The Initial Counter

"Thank you for the offer. I am genuinely excited about this role. Based on my research and the value I bring, I was targeting a range of $X to $Y. Can we explore that?" Anchors high with research, opens dialogue. Never say "I need" — say "I was targeting".

Scripts break the moment they sound scripted. Rehearse the opening line until it is muscle memory, then let the rest feel like conversation — a stiff memorized middle kills negotiations, not specific words.