The Salary Negotiation Book

Never Take the First Offer

300+ word-for-word scripts to get paid what you’re worth, from the recruiter’s first call to the signed offer.

370+ word-for-word scripts, by stage, channel and situation
140+ answers to the pushback you’ll actually hear
45+ worksheets and checklists to plan your numbers

Start Free Trial → How to get it

3 free interviews or 14 days · card required — then your plan’s price, charged automatically unless you cancel

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Refund Policy.

On your phone? Start Free Trial there. We’ll email you the Mac link, and you finish on your Mac.

What’s inside

500+ pages in 60 chapters: 370+ scripts, 140+ pushback answers and 45+ worksheets and checklists.

Foundations — how offers are really made, your four numbers, researching your market value, total compensation decoded
The psychology — who should go first, precise numbers and target-first ranges, aiming high without blowing up the deal, questions, silence and concessions
Communication craft — phone, video, email or message; who’s across the table; warm on the person, firm on the number
Scripts, stage by stage — the salary expectations question, the recruiter screen, the interview loop, the offer call, the written offer, the counter, the pushback bank, closing and accepting
What to ask for, beyond base — level and title, sign-on bonuses, equity, bonus, flexibility, growth, protection for senior roles
Special situations — competing and exploding offers, lowballs, startup offers, first jobs, after a layoff, executive offers, raises and promotions, contractors
Industry, level and country playbooks — tech, finance, sales, healthcare and the public sector; first job to executive; the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE
Toolkit — worksheets, checklists and decision trees, the 25 costly mistakes, the script index

Two full sample scripts

Sample script · Recruiter screen

Ask for their range first

When: You understand the job but don’t yet know their budget, and no range has been posted.

Before I name a number, could you share the range budgeted for this role? That way we both know quickly whether we’re aligned.

If they say “It depends on the candidate. What are you looking for?” you say: That makes sense. Roughly where does the band sit for this level? I just want us both to know we’re in the same range before we invest more time.

Why it works: Asking costs nothing and often works: many recruiters share a band because it saves everyone from interviews that can’t end in a deal.

Sample script · Recruiter screen

Park the number until you know the job

When: An early call, before you know the level, the scope (how big the job is) or the package, and no range is posted.

Happy to talk pay. I don’t know the level and scope well enough yet to give you an accurate number. What range have you budgeted for this role?

If they say “Just a ballpark?” you say: Happy to. What’s the band for this level? Then I can tell you where I’d sit in it.

Why it works: Without the level or the budget, any number is a guess, and the side without market information does better by not opening first.

What negotiation help costs elsewhere

Levels.fyi’s Standard negotiation package costs $1,250 and includes “personalized negotiation scripts.” levels.fyi/services, as listed on September 26, 2026.

Independent negotiation coaches charge $4,000 plus 10% of the increase they negotiate, according to IGotAnOffer’s roundup of salary negotiation services, as listed on September 26, 2026.

Never Take the First Offer is a book, not coaching. It’s yours free when you Start Free Trial and sign in on the Mac app.

How to get it

Start Free Trial. Card required. It takes about a minute, on any device.
Your account is ready. It’s created from your checkout email.
Download the Mac app. Your private download link appears as soon as your trial starts. macOS 14 or later.
Sign in on your Mac. Your book is emailed to you the moment you do.

On your phone? Start Free Trial there. We’ll email you the Mac link, and you finish on your Mac.

Use it live

The money question usually comes up first on the recruiter call. Keep your scripts on screen in Interview Clozo while you talk, and answer in your own words.

Pick the plan your trial runs on

Yearly

$999

/year

4,500 generations a month — roughly 1,500 fully answered questions, every month

Bonus: Never Take the First Offer, our salary negotiation book (PDF), emailed when you sign in on your Mac.

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Refund Policy.

Monthly

$199

/month

4,000 generations a month — more than 1,300 fully answered questions

Bonus: Never Take the First Offer, our salary negotiation book (PDF), emailed when you sign in on your Mac.

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Refund Policy.

The free trial runs on the plan you pick: up to three interviews (50 minutes each) or 14 days, whichever comes first. Card required. When it ends, your plan starts and is charged automatically at the price above — 14 days after you start (we show the exact date before you pay), or sooner if you start a 4th interview. We email you 7 and 3 days before. Cancel any time before then from your account page and you pay nothing.

Questions

Is the book really free?

The book costs nothing. It comes with the Interview Clozo free trial, and you get it when you Start Free Trial and sign in on the Mac app. A card is required to start. Your plan starts and is charged automatically 14 days after you start (we show the exact date before you pay), or sooner if you start a 4th interview or choose to start it. We email you 7 and 3 days before. Cancel any time before then from your account page and you owe nothing.

Why do I need to Start Free Trial?

The book is our thank-you for trying Interview Clozo properly: Start Free Trial, then sign in on the Mac app. If you’d rather choose a plan straight away, that counts too.

When does the book arrive?

The moment both steps are done: your free trial (or a plan) and signing in on the Mac app. The app’s private download link appears as soon as your trial starts. We email the book’s private download link to the address on your account.

I’m on my phone. Can I still get it?

Yes. Start Free Trial on your phone. We’ll email you a private Mac download link and the sign-in steps. Sign in on your Mac and the book is on its way.

I have an account but no trial. What now?

Start Free Trial from your account page, then sign in on the Mac app. The book follows at once.

I started the trial with a different email.

The book goes to the account that has the trial. Sign in on your Mac with that email and it’s sent there.

Does it work on Windows?

The book is a PDF, so you can read it anywhere. Interview Clozo itself runs on Macs with macOS 14 or later, and signing in on a Mac is one of the steps.

How long does the download link work?

90 days. After that, ask for a fresh link on the download page, or download it from your account page any time.

Will you keep emailing me?

Until your steps are done, we send one email for each step and a short reminder on day 1 and day 3. Every one of them has a one-click unsubscribe, and the book still arrives when you finish.

Can I download the app before starting the trial?

No. Interview Clozo downloads with a private link that opens as soon as your free trial starts: on the page after checkout, on your account page and by email.

Ready for your next money conversation?

Start Free Trial →

3 free interviews or 14 days · card required — then your plan’s price, charged automatically unless you cancel

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Refund Policy.

Your next step is at the top of this page ↑