Salary Negotiation Tips: 12+ Powerful Strategies Every Life-Science Professional Must Know

Did you know? In 2022, nearly half of India’s life-science professionals missed out on higher salaries simply because they didn’t negotiate.

They got the job. But they settled for less.

Why? Because they didn’t know how to take control of the negotiation.

Most professionals focus so much on getting hired that they overlook the most important part: getting paid what they’re worth.

Here’s the truth: Negotiation is not a favor. It’s you selling your skills at a price YOU set.

Nailed the resume? Great. Now comes the interview.

Aced the interview? Even better. But here’s the real test: Salary Negotiation. And if you’re not prepared, you’re leaving money on the table.

The way you position yourself directly impacts how much you earn. The shorter you sell yourself, the smaller your paycheck.

Want to maximize your salary? Here’s what we’ll cover:

• How to get highly paid
• The do’s and don’ts of negotiation
• How to negotiate over a call (without losing leverage)
• The next steps after a successful negotiation

If that sounds good, let’s dive in.

Salary Negotiation Tips That Get Results

No matter who you’re negotiating with HR or the hiring manager, you need to prove why you’re worth what you’re asking for.

1. For Newbies

Freshers don’t always have a strong bargaining position. Recruiters usually have the upper hand.

But here’s the thing: you can still ask for more.

Express enthusiasm for the role. Show them your ambition. Justify why you deserve a slightly better offer.

If they won’t budge? No worries. At least you’ll know you’re getting the standard market pay.

Once you’re in, outperform and upskill. That’s how you build leverage for future negotiations.

For experienced professionals, though, negotiation needs to be more strategic. Let’s break it down.

2. Know Your Worth

Negotiations are most effective when you back them with solid reasons. Only expectations don’t work. Understand the challenges you may face with cost-cutting machines.

Research what other companies are paying for the kind of role you’re approaching. Even before preparing for an interview, set your lower limit and draft your own negotiation strategy.

Don’t hesitate to experiment with your strategies in different opportunities. Some may fail, but a few of them will definitely help.

Use platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, or Naukri to set up your expectations. Simply look for job openings that reveal their salary brackets for different roles.

Walk into that negotiation without numbers in mind? You’ve already lost.

3. Show Your Worth

Research? Done.

Now, it’s time to present it the right way.

Instead of just throwing out a number, frame it strategically:

“Considering my experience and the impact I’ll bring, I believe my ask is fair. My goal is to adapt quickly, optimize processes, and deliver results.”

Mention salary trends in your industry. If you’re relocating to an expensive city, factor in the cost of living as an extra bargaining chip.

And here’s a golden rule:
❌ Never give a salary range.
✅ Always state a single number.

Why? Because if you offer a range, they’ll always start from the lowest.

4. Justify Your Ask

It’s not just about what you want; it’s about why you deserve it.

Recruiters aren’t just looking for a candidate. They’re looking for ROI.

So, once you state your number, back it up with what sets you apart.

“Here’s how I bring more value than the average hire. My experience in [specific skill] and track record of [specific achievement] will drive results from day one.”

Make it clear: You’re not just another applicant. You’re an asset.

5. Set Your Walk-Away Point

At some point, HR might hit you with:

“What’s the lowest salary you’d accept?”

Tricky, right? Even if you’ve already stated your expectation, they might still push for a bottom number.

How do you handle this? Is it even ethical for them to ask?

Well, I’ll break it down for you at the end of this article.

But here’s the key: Know your absolute minimum.

Decide before the interview what number you won’t go below – no matter how tempting the offer sounds.

Because if you settle for less than you’re worth, you’re not securing a job. You’re undervaluing yourself.

(And trust me, Point #9 will show you why that’s a bad idea.)

6. Own the Conversation with Confidence

Your words shape the negotiation – so use them wisely.

Confidence isn’t just about what you say. It’s about how you say it.

Your experience backs you up, but your delivery makes the impact.

No one can predict exactly how the conversation will go. But one thing is certain: Hesitation weakens your position.

So, practice your pitch.

• Stand in front of a mirror.
• Rehearse with a trusted friend.
• Get real feedback.

And here’s a common trap: salary expectation fields on application forms.

Many recruiters sneak this question in before the interview. Be careful.

If you rush through and throw in a random number, you might undersell yourself. Stick to the number you’ve already decided.

7. Master the Counter-Offer Game

Here’s the trick: Many companies load your CTC with variables – bonuses, perks, medical benefits. Sounds good, right?

Not always.

Because when you apply for your next job, recruiters subtract these variables from your CTC before making an offer. That means you get a lower raise than you deserve.

So, minimize variables. Maximize take-home.

Now, what if the offer doesn’t meet your expectations? Have your counter-offer ready.

Let’s say you aimed for ₹15.5 LPA, but they offer ₹12 LPA. That’s a big gap.

Here’s how you respond:

“I completely understand. I just want to emphasize my strong interest in this role, contributing to exciting projects, and growing my skills. Given my experience, I believe ₹14.5 LPA is a fair ask.”

That’s how you take control.

Stay calm. Sound confident. And most importantly: never settle too soon.

8. Pause Before Saying “Yes”

You got the offer. It looks fair. But don’t rush to say “Yes.”

Pause. Think.

Ask yourself:

• Does this match my worth?
• Will I still be happy with it six months from now?
• Am I leaving money on the table?

Here’s the trick: Don’t show doubt—show confidence. Instead of accepting on the spot, ask for time to review.

Try this:

“I appreciate the offer. I’d like some time to evaluate everything before making a final decision.”

Why? Because:

• It signals you’re thoughtful, not desperate.
• It gives room to reassess and counter-offer.
• It prevents future regret of settling for less.

Final rule: A rushed “Yes” today can turn into an “I should have asked for more” tomorrow.

9. Dare to Say “No”

Negotiation isn’t just about pushing for more; it’s also about knowing when to walk away.

If the offer doesn’t match your worth, don’t be afraid to reject it.

Here’s the reality:

• The employer already sees you as the right fit.
• They don’t want to restart the hiring process.
• Negotiation actually begins when you say “No.”

A strategic rejection can open doors for a better counteroffer. But if they won’t budge, don’t settle.

Remember:

When you say yes to others, make sure you are not saying no to yourself.

— Paulo Coelho

10. Ask Questions to Yourself 1st and then Recruiter

Before you ask for a hike, have the answers at your hand for the questions like:

• Do you have a stable job profile?
• Were you the best in the job at hand?
• Have your responsibilities increased over time?

For you, all of the answers should be “Yes”.

Moreover, if the same questions are asked during an interview, don’t forget to explain them with examples.

After negotiation, don’t hesitate to ask open-ended questions to maintain the discussion tempo like:

• What does a normal day look like?
• Can you please explain how you calculate and reward variables?
• How did you come to this value? (If you want to ask about their salary calculation part)
• Please give me an overall idea of your leave policy.
• When do you want me to join? Notice Period is your biggest concern while switching jobs so make sure you avoid unnecessary emails.

Recruiters simply cannot answer Yes/No to such questions. Meanwhile, you become more aware.

11. Choose Friday/Saturday

This technique occasionally works out. Sometimes, interviews and salary discussions happen on different days due to the lengthy shortlisting process. Walk-in-interview is the best example of this.

Recruiters take their time and might ask your availability for the salary discussion on some other day. Simply note what their weekends are and propose a day just before their weekend.

On weekends, recruiters often find it difficult to restart the discussion on Monday and don’t want to miss their targets. So, it is highly possible that they’ll somehow agree to fulfill your demand.

This is not a certain situation. But if it arises, you can try out.

12. Negotiating With Your Current Employer

“I don’t want to leave the current employer as my job is great, the company is great but salary? Terrible”.

If this is something you feel, approach the decision-maker in your current organization for a raise before resigning. This is the best way to negotiate when salary is the only concern.

Convince your current employer why you feel this way. Show them how you deserve what you desire and they might give you a raise.

Few companies call it a salary correction also. Most business-oriented companies retain their performing employees. So make sure, you’re one of them.

Responding to Some Tricky Situations

What’s Your Current Salary?

First of all, what do you feel? How will your current salary make them give you an offer?

For Indian jobs at least, this is the most common question. Actually, this question is illegal in other countries like some regions in the US.

You might say, “As my calculations are based on the current CTC, I am okay with that”.

That’s actually good. But the thing is, the recruiter’s do their homework even before you and try to close the deal on the lower side.

The actual money allotted for the position may be much higher than what you are about to get. They simply try to figure out, for how short they can buy you.

What is the Lowest Salary You’ll Accept?

Sometime back, one of the recruiters asked me this question. I had a question in my mind, “Why he’s asking me this even after I expressed my expectations?”.

But instead of answering as he was expecting, I said “I’ve already mentioned my expectation, so let’s proceed with that.”

This question is often asked in pharma recruitments in India. But, this is an unethical way to ask. Either they should provide their range or ask about yours.

If you get trapped and tell them the lowest random number, you’ll not get more than that anyhow. So instead of answering it in numbers, it is better to bring the negotiation back on track using sentences like above.

Negotiation on a Call

Sometimes, you may need to negotiate your salary over the phone in case;

1. Your prospective employer doesn’t have things ready after a face-to-face interview.
2. Your interview itself is planned over the call.

For effective discussion, follow this:

• Book your slot when you are physically and mentally comfortable.
• Choose a quiet place where no one would bother you.
• Check for proper network availability.
• Keep your notepad handy with your salary calculations written on it. Mark low, mid, and high points of your salary values well in advance.
• Draw a scheme for your negotiation strategy.
• Conquer the negotiation.

Here’s an example of how you can make a counter-offer:

Thank you for this opportunity. I would like to talk about your offer. While researching the CTC that industries provide for the same level of experience and qualifications, I was expecting an offer of at least exceeding 16 LPA. Can you please reconsider?

This way you can kick-start in the proper direction. One benefit of this approach is you get time to build up your confidence. These things also help when you face video calls.

Negotiation Over Email

There are instances when a job offer is sent directly to your email. What does that mean? You can reply with your counter-offer. It is just that you should know how to throw your expectation.

For an offer received via email, one of my colleagues once asked the recruiter over a call to resend the revised offer “as discussed”. Now, this is sometimes helpful too based on your tuning with them.

Follow these steps to tick all the boxes of a better negotiator over an email.

1. Read and analyze your offer letter thoroughly.
2. Highlight the points you’ve doubt about and comment out.
3. Schedule a follow-up call by asking your recruiter about their availability like this:

Hi XYZ,

Thanks for the offer. I’ve gone through and wanted to confirm few things regarding the same. I was wondering when we can discuss this or shall I write it out here.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Regards,
ABC

4. Discuss and update your marked offer letter either on call or over an email.
5. Check and verify your revised offer letter.

Situations may be different but the important thing is, you take each step predicting the recruiter’s response to that.

What’s Next After Negotiation?

First, ideate your CTC break-up to maximize fixed and minimize variable income. With this, you’ll be paid higher in your future jobs. Most importantly, your basic pay part.

Once you have successfully negotiated, you need to prioritize a few important things.

• Resignation to your current employer
• Smooth transition of your current responsibilities
• Avoid big roles during your notice period (play it safe)
• Learn about the new role and develop the required skills in the meantime
• Keep in touch with your next employer for any follow-ups
• Exit current job on a good note

Conclusion

Negotiation may seem complex, but at its core, it’s all about how well you communicate your value.

Follow these strategies, turn them into actions, and watch the results unfold.

Key takeaway? Practice. Refine. Repeat. Because the more you do, the better you get—and one day, it will pay off.

Now, over to you. Do these strategies resonate with you? Got any tips to add? Drop your thoughts in the comments!