Know what you're worth.Then ask for it.
Salary negotiation coaching, employment agreement review and offer guidance, so you make confident and informed decisions instead of signing the first number put in front of you.
The most expensive conversation you'll avoid
Most graduates accept the first offer without negotiating, and every future pay rise compounds from that starting number. A single well-handled conversation at offer stage can be worth more than years of annual increases.
We coach you through it: what the market actually pays for the role in New Zealand, what is realistic to ask for as a graduate, exactly how to phrase the ask, and how to respond to the common pushbacks. Negotiation done professionally strengthens an employer's impression of you rather than risking the offer.
Read the agreement before you sign it
NZ employment agreements contain terms that matter well beyond salary: trial periods, notice periods, restraint of trade clauses, KiwiSaver treatment, leave entitlements and review clauses. Most first-time employees sign without understanding any of them.
We go through your agreement with you, explain every clause in plain language, flag anything unusual, and list the questions worth asking before you commit. If you are weighing up more than one offer, we help you compare them properly, including the parts that are not salary.
Common questions
Asked often, answered straight.
Can a graduate really negotiate their first salary?
Often, yes. Not every offer has room to move, but many do, and employers expect professional questions at offer stage. Even where salary is fixed, start dates, reviews and development budgets are frequently negotiable.
Will negotiating put my offer at risk?
Handled professionally, no. Employers do not withdraw offers because a candidate asked a well-reasoned question. We coach you on the approach so the conversation strengthens their impression of you.
Is this legal advice?
No. We explain your agreement in plain language and flag anything worth questioning, drawing on decades of recruitment experience. If an agreement needs a lawyer, we will tell you.
Got an offer on the table?
Book an offer review before you sign. It could be the best-value hour of your career.