Salary Negotiation Script for a New Job Offer

The offer's landed and it's below what you wanted. Before that call with the hiring manager, this writes you a script: open with real enthusiasm, put your counter on the table, back it with your experience and the market, and hold your line without sounding awkward. Words ready, nerves optional.

I have received a job offer with a base salary of {OFFERED_SALARY} for the role of {JOB_TITLE} at {COMPANY_NAME}. My target salary is {TARGET_SALARY}, based on my {YEARS_EXPERIENCE} years of experience and market research. Write me a professional, confident negotiation script I can use in a phone call with the hiring manager. The script should: open by expressing genuine enthusiasm for the role, present my counter-offer with a clear rationale referencing market data and my specific skills, handle common pushback responses (budget is fixed, the offer is already above band), and close by inviting a collaborative conversation rather than creating confrontation. Keep the tone warm but assertive. Include suggested language for pauses and active listening cues.