You made it to a third-round interview with a company that you really like, and it is for a job that you want in your degree field. Yet, you just got another offer from a really great company that you would rather work for. The hiring manager at the first company finally just gets to the point and asks: "While we are considering several candidates, we really like you and what you bring to the company. We hope that you feel the same. So, if we can offer you a competitive salary, would you be ready to come to work for us?"

• Compose a list of all your non-negotiables and negotiable factors and weave them into your counteroffer. (You can throw in benefits as a negotiation too).
• Respond to the offer in a professional email and justify your points of the counteroffer (remember to be specific and use your skillset to validate your offer and familiarize yourself with industry salary trends in that field).