Email Negotiating Job Offer Template (UK 2026)

Why this matters

Most UK candidates leave money on the table by either accepting the first offer or negotiating poorly. Hiring budgets typically have 10-15% headroom from the initial offer and signing bonuses are often available even when not initially mentioned. The framing of the negotiation matters more than the magnitude — a good ask gets considered, a bad ask gets the offer withdrawn.

Email template

Subject: Offer for [Role title] — final discussion

Dear [Hiring manager's name],

Thank you very much for the offer. I'm genuinely excited about the role and the team, and I wanted to come back with one or two points before we finalise.

[Specific ask 1]: Based on [specific market data, current package, scope of role], I was hoping we could revisit the base salary at £[X]. The [reasoning — specific to your situation].

[Optional specific ask 2]: I'd also like to discuss [signing bonus / holiday / start date / equity / specific term] — [one sentence of context].

I'm committed to making this work, and I'm confident we can reach an agreement that works for both sides. I'm happy to discuss by phone if easier.

Best regards,
[Your name]
[Phone number]

Replace bracketed text [like this] with your details. Keep the tone — that's what does the work.

Step-by-step

1. 1 Don't negotiate in the verbal offer call — buy yourself time to think
2. 2 Wait 24-48 hours, then send the negotiation email
3. 3 Be specific: ask for a number, not 'a little more'
4. 4 Justify the ask with concrete reasoning — market data, scope, current package
5. 5 Keep the tone collaborative, not adversarial
6. 6 Limit yourself to 1-2 asks in one email — long lists weaken each item
7. 7 Always confirm you remain enthusiastic about joining — don't make the negotiation feel like a threat

Common mistakes

• ✗Negotiating without specific numbers — vague asks get vague responses
• ✗Negotiating without justification — 'I want more' lacks the reasoning that gets approved
• ✗Sounding aggressive or ungrateful — UK culture punishes this more than US culture
• ✗Negotiating multiple items individually over multiple emails — bundle them once
• ✗Not having a walk-away number in mind — you can't negotiate without knowing your floor