Recently got laid off and am a Canadian here on a visa. Got an offer from a smaller startup. During the initial phone screening I messed up and told them what I was making at my last job and they said that was within their budget, but have given me an offer a little lower than that. What's the best way to negotiate more aside from researching similar salaries online? What's a reasonable percentage to ask for? I'm working to get an offer from another company to try and leverage, but that's not guaranteed. Been reading some posts and people say "to walk away", but I don't feel like I'm in a position to do so given I got laid off and am here on a visa. Thanks!
You don't have to walk away ... You have to be WILLING to walk away. Big difference. You're disappointed by the offer, okay. Tell them that. Say you were expecting higher on base. Tell them you think you can provide big value to the company because so and so and you want to form a productive partnership. They move on base, great. Now go for sign on / relocation / equity. Move them a little on each bit, one by one.