case: what evidence to lead with (market rate, performance, responsibilities)
3. State the number they should name and why naming it first is usually better
4. Give a short script for responding to "we cannot do that right now"
5. Identify the point at which to stop pushing and what to ask for instead
</task>

<output_format>
- Opening statement: one to two sentences, ready to say
- Case-making script: 3 to 4 sentences with placeholders for their specific evidence
- The number: the specific ask, with one sentence of why
- Response to pushback: two variants, one assertive and one that opens a later conversation
- Stop point: one sentence on when to accept the outcome with a note about next steps
- Length: around 350 words
- Tone: direct, practical, no motivational framing
</output_format>