Negotiation & Phrasing Strategies
Use these three rules to handle expected salary questions without giving away your leverage too early:
Research Market Rates
Use Glassdoor, AmbitionBox, or regional salary guides to find the market range for this role, location, and company size before the interview.
Provide a Realistic Range
Instead of stating a single number, provide a competitive range (e.g. ₹12L to ₹15L). This keeps options open and shows flexibility.
Emphasize Total Compensation
State that you are open to discussing the full compensation package, including target bonuses, health benefits, and equity options.
Sample Negotiation Scripts
Here are two ways to phrase your expected salary professionally during the HR round:
When you want to anchor a competitive range
"Based on my research for similar Software Engineer roles in Bangalore and my experience with microservices, I am looking for a package in the range of ₹12L to ₹15L. I am flexible and open to discussing the complete benefits package."
When you want to redirect to the company's budget first
"I am open to competitive offers. Could you share the salary range you have budgeted for this position? That would help me align my expectations with your compensation targets."