In this market? You betcha.
Using AI for Salary Negotiation
With historically low job openings, mass layoffs, and a shaky economy, job jumping to increase your salary is a risky move in this market. Though this strategy to land a higher salary worked during the "Great Resignation," when the supply-demand equation favored employees, the conditions have changed. Whether you're in the job-hunt trenches or you're switching roles at your current company, it's important to know what you're worth and how to get it.
If discussing money matters with your manager makes you nervous, you don't have to wing it. In the age of artificial intelligence, use the available tools to create a better pitch for yourself (and your pay proposal). Since ChatGPT is a conversational AI tool and has recently been updated to GPT-4o, it was my top choice for negotiation help with hirers.
ChatGPT was released in November 2022 and is available in a free or paid premium version ($20 a month for the paid). It can provide negotiation tactics and ideas, general salary information, and conversation scripts. You could go from nervous to negotiator with ChatGPT.
For more ways you can use AI for job hunting, check out CNET's tips guides on how to create a resume using ChatGPT, how to use Figma AI to visually design your resume, how to find the job of your dreams using ChatGPT, and how to use ChatGPT to write individualized, personalized cover letters.
Prep Your First Prompt
Before you open ChatGPT, do a quick Google search on salary ranges for your job title, location, and company. Check out Glassdoor, Indeed, Payscale, Reddit, and ZipRecruiter for a good cross-section. It's also helpful to update and/or review your budget, so you have concrete numbers to base your target salary on (you aren't just pulling numbers out of thin air, or retreating at the first sign of resistance when negotiating, because you know what you need).
Once you have your desired salary and the average salary for your job, it's time to consult ChatGPT. We'll run two types of negotiations:
- Negotiating a starting salary
- Negotiating a raise at your company
Negotiating a Starting Salary at a New Job
Give ChatGPT as much context as possible. Include your targets and ask what the going salary is for your level of experience. Let's use the journalist in New York City example, with Indeed's salary estimate at $83,844 and a goal to earn $85,000. (ChatGPT told me the average salary for a journalist in New York City with 10 years of experience was $72,000, but I liked Indeed's number better.)
Prompt 1: "I'm a journalist in New York City. According to Indeed, the average salary is $83,744 and I'd like to earn $85,000. What advice would you give to help me negotiate this salary with publishers and editors?"
The response was pretty generic, mentioning things like, "Research other journalists in similar markets to benchmark salaries" and, "Showcase your connections in the industry." But I did like the point about negotiating beyond salary.
If the employer can't meet my desired salary, I could negotiate on the number of days required in the office, vacation days, or professional development. To further understand how I could highlight my value to employers during negotiation, I uploaded my resume to ChatGPT.
Prompt 2:
"Here is my resume. Where can I add the most value for a publisher? Please create a list of the most notable achievements that I can use in my salary negotiation."
ChatGPT told me that my most notable accomplishments were having bylines across multiple prestigious publications, working with high-profile brands, being an expert in niche specializations, having a strong content strategy, and being experienced in human-interest reporting. Using these value-adds, I then asked ChatGPT to draft talking points for a phone call and email, showcasing why I'm worth $85,000.
ChatGPT gave me specific things to say on the call, including:
- Summarizing my experience
- Emphasizing the high points in my career and my specialized reporting
- Showcasing what I can do beyond journalism, such as brand strategy and working directly with clients
- Explaining why $85,000 is justified, fair, and competitive
It then suggested closing with a statement like:
"I'm confident that my skills will bring substantial value to your team, and I'm excited about the opportunity to contribute to your publication. I believe that this salary reflects my experience, expertise, and the results I'm able to deliver."
ChatGPT also drafted an email to send for negotiating an $85,000 salary, which I've posted in full at the bottom of this article. You can tweak the chatbot's drafts to make them more personal and more applicable to the publication, and to include any relevant data points. When it comes to negotiation, not working from a blank page can make a world of difference.
Negotiating a Raise at Your Current Job
Now, let's say I got that job and a year later, I wanted to negotiate a $10,000 raise. I asked ChatGPT what the best practice is for requesting a raise, and to give me some strategies. It responded with some good advice:
- Request a raise after a successful project or when the company is performing well (even if the economy is "bad").
- Come prepared with quantifiable results and your role in the growth.
- Have current salary estimates for your role, location, and experience.
- If you're sensing a no, don't ask for a raise but let them know you plan to in the next few months, or set a date in the initial conversation.
- Arrange regular check-ins, so it isn't an isolated conversation.
I asked ChatGPT to prepare talking points for requesting a raise. It told me to:
- Start with gratitude for my current role
- Use positive language
- Talk about the value I provide to the company and how my skills and responsibilities have increased
- Point out that my salary increase request is in line with industry averages
- Touch on the impact of my work on the company's growth
- Mention my commitment to the job
- Make the specific salary request
The biggest benefit of using ChatGPT is confidence. If you can go into negotiations with more confidence and conviction, the better the outcomes.
Amanda Smith