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Your plan · Lesson 10 of 10

Get Pay Agreements in Writing and Make Your Plan

Learn how to confirm a pay agreement in writing, what to do about unfair pay, and put your whole negotiation plan together.

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THE WRITTEN LESSONFollow along at your pace

This last lesson shows you how to lock in what you agreed and what to do if you think your pay is unfair. Then you will put your whole negotiation plan together. This is general information, not legal advice.

Send a summary the same day

After any pay conversation, send a short summary the same day. For example: “To confirm what we agreed: a salary of $68,000, starting on 14 November, with a pay review in six months. Please reply to confirm, or tell me if I’ve got anything wrong.”

An email to My manager titled To confirm what we agreed lists $68,000, Start 14 November and Pay review in 6 months, ending Please tell me if anything is wrong. Chips read Send it the same day and Please confirm, beside an envelope.(opens the full-size picture)
Three agreed points, sent the same day.

Make the details clear

Write every figure with its currency, and every date in full. Say what each side will do, and when. Vague words like “soon” or “about” can cause arguments later. A clear note protects both of you.

Three chips read A figure with its currency, A date in full and Who does what, and when. Under the question Vague or clear, the line About 68k, starting soon is crossed out, and $68,000, starting 14 November is marked with a check.(opens the full-size picture)
Vague words cause arguments. Clear ones do not.

Wait for the written offer

For a new job, wait for the written offer before you resign from your current one. Check that it matches what you agreed: the salary, start date, title, and anything else you traded for. For big or legal questions, ask someone qualified where you live.

A job offer for $68,000 per year points with a green arrow to a resignation letter, under the chip First this, then that. Four checked chips read Salary, Start date, Title and Extras. A note says Big or legal question, ask someone qualified.(opens the full-size picture)
Offer first, resignation second.

If you think your pay is unfair

If you think you’re paid less because of who you are, such as your sex, race, age or a disability, that’s a legal question, not a negotiation. Many countries have equal pay laws. Contact your national equality or labour authority for advice.

As examples, the Ask for a Raise article names the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the US and Acas in the UK. They are examples only. Your own country will have its own authority.

A tipped balance scale compares Your pay with Others' pay. A red-framed card with a law book reads A legal question, not a negotiation. Chips read Sex, race, age, disability, Equal pay laws and Your equality or labour authority.(opens the full-size picture)
Unfair pay is a legal question.

Your negotiation plan

Now put the whole course together. Find three real pay figures. Set your target and your walk-away point. Ask for their range first. Pause before you reply to any number. Look at the whole package. Use your short, practised sentences. For a raise, bring results someone can check. If it’s a no, ask what would need to be true. And always get it in writing.

A card titled My negotiation plan lists nine ticked steps: 3 real pay figures, Target plus walk-away, Ask their range, Pause first, Whole package, Practised lines, Checkable results, What would make it a yes, and Get it in writing. A clipboard sits beside it.(opens the full-size picture)
Nine steps, from research to writing it down.

YOUR TURN

My negotiation plan

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Read the full lesson script

In this last lesson, you'll learn how to lock in what you agreed, what to do if you think your pay is unfair, and you'll put your whole negotiation plan together.

After any pay conversation, send a short summary the same day. For example: to confirm what we agreed, a salary of sixty-eight thousand dollars, starting on the fourteenth of November, with a pay review in six months. Please reply to confirm, or tell me if I've got anything wrong.

Write every figure with its currency, and every date in full. Say what each side will do, and when. Vague words like soon, or about, can cause arguments later. A clear note protects both of you.

For a new job, wait for the written offer before you resign from your current one. Check that it matches what you agreed: the salary, start date, title, and anything else you traded for. For big or legal questions, ask someone qualified where you live.

If you think you're paid less because of who you are, such as your sex, race, age, or a disability, that's a legal question, not a negotiation. Many countries have equal pay laws. Contact your national equality or labour authority for advice.

Now, your negotiation plan. Find three real pay figures. Set your target and your walk-away point. Ask for their range first. Pause before you reply to any number. Look at the whole package. Use your short, practised sentences. For a raise, bring results someone can check. If it's a no, ask what would need to be true. And always get it in writing.

So remember: confirm every agreement in writing. Check the written offer before you resign. And unfair pay is a legal question, not a negotiation. Fill in your negotiation plan on the lesson page, and pick your first step. Well done for finishing How to Negotiate Your Salary and Ask for a Raise.