RecruitLingo

I extended an offer for a {{Job Title}} role and the candidate has come back asking for {{what they're asking for — higher base, more equity, a signing bonus, a different title, an earlier review}}. ORIGINAL OFFER: {{base, bonus, equity, sign-on, level}} THE APPROVED BAND AND WHERE THE OFFER SITS IN IT: {{e.g. 70th percentile of the band}} WHAT I ACTUALLY HAVE ROOM TO MOVE ON: {{be honest — budget, level, non-cash items, or nothing}} WHAT THEY SAID: {{their stated reasoning, any competing offer and whether I've seen it, current comp if they shared it}} HOW STRONG A CANDIDATE, AND HOW HARD TO REPLACE: {{your honest view}} INTERNAL EQUITY: {{roughly what people already on the team at this level earn}} Give me: 1. 2-3 talking points for the call that acknowledge their ask without committing to anything I haven't cleared. 2. Two questions that tell me whether this is their real bar or an opening position, and what actually matters most to them. 3. The non-salary levers I could trade if base is fixed — sign-on, start date, title, a written early review, remote flexibility, learning budget — and which suit this ask. 4. Any risk the ask creates: going over band, paying a new hire more than the team they're joining, or setting a precedent. 5. If I truly have no room, how to say so in a way that keeps the relationship and doesn't sound scripted. 6. A one-paragraph note to the hiring manager or comp team requesting approval, in case I need it. Don't invent market data. If you mention market rates, label them as a guess I need to verify.