Salary Negotiation for New Grads and First Jobs
Your first offer feels like a gift you should not question, but you can still negotiate it politely. Counteroffer shows new grads how to counter without seeming entitled.
Coaching, not legal or financial advice.
What are you negotiating?
Your offer or current pay
Market-rate band
Talking points
Email template
CopyTiming
Coaching, not legal or financial advice.
Direct answer
Salary negotiation for new grads is absolutely allowed: most entry-level offers have some room, and a polite, researched counter rarely rescinds an offer. Benchmark the role, then ask once for a specific number, often a modest 5 to 10 percent above the offer, framed with gratitude and enthusiasm. Counteroffer benchmarks the role and writes a warm, low-risk script and email for first-time negotiators. Even a small win compounds over your whole career. This is career coaching, not financial advice.
The problem
New grads assume the first number is fixed and accepting fast shows eagerness, so they start their careers underpaid and every future raise builds on that low base.
How Counteroffer handles it
Counteroffer is built for the nerves of a first negotiation. It benchmarks the entry-level role so you know whether the offer is fair, then sets a modest, credible counter and writes a script and email that lead with appreciation and excitement. The tone is low-risk and professional, exactly what a new grad needs to ask without seeming entitled. You learn the muscle of negotiating on a real offer, gently. It is a coaching tool that prepares you, not a promise the number will change.
▲ what it uses
The features behind new grads and first jobs.
Walk in knowing your number.
Counteroffer is educational career coaching, not legal, financial, or HR advice.