How to negotiate a higher salary? Ex-Amazon employee shares tips after getting Rs 46 lakh as joining bonus

During her interview for a job at Amazon, Jasmine McCall successfully negotiated a $54,000 (about Rs 46 lakh) sign-on bonus, along with a six-figure salary and $100,000 (about Rs 86 lakh) in stock options. Now the CEO of career development platform PayBump, she emphasizes that discussing salary early in a job interview can lead to better outcomes.

"They initially pushed back, but because I knew how to quantify my value, I was able to show them how much they would lose if I walked away. Two days later, they told me they found the budget to give me the full $54,000 I had asked for," McCall told CNBC Make It.

What are McCall's tips for higher salary?

Salary negotiation starts before the offer

"Many people assume that salary negotiations begin when they get an offer. But by then, the company has already assigned you a value based on two factors: Your resume and whether it highlights measurable impact.
Your application and the number you entered in the “desired salary” box, which tends to be a trap," said McCall.

Focus on other aspects, not just base salary

When Amazon sent the first offer, McCall said she didn’t just focus on base pay. "The smartest negotiators look at the entire compensation package, including sign-on bonuses, equity, relocation packages and performance-based incentives," McCall told CNBC MakeIt.

Find out what your peers are earning

Many job seekers have no idea what the market pays for their role, so they negotiate blindly. Most companies, however, have salary bands, internal pay data and industry benchmarks that you can use to your advantage.

Be Willing to Walk Away

Companies invest thousands of dollars in sourcing talent, and despite popular belief, they often go to great lengths to meet your salary expectations.

If a company is making you an offer, they’ve already decided they want you. When they push back, it’s not necessarily a no—it just means they need a reason to say yes. Your biggest leverage in negotiations is your willingness to walk away.