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A new job · Lesson 5 of 10

How to Respond to a Low Job Offer Calmly

Reply to a low job offer with thanks, a polite no to their figure, and your own number with a reason, without meeting in the middle.

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THE WRITTEN LESSONFollow along at your pace

When a job offer arrives, especially a low one, the first reply matters. This lesson shows how to answer calmly, keep the talk friendly, and bring the conversation back to your own number.

Take a pause

Do not answer on the spot. Thank them, say you are pleased, and ask for a little time, for example: “Could I come back to you by Thursday?”

That time lets you check the offer against your target and your walk-away point, the two numbers you set earlier in this course. It also lets the first rush of feeling pass, so you reply with a clear head.

A job offer card showing $60,000 per year with a large pause symbol, a speech bubble reading Thank you! Could I come back to you by Thursday?, a calendar with Thursday circled, and a checklist titled Check it with My target and My walk-away.(opens the full-size picture)
Thank them, ask for a day, and check the offer against your two numbers.

A low number is a start

If the number is low, do not panic. In a large study of online haggling, the most common first offer was half the asking price, and many of those deals carried on. A low first number is often a starting point, not an insult.

So reply to the person, not to the number. Stay friendly and keep talking.

A $200 asking-price tag, an arrow to a $100 tag labelled First offer: half, and an arrow to a handshake labelled Many deals carried on. Below are the chips A starting point, not an insult and Reply to the person, not the number.(opens the full-size picture)
A half-price first offer is common, and many deals carried on.

Do not split the difference

One trap is meeting in the middle. Say their number is $60,000 and your target is $68,000. If you answer with $64,000, you have accepted their low number as one end of a fair range, and the middle is now measured from it.

Instead, go back to your own figure and your reason.

A $60,000 box labelled Their low number and a $68,000 box labelled Your target, with a crossed-out $64,000 between them marked Split the difference. A green arrow points back to the box Your figure plus your reason.(opens the full-size picture)
Skip the midpoint and return to your own number.

A three-sentence reply

A good reply fits in three sentences:

  1. Thanks for the offer, I’m keen on the role.
  2. The salary is below what I can accept, because similar roles in this city pay $65,000 to $70,000.
  3. Could you get closer to $68,000?

That is thanks, a polite no to their figure, and your number with a reason they can check. Use a reason that is easy to verify, such as what similar roles pay where you live.

A reply card with three lines: Thanks for the offer, I'm keen on the role; The salary is below what I can accept, because similar roles in this city pay $65,000 to $70,000; and Could you get closer to $68,000? Each is tagged Thanks, Polite no plus reason, and Your number.(opens the full-size picture)
Three sentences, one clear ask.

Ask what it is based on

You can also ask: “How did you arrive at that figure?” Their answer tells you what they value, and sometimes shows room to move, like a different level or title. For example, a role budgeted at one level may be open to the next.

Steer the talk towards fair standards, such as market pay, rather than towards who pushes harder.

A person asks How did you arrive at that figure? A manager's thought bubble shows Level 2 budget with an arrow to Level 3? A balance scale carries the chips Market pay, ticked, and Not who pushes harder, crossed.(opens the full-size picture)
The question can reveal room to move, such as a different level.

By email, and know your limit

Replying by email is fine, and it gives you time to think. Write figures and dates clearly, keep the tone warm, and offer a short call if things get tense.

Also know your limit. If they will not reach your walk-away point, thank them and decline politely. If anything changes, they know where to find you.

An email with the salary $68,000 and the start date 14 November highlighted, signed Warm regards, Alex. A phone has chips Offer a short call and Door stays open. Below a red walk-away line, a bubble reads Thank you, I don't think we can make this work.(opens the full-size picture)
Clear figures and dates by email, and a polite no at your limit.

YOUR TURN

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Read the full lesson script

In this lesson, you'll learn how to reply when a job offer arrives, especially when the number is lower than you hoped.

First, don't answer on the spot. Thank them, say you're pleased, and ask for a little time: could I come back to you by Thursday? Taking time lets you check the offer against your target and walk-away point, and lets the first rush of feeling pass.

If the number is low, don't panic. In a large study of online haggling, the most common first offer was half the asking price, and many of those deals carried on. A low first number is often a starting point, not an insult. Reply to the person, not to the number.

One trap is meeting in the middle. If you split the difference between their low number and your target, you've accepted their number as one end of a fair range. Instead, go back to your own figure and your reason.

A good reply fits in three sentences. Thanks for the offer, I'm keen on the role. The salary is below what I can accept, because similar roles in this city pay sixty-five to seventy thousand. Could you get closer to sixty-eight? That's thanks, a polite no to their figure, and your number with a reason they can check.

You can also ask: how did you arrive at that figure? Their answer tells you what they value, and sometimes shows room to move, like a different level or title. Steer the talk towards fair standards, such as market pay, rather than who pushes harder.

Replying by email is fine, and it gives you time to think. Write figures and dates clearly, keep the tone warm, and offer a short call if things get tense. And know your limit. If they won't reach your walk-away point, thank them and decline politely. If anything changes, they know where to find you.

So remember: pause before you reply. Don't split the difference with a low number. And reply with thanks, a polite no to their figure, and your number with a reason. Before the next lesson, draft your three-sentence reply to an offer that's lower than your target. Next, you'll negotiate the whole package.