1) Accept initial offer and lose Rs 1 crore
Always, always, always negotiate. Women and first-time job seekers are more prone to accepting the opening offer without questioning it. A 10% salary difference in the first job with a CTC of Rs 4 lakh represents a lifetime loss of over Rs 1 crore, assuming a 15% annual hike over a 40-year career.
So, politely restate your case and provide justification for a revised offer. In over 95% of the cases, the employer has not made his best offer right away and is expecting you to negotiate upwards. As a ballpark, ask for a 10% increase.
2) Do your homework...
