Warm-up
Job Offers & Salary Negotiation
Job Offers & Salary Negotiation
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key vocabulary for job offers, salary and benefits
- Use the second conditional for polite negotiation
- Ask about salary and benefits without sounding rude
- Accept or decline an offer professionally
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- Have you ever negotiated a salary? What happened?
- What is more important for you: salary or benefits?
- Would you take a job with a lower salary but more free time?
- What would your dream job offer include?
Say it out loud
Negotiate politely. → If I accepted the job, I would need a slightly higher salary.
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Key vocabulary
Useful phrases
| Thank you for the offer. I am very pleased. | Дякую за пропозицію. Я дуже радий. |
| What is the salary for this position? | Яка зарплата на цій посаді? |
| Is the salary gross or net? | Зарплата брутто чи нетто? |
| If I accepted the job, I would need more flexibility. | Якби я погодився на роботу, мені була б потрібна більша гнучкість. |
| Would you consider a higher salary? | Чи розглянули б ви вищу зарплату? |
| I would like some time to think about it. | Я хотів би трохи часу, щоб подумати. |
| I am happy to accept the offer. | Я із задоволенням приймаю пропозицію. |
| Unfortunately, I have to decline. | На жаль, мені доведеться відмовитися. |
Try out the new words
Say one sentence with a new word. → …
Say one phrase from the list about your work. → …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English.
Grammar
The second conditional
| If + past simple, would + verb | If I accepted the job, I would need more flexibility. Use it for unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future. |
| Polite negotiation | Would you consider a higher salary? / If you offered 3,000, I would accept. The second conditional sounds softer than If you offer …, I will accept. |
| were for all persons | If I were you, I would ask for a bonus. In advice we use were, not was. |
| Could / might | If I had more experience, I could ask for more. If they agreed, I might accept. |
| Not the same as the first conditional | First: If you give me a day off, I will work on Saturday. (a real offer) Second: If you gave me a day off, I would work on Saturday. (a polite, less sure idea) |
Which sentence is correct?
Complete with the correct word
Rewrite it
Make a polite second-conditional sentence. Several answers are possible.
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Say one polite wish about a job. → If I accepted the job, I would …
Reading
Read: a salary negotiation call
Salary negotiation — a phone call
Employer: Hello, Ms Kim. We would like to offer you the position of Project Manager. The gross salary is 2,800 euros a month.
Candidate: Thank you very much. I am very pleased. May I ask a question? Is that 2,800 gross or net?
Employer: It is gross. There is also a bonus of up to 10% and 25 days of paid leave.
Candidate: That sounds good. If I accepted the job, I would need some flexibility. Would you consider remote work two days a week? Also, would you consider a salary of 3,100?
Employer: We could offer remote work two days a week. For the salary, if you had more experience in our field, we would pay more. Could we say 2,950?
Candidate: That sounds fair. I would like one day to think, and I will answer tomorrow.
Employer: Of course. We look forward to hearing from you.
True or false?
The first salary offer is 2,800 euros gross.
There is no bonus.
The candidate asks for remote work.
The employer agrees to 3,100 euros.
The candidate answers at once.
Answer the questions
What position do they offer?
What does Ms Kim ask about the salary?
What flexibility does she ask for?
What does she say at the end?
Find the key language
Write the word (or phrase) from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good text?
Your own opinion
- Is 2,950 euros a good result? Why or why not?
- What would you ask for in a job offer?
- Is it polite to ask for time to think?
Practice
Picture the situation
Offer → Questions → Negotiation → Decision. Ask questions, state what you need and give yourself time to decide.
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Say it in your own words
Write one sentence. Several answers are possible.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A useful tip
Speaking
How to use this section
Your tutor plays an employer or a candidate. Practise a job offer and a polite negotiation. Use the second conditional: If I accepted …, I would … / Would you consider …?
Receiving the offer
Task: thank the employer for the offer.
Starter: "Thank you very much for the offer. I am very pleased and I would like to ask a few questions."
Asking about the money
Task: ask about the salary details.
Starter: "What is the salary for this position? Is that gross or net? And is there a bonus?"
Asking about benefits
Task: ask about leave and flexibility.
Starter: "How many days of paid leave are there? And would you consider remote work two days a week?"
Making a counter-offer
Task: ask politely for more money.
Starter: "Would you consider a salary of 3,100? If I accepted at that level, I would be able to start immediately."
Responding to a counter-offer
Task: you are the employer. Respond.
Starter: "If you had more experience in our field, we would pay more. Could we say 2,950?"
Asking for time
Task: ask for time to think.
Starter: "That sounds fair. I would like one day to think about it, and I will answer tomorrow."
Accepting or declining
Task: give your final answer.
Starter: "I am happy to accept the offer. / Unfortunately, I have to decline, but thank you very much for your time."
Full conversation — no stops
With your tutor, role-play a salary negotiation: receive the offer, ask about the money and benefits, make a counter-offer, ask for time and give your answer — entirely in English.
Let's talk — reflection
- Is it hard for you to talk about money?
- What benefit is the most important for you?
- Would you rather work from home or in an office?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key vocabulary for job offers, salary and benefits
- Use the second conditional for polite negotiation
- Ask about salary and benefits without sounding rude
- Accept or decline an offer professionally
Quick self-check
How do we form the second conditional?
Which form of “be” do we use in advice?
Why is the second conditional polite?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor what you would do in a perfect job. → If I had a perfect job, I would …
Homework
Words to remember
| a job offer | пропозиція роботи |
| a salary | заробітна плата |
| a benefit | пільга, додатковий бонус |
| a bonus | премія, бонус |
| a contract | контракт |
| a probation period | випробувальний термін |
| paid leave | оплачувана відпустка |
| flexible hours | гнучкий графік |
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct form
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a short email or dialogue (6–8 sentences) in which you negotiate one point of a job offer (salary, remote work or leave). Use at least three second conditional sentences.
Practise out loud
Say your negotiation aloud with a partner or in front of a mirror.
Read aloud
Read the text “a salary negotiation call” aloud twice before the next lesson.
- 8.7 I did the writing task
- 8.8 I practised out loud
- 8.9 I read the text aloud twice