10 Tips to Win Your Job Offer Negotiation in Canada

The job offer itself is a negotiation, and if you act strategically, you can get a better salary, more vacation, and other advantages.

If you’re a newcomer to Canada, this can be a stressful moment. You might be worried about appearing difficult or rude and potentially losing your hard-fought job offer. However, a respectful negotiation is normal in Canada. In fact, many employers expect you to negotiate during the job offer stage.

Here are our top tips on nailing your job offer negotiation in Canada.

1) Don’t accept on the spot

You don’t have to accept your job offer the moment you receive it. Even if it’s an incredible offer, you can simply say thank you and request time to review the offer properly.

Your line: “Thank you, I’m really excited. Could I take 24 to 48 hours to review the details and get back to you?”

This gives you the time to properly review the offer and determine any changes you’d like to request.

2) Get the offer in writing

If the employer makes an offer verbally, take this as a preview, not the final offer. Before accepting, or negotiating, you can request a written offer that includes your salary, start date, probation, benefits, bonuses, and any conditions.

It’s standard to request an offer in writing before accepting or negotiating – plus, it’s the responsibility of the employer to provide you with a detailed offer.

3) Start by clarifying, not countering

Before you negotiate, make sure you understand the package.

Consider questions like:

• “Is this salary base, or total compensation?”
• “How does the bonus work, and when is it paid?”
• “What does benefits coverage look like, and when does it start?”
• “How many vacation days is this, plus stat holidays?”

This helps ensure that you understand the details of your offer, while also demonstrating to the employer that you’re detail oriented – a good quality for employees.

4) Ask for a higher salary

Unless you have a reason not to, you should ask for a higher salary. Many companies don’t lead with their best offer. Instead, they start where they think you might accept.

This isn’t true everywhere – some companies have very clear frameworks for establishing salaries without much room for negotiation (for example, government positions are notoriously inflexible). As well, some companies are now required to post salary ranges for each position, like in Ontario where new pay transparency laws just took effect. This means you may have more knowledge about how your offer compares to the company standard.

Do your research and prepare a counteroffer.

A simple, calm counter works: “Thank you again. Based on my experience and what I’m seeing in the market, I was hoping for $X. Is there flexibility to move the base salary?”

If you want a rule of thumb, many people ask for an extra $5,000 to $10,000 on professional roles. The worst they can say is no.

5) Know your “yes” number before you talk

Before you start negotiating, decide:

• The minimum salary you would accept
• The best-case salary you want
• The one or two extras that would make the offer feel right if salary cannot move

Write these down so that you’re prepared during the negotiation.

6) If salary cannot move, negotiate something else

As hinted at above, salary is only one of the components of your job offer. If the employer cannot offer you a higher salary, perhaps they can offer other benefits.

Here are a few other tools in your negotiation toolbox:

• Signing bonus (especially if salary bands are tight)
• Extra vacation days
• Flexible work or hybrid schedule
• Professional development budget (courses, certifications, language training)
• Start date flexibility

Try: “If the salary is fixed, could we discuss the possibility of an extra week of vacation? Or a hybrid work schedule?”

7) Ask for an earlier salary review

Here’s a little trick for you: If the employer is unwilling to negotiate your salary during the job offer process, ask if they’d be willing to do a performance & salary review after six months in the job. Most companies offer a performance review once every 12 months – by asking for one after six months, you can ask for a raise much earlier in the process.

Your line: “Would you be open to a performance and compensation review at six months, tied to clear performance goals?”

8) Don’t negotiate too many things at the same time

It’s better to pick your top 1-3 asks and stick to these items during your negotiation. If you try to negotiate too many things – salary, signing bonus, vacation, remote work, and language training – it can come off as confusing (and a little exhausting).

9) Avoid getting emotional

Try to remain professional during your negotiation, even if you’re nervous.

Avoid sounding emotional during your negotiation, saying things like “I really need X” or “my rent is $X, so I want more.” Instead, ground your negotiation in facts – reference market research, industry standards, and your experience.

10) Don’t be afraid that they’ll pull your offer

Most employers do not rescind job offers because someone negotiated respectfully. As long as you remain professional and respectful, a job offer negotiation is standard practice.

Job offers typically only get pulled for serious issues like dishonesty, background check problems, or unprofessional behaviour. That being said, remember that you’re dealing with Canadian employers – Canadians respect assertiveness, but also politeness. Advocate for yourself, but be careful not to come across as arrogant or aggressive.

Congratulations – remember to celebrate!

At the end of the process, once your job offer is negotiated and signed, take an evening to celebrate – you deserve it! Landing a job is a big accomplishment and negotiating your offer is the last step.

Now it’s time to get into your new role and prove to your employer why they were right to choose you for this role. Good luck, you’ve got this!

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