How to Ask for More Money in a Job Offer: They Want to Work With You

Everyday Negotiations
October 12, 2026•2 min read

Negotiating salary? Remember 1 thing: they WANT to work with you.

  • Not because you’re “easy”.
  • Not because you’re a pushover.
  • But because they think you’re good.

So when you ask for more money in a job offer, say 3 things: you’re excited to do great work, you’d like $X more, and you want to find something that works for both the budget and the value you’re bringing.

Why does asking for more money feel so risky?

I know, you’re afraid of looking:

  • Selfish
  • Greedy
  • All about the $$$

You don’t want them to yell “Psych! Job offer backsies, fool!”

You don’t hate negotiating. You hate the risk of burning bridges.

But it’s easy to avoid.

How do you ask for more money in a job offer?

There are 3 basic messages you can communicate to inspire the hiring team to give you more.

1. “I’m excited to do great work.”

And I’m confident I can for [Company].

2. “I believe it’s worth about $X more.”

Find some plausible reason:

  • Salary data.
  • Your extra rare abilities.
  • Turning down other opportunities.

Whatever fits your situation.

3. “But I like [Company] and want to find something that aligns with both the budget and the value I’m bringing.”

Do you need a reason to ask for more money?

No. Use one if it fits your situation.

Or don’t use any reason at all. Just say “I’d like $X more.”

What’s the simplest salary negotiation script?

To summarize:

  1. I’m excited to do great work.
  2. I’d like $X more.
  3. But I like [Company] and want to find something that aligns.

Nobody in their right mind would hear that and say “I don’t want to work with this person.”

If you’ve got an offer on the table and you’re scared that asking for more will make them pull it, this is for you.

effortwise.com/job

salary negotiationjob offersalary negotiation scriptasking for more money
Dave Wolovsky

Dave Wolovsky

I was home schooled until 13 years old. Always a quiet introvert. Overly sensitive to others' discomfort. I was scared to ask for things. Waited for others to offer. Waited and waited. After a horrible job experience... ⚠️ Strangled by my own anxiety. ⚠️ Desperate to impress my bosses. ⚠️ "Stuck it out" until I got physically ill. I realized I needed to grow as a person. To ask for what I needed. To persuade with empathy. To negotiate without conflict. I dove deep into understanding people: ▪︎ Neuroscience (got a masters in it) ▪︎ Positive psychology (a certification) ▪︎ Negotiation (books, courses, teaching). Then I realized lots of people had difficulties like me. And I became committed to helping people get paid what they're worth. An early client got a $35k raise, while cutting back to a 4-day workweek. I wrote down everything we did. Conversations along the way. The mistakes along the way. I created a set of principles. Called it "Empathic Influence & Negotiation." Applied it to salary negotiations. Applied it to job interviews. Applied it to networking. And then I found Mindfulness. That added some next level juice. I created the "Mindful Sprint" process. And now I help talented introverts become Mindful Sprinters. This kind of personal growth creates: ✓ Better job opportunities. ✓ Higher compensations. ✓ Stronger boundaries. Without creating: 🚫 Confrontational situations. 🚫 Resentful relationships. 🚫 Suffocating stress. We navigate social complexities: ▪︎ Being a team player, not a pushover. ▪︎ Asking for a raise collaboratively. ▪︎ Making your value fully visible. With me, you're not getting an extroverted former CEO. I won't insist that you have to "command the room." You ARE getting a partner to help you: ▪︎ Shine a floodlight on your value. ▪︎ Stay authentically introverted. ▪︎ Meet you where you're at. Expect to be empowered: ▪︎ Do things you've never done before. ▪︎ Learn the science of negotiation. ▪︎ Experience true mindfulness.

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I was home schooled until 13 years old.

Always a quiet introvert.

Overly sensitive to others' discomfort.

I was scared to ask for things.

Waited for others to offer.

Waited and waited.

After a horrible job experience...

⚠️ Strangled by my own anxiety.

⚠️ Desperate to impress my bosses.

⚠️ "Stuck it out" until I got physically ill.

I realized I needed to grow as a person.

To ask for what I needed.

To persuade with empathy.

To negotiate without conflict.

I dove deep into understanding people:

▪︎ Neuroscience (got a masters in it)

▪︎ Positive psychology (a certification)

▪︎ Negotiation (books, courses, teaching).

Then I realized lots of people had difficulties like me.

And I became committed to helping people get paid what they're worth.

An early client got a $35k raise, while cutting back to a 4-day workweek.

I wrote down everything we did.

Conversations along the way.

The mistakes along the way.

I created a set of principles.

Called it "Empathic Influence & Negotiation."

Applied it to salary negotiations.

Applied it to job interviews.

Applied it to networking.

And then I found Mindfulness.

That added some next level juice.

I created the "Mindful Sprint" process.

And now I help talented introverts become Mindful Sprinters.

This kind of personal growth creates:

✓ Better job opportunities.

✓ Higher compensations.

✓ Stronger boundaries.

Without creating:

🚫 Confrontational situations.

🚫 Resentful relationships.

🚫 Suffocating stress.

We navigate social complexities:

▪︎ Being a team player, not a pushover.

▪︎ Asking for a raise collaboratively.

▪︎ Making your value fully visible.

With me, you're not getting an extroverted former CEO.

I won't insist that you have to "command the room."

You ARE getting a partner to help you:

▪︎ Shine a floodlight on your value.

▪︎ Stay authentically introverted.

▪︎ Meet you where you're at.

Expect to be empowered:

▪︎ Do things you've never done before.

▪︎ Learn the science of negotiation.

▪︎ Experience true mindfulness.