Salary Negotiation Cheat Sheet

Most people walk into salary negotiations unprepared.

They haven't researched the market. They don't have a number ready. They haven't thought about what they'll say if the employer pushes back. And so when the moment comes-they freeze, accept whatever's offered, and walk away wondering what would have happened if they'd been ready.

This cheat sheet makes sure that never happens to you again.

The Salary Negotiation Cheat Sheet is a structured, fill-in-before-you-go worksheet that walks you through every piece of preparation you need — in one clean, private document you can return to every single time you negotiate.

What's inside:

✦ My Role & Context — Define your position clearly so your research is actually relevant

✦ My Numbers — Market floor, midpoint, ceiling, your anchor, and your walk-away number (the one you never share)

✦ My Value Statement — A templated prompt to help you articulate exactly what you bring, in your own words

✦ My Top 3 Achievements — Space to document your strongest evidence before it slips your mind under pressure

✦ Beyond Base Salary — A priority ranking tool so you know what to ask for when the number is stuck

✦ My Scripts — Write out your opening, your response to pushback, and your walk-away statement in advance

✦ Reminders Checklist — The six things to remember when the conversation gets real

This is for you if:

You have a negotiation coming up and you want to walk in prepared

You've frozen or gone blank in salary conversations before

You know your number but struggle to say it out loud with confidence

You want a tool you can reuse every time — for new jobs, promotions, and annual reviews

Format: Beautifully designed, printable PDF — 1 page, clean and structured. Use it: Print it and fill it in by hand, or complete it digitally before every negotiation.

Part of the How to Negotiate Your Salary course by sitwithdebra. Want the full guide? See the "How to negotiate your salary course"