Salary negotiation is expected in India's job market, yet 60% of candidates accept the first offer without negotiating. This leaves significant money on the table — on average, successful negotiation in India increases the offer by 10-20%, which compounds to lakhs over your career.
Step 1: Wait for the written offer. Never negotiate salary during the interview. Express enthusiasm about the role, and when asked about salary expectations, say: 'I'd like to understand the full scope of the role and benefits before discussing specific numbers. I'm confident we can reach a mutually agreeable figure.' This puts you in a stronger position to negotiate after they've decided they want you.
Step 2: Research your market value. Use platforms like Glassdoor India, AmbitionBox, LinkedIn Salary Insights, and Levels.fyi to find the salary range for your role, experience level, and location. Talk to peers in similar roles. Having data-backed numbers gives you confidence and credibility during negotiation.
Step 3: Make your counter-offer. Once you receive the written offer, take 24-48 hours to evaluate. Then respond: 'Thank you for the offer. I'm very excited about joining [Company]. Based on my research and the value I bring — specifically my [key achievement/skill] — I was expecting something closer to ₹[specific number]. Is there flexibility to discuss the compensation?' Counter 15-25% above the offer — this gives room for the employer to meet in the middle.
Step 4: Negotiate the full package. If the base salary is firm, negotiate: joining bonus, performance bonus structure, stock options/RSUs, flexible working arrangements, education budget, or early salary review (6 months instead of 12). Indian companies are often more flexible on these elements than base salary.