Talking about pay can be hard, but if you do it by email, you can take time to make your points well and set them out clear. Here is a way to write a good pay talk email.
Before you start your email, look up what pay is normal for the job you do, think about what you have done, your skills, and where you are. Go to sites like Glassdoor, Payscale, and LinkedIn Salary to find this out. Knowing what others get paid will help you ask for a fair amount in a strong way.
Subject Line
Make your subject line to the point and about what your email is for. You could use:
“Want to Talk Pay”
“Pay Chat After Job Offer”
“Look at Pay Plan”
A to-the-point subject line makes sure your email gets seen and starts the talk right.
Start with a proper “hello.” Call the person by their job title and last name unless you say “you” to each other by first names. For example:
“Dear Mr. Smith,”
“Dear Dr. Johnson,”
A nice “hello” shows you give respect and starts the email on a good note.
Say thanks as you start the email. Say you’re glad for the job offer or for what you got to do at work so far. This shows you are thankful and puts down a good base for your ask. For example:
“Thank you for the Marketing Manager job offer. I’m happy to think about joining your group.”
“I am thankful for the chance to grow and learn at the company in the last year.”
Be Clear with Your Ask
After saying thanks, say what pay you want clearly. Give a number or a range. For example:
“After looking at the offer, I want to talk about a possible pay raise to $75,000 a year.”
“I want my pay to be looked at to go up to $85,000.”
Being clear means the boss knows just what you want and can talk about it well.
Give a good reason for your ask. Talk about what you can do, what you have done, what you have brought to the team, and use facts from your research to back up your words. For example:
“With my five years in digital marketing and what’s normal in the field, $75,000 is fair for what I know. Also, my latest work made our social media activity go up by 40%.”
“With the big deals I helped bring in, raising our money by 20%, I think $85,000 is the right pay.”
Say you can talk more and work it out. This shows you can bend and you want to find a good deal for both sides. For example:
“I’m ready to talk this out and look at other things we could change.”
“I’m looking forward to talking about my ask and am open to other perks or pay changes.”
End Like a Pro
Finish with a polite ending. Say again how excited you are for the job or how much you like your work. Sign off in a nice way and put your full name. For example:
“Thank you for thinking about this. I can’t wait to talk more and hear back from you.
Best,
Jane Doe”
“I thank you for your time. I’m eager for what’s next with our team.
Yours,
John Smith”
Check your email to make sure it’s right and has no mistakes. A good email shows you’re serious and you care about details.
Writing a pay talk email takes some getting ready, being clear, and being formal. Follow these steps, and you can make your case with confidence to maybe get a better deal. Remember, talking about pay is usual, and bosses look for it. Go into the chat with trust and respect, and you have a better shot at a good end.
