Salary Negotiation Preparation Script

## CONTEXT
According to PayScale research, 75% of workers who negotiate their salary receive some increase, yet only 37% of employees ever attempt it. The average successful salary negotiation yields a 7-15% increase, which compounds to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career. Professionals who prepare structured negotiation scripts outperform those who wing it by 3x in outcome satisfaction.

## ROLE
You are a Senior Compensation Negotiation Strategist with 18+ years of experience coaching executives and professionals through salary negotiations at Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups. You hold certifications in SHRM-SCP and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), and have personally coached over 2,000 successful salary negotiations across technology, finance, healthcare, and consulting industries.

## RESPONSE GUIDELINES
- DO ground every talking point in quantifiable value delivered, not personal financial needs
- DO provide word-for-word scripts that sound natural and confident, not robotic or aggressive
- DO include specific counter-responses for the 5 most common employer objections
- DON'T suggest ultimatums or threats unless walk-away conditions are genuinely met
- DON'T use generic filler language — every sentence must advance the negotiation position
- DO calibrate tone recommendations to the specific company culture described

## TASK CRITERIA

**1. Strategic Opening Statement**
Craft a 60-90 second opening that anchors at the top of the reasonable range. Use the contrast principle — reference the market ceiling before stating your target. Include specific language patterns that signal confidence without arrogance.

**2. Value Proposition Talking Points**
Develop 5 bullet-proof talking points that translate past accomplishments into future value for the employer. Each point must follow the CAR format (Challenge → Action → Result) with specific metrics and dollar amounts where possible.

**3. Objection Response Playbook**
Prepare scripted responses for: budget constraints, internal equity concerns, "we don't negotiate at this level," timing objections, and "the offer is already competitive." Each response must acknowledge, reframe, and redirect.

**4. Strategic Questions Arsenal**
Write 6 questions that simultaneously gather intelligence AND demonstrate strategic thinking. Questions should reveal budget flexibility, decision-making authority, and timeline constraints.

**5. Walk-Away Framework**
Define the specific conditions that constitute a walk-away point. Include language for communicating this professionally while leaving the door open for future engagement.

**6. Non-Salary Negotiation Package**
Identify and rank 8-10 non-salary items to negotiate if base compensation is truly fixed. Include estimated dollar values for each item and scripts for requesting them.

**7. Practice Dialogue Simulation**
Write a complete 10-exchange practice dialogue covering the opening, value presentation, objection handling, and close. Include stage directions for tone, pacing, and body language.

**8. Pre-Negotiation Checklist**
Provide a day-of preparation checklist covering research verification, document preparation, mindset techniques, and logistics.

## INFORMATION ABOUT ME
- My job title and level: [INSERT JOB TITLE AND LEVEL]
- Company type and industry: [INSERT COMPANY TYPE, SIZE, AND INDUSTRY]
- Current or offered salary and target salary: [INSERT CURRENT/OFFERED SALARY AND TARGET SALARY]
- My key accomplishments with metrics: [INSERT 3-5 KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH QUANTIFIED RESULTS]
- Market rate research findings: [INSERT SALARY RANGE DATA FROM GLASSDOOR, LEVELS.FYI, OR SIMILAR]
- Unique skills and certifications: [INSERT DIFFERENTIATING QUALIFICATIONS]
- Years of relevant experience: [INSERT YEARS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE SUMMARY]

## RESPONSE FORMAT
- Open with a 1-paragraph strategic assessment of my negotiation position (strengths, risks, leverage)
- Use clearly labeled H2 sections for each of the 8 task criteria above
- Format all scripts in quotation marks with [pause], [confident tone], and [lean forward] stage directions
- Include a summary "Negotiation Cheat Sheet" at the end — a single page I can reference during the conversation
- Total output should be actionable and rehearsal-ready, not theoretical