Negotiating Your First IT Job Offer in the Philippines, Politely

Negotiating your first IT job offer in the Philippines starts with reading the offer properly: separate basic pay from allowances, check how 13th month pay, HMO, night differential and probation work, and read any training bond line by line. Then, if something can be improved, ask once, politely, with a specific reason and a specific request. Fresh grads can negotiate; the trick is to be respectful, prepared, and willing to accept the answer.

A lot of new grads sign the first offer within an hour because they're scared it'll disappear. Most of the time, it won't. Asking for a day to review, and asking one or two good questions, is completely normal.

Step 1: Ask for the offer in writing and take your time

A verbal "we'd like to offer you" over the phone is good news, but it's not the offer. Ask for the job offer letter or a summary by email before you say yes.

What to say:

Giving a specific date shows you're serious, not stalling. One to three working days is a reasonable window to ask for.

Step 2: Break down the pay

This is where fresh grads get confused, because the "total package" number a recruiter says out loud often isn't the same as your basic salary.

Basic pay vs allowances

• Basic pay is your base monthly salary. It's what your 13th month pay is computed from, and it's usually what future raises are a percentage of.
• Allowances (rice, transportation, meal, communication, internet for remote setups) are added on top. Some may be non-taxable up to certain limits under BIR rules. Some are only paid on days you report to the office.

A package with a lower basic and bigger allowances can look the same on payday but give you a smaller 13th month and smaller percentage raises later. Ask: "How much of the monthly package is basic pay, and how much is allowances?"

13th month pay

Under Philippine labor law, rank-and-file employees are entitled to 13th month pay, generally computed from basic salary earned during the year. Some companies also give a 14th month or performance bonus, but that depends entirely on company policy. If the recruiter mentions bonuses, ask whether they're guaranteed or performance-based. For details, check the DOLE website.

Night differential and shift details

If the role is on night shift (common in support and QA roles serving US, UK or Australian clients), the law requires a night differential for work done during the night period. Some companies pay above the minimum. Ask:

• What are the exact shift hours, and do they rotate?
• Is the night diff included in the package number you quoted, or on top of it?
• Is there overtime, and how is it approved and paid?

Step 3: Check the benefits

• HMO: When does coverage start (day one or after regularization)? Can you add dependents, and at what cost? What's the coverage limit per illness?
• Leave: How many vacation and sick leaves, and when do they start accruing? Are unused leaves convertible to cash?
• Work setup: Onsite, hybrid or remote? Which office? A BGC or Ortigas office with a two-hour commute each way is a real cost in time and fare.
• Equipment: Do they provide a laptop? For remote roles, is there an internet allowance?
• Training: Do they pay for certifications or courses?

These are often more negotiable than salary, especially at large companies with fixed pay bands for entry level roles.

Step 4: Understand probation

Most new hires in the Philippines go through a probationary period before becoming regular. During probation, some benefits may be limited (HMO dependents, leave conversion, certain allowances).

Ask:

• How long is probation?
• What are the criteria for regularization, and how is performance reviewed?
• Which benefits change once I become regular?

Clear criteria protect you. "We'll see how it goes" is not criteria.

Step 5: Read any bond or training agreement very carefully

Some companies, especially those with paid trainee programs, ask new hires to sign a training bond or service agreement. It usually says that if you resign before a set period, you have to pay back part of the training cost.

This is where you should slow down:

• What exactly is the amount, and is it fixed or prorated as you stay longer?
• What triggers it: resignation only, or also termination?
• Is it in a separate document? Ask for a copy before your start date.
• Does it say anything about holding your final pay, certificate of employment or clearance?

A bond isn't automatically a red flag; some training is genuinely expensive. But don't sign anything you haven't read fully, and if a clause worries you, ask HR to explain it in writing. If it still seems unfair, you can ask a lawyer or check with DOLE before signing. Walking away from a bad agreement is better than being stuck in one.

Step 6: Negotiating your first IT job offer, what to ask and how

As a fresh grad, your bargaining power is limited, so pick one or two asks. Good reasons to ask:

• The basic pay is below what you're seeing for similar entry level roles in current JobStreet and LinkedIn postings in your city.
• You have another offer.
• You bring something specific: a relevant certification, a strong capstone, or OJT in the exact tech stack.
• The commute or setup creates a real cost.

Don't ask for more just because a batchmate got more. Pay varies by company, city and role, so do your own research on current postings before naming anything.

Write your ask down before you say it. The first draft is usually too long and too apologetic. Read it out loud once, cut it to three or four sentences, and you'll sound calmer on the actual call.

Sample script: asking for higher basic pay

Sample script: asking for a non-salary item

Sample script: when you have another offer

Only say this if it's true. Recruiters talk, and the industry is smaller than you think.

Sample script: accepting after they say no

That last one matters. If the answer is no and the offer is still good for you, accept graciously. You asked respectfully, nothing is lost.

Mistakes to avoid

• Accepting on the call without seeing anything in writing.
• Negotiating over chat with emojis and "sige po, pwede pa po ba?" back and forth for days. Keep it to one clear email or call.
• Asking for more and then accepting a different offer anyway without telling them.
• Ghosting an offer you don't want. A short, polite decline email keeps the door open.
• Comparing offers on the total package only, without checking basic pay, benefits and commute.

Want someone to read the offer with you?

You can do everything above on your own. Plenty of people do, with a calculator and a patient tita who has worked in HR. The hard part is that your first offer usually arrives with a deadline, and you have nobody to ask whether a bond clause or a low basic is normal for that kind of company.

That's the gap the last week of the Fresh Grad Track covers. There's a lesson on understanding a job offer in the Philippines and another on negotiation basics, with written notes you can reread on your phone the night before you reply. You can post your draft reply in the private member community, or bring it to the weekly live call (recorded, if you're in classes or on shift) and hear how it sounds before HR does. If you want to see the teaching style first, the free Fresh Grad preview lessons don't need an account.

If you're still job hunting, our guide to IT jobs for fresh graduates in the Philippines lists the roles worth targeting, and where to find IT jobs explains how to check current postings.

Frequently asked questions

Can a fresh graduate negotiate salary in the Philippines?

Yes, politely and with a reason. Many large companies have fixed pay bands for entry level roles, so non-salary items like HMO start date or allowances may be easier to adjust.

Will negotiating make the company withdraw the offer?

It's rare when you ask respectfully and once. Withdrawing over a polite question is a signal about the company. Avoid ultimatums and repeated pushing.

Is a training bond legal?

Training agreements are common, but whether a specific clause is enforceable depends on its terms. Read it fully, ask HR to clarify in writing, and consult DOLE or a lawyer if anything seems unfair.

Should I ask about salary in the first interview?

You can ask about the salary range early so nobody wastes time. Save detailed negotiation for when you have a written offer in hand.

Does the Fresh Grad Track help with job offers?

Yes. Week 4 covers HR interviews, how to read a Philippine job offer, and negotiation basics, and you can ask the coach about your specific offer on the live call or in the community. It's training only, so it can't promise a job or a salary figure.