You produce an amazing resume. They were impressed enough to invite you for a face-to-face interview. You were questioned in the first round, invited for a second interview, and then a third. You went round after round but you didn’t get knocked out. You kept coming back for more. And just when you thought “When are they going to offer me that job”, you get the call. They want to make you an offer.

You did it! Smooth sailing from here. Right? Not so fast. What happens when the job offer letter does not meet all your expectations? Do not despair. You don’t have to accept the offer as is, and if you act right, you don’t have to worry that asking for more will jeopardize this career opportunity you’ve worked so hard for. Here’s how to negotiate a job offer without putting off your future employer.

1. Don’t respond to a job offer letter right away. Any reasonable employer will give you at least a few days to think over the terms of the offer. And most employers anticipate that candidates will make counter offers.

2. Evaluate all the elements of the job offer letter and determine how each measures up to expectations. The best way to do this is in writing or on a spreadsheet. Create three columns on the page. In the first column, write a vertical list of categories such as salary, bonus, vacation, benefits, 401k, etc. At the top of the second column, write “Job Offer Letter,” and at the top of the third column, write “Expectations.” In the “Job Offer Letter” column, summarize the main points of the offer letter next to each category. So, for example, next to salary, list the salary offered in the offer letter. Then, in the “Expectations” column, write down your desired salary. Do that for each category so that you have a concise view of how the job offer letter compares to your expectations.

3. Focus on the things you want most. I am a believer in win-win negotiation and believe that in order to be successful in negotiating a job offer letter, you must be prepared to make some compromises. Don’t try to have everything your way. Decide which elements of the job offer letter are most important to you and present your counter offer on those elements in clear terms. But it’s important to remember that there are some things you may want that they may not be able to offer due to company policies. It’s always a good idea to consider several options so that if you can’t agree on something you want, you can offer an alternative that will make both parties happy. For example, if you want three weeks of vacation but company policy is for all employees to have two weeks of vacation, consider whether you would be willing to give up the extra week of vacation in exchange for flexible work hours.

4. Of all the elements of the job offer letter, people tend to worry the most about how to negotiate a higher salary. But it doesn’t have to be that difficult. If the salary offered doesn’t meet your expectations and you want to ask for more, be prepared to explain why you deserve it. There are many websites that provide detailed information on salaries. By doing your research, you’ll be in a position to show why someone with your skills and experience should be paid more for the position. But again, company policy may dictate what the employer can offer. If you can’t get the salary you want, be prepared to offer alternatives, such as a higher bonus.

5. Always maintain your professionalism. You must be prepared to be told no to the things you want. Don’t let your emotions take over and don’t make hasty decisions. Take a day or two to think about your final offer. You may conclude that the opportunity is worth giving up some benefits.

Negotiating a job offer doesn’t have to be tedious. Determine what is important to you, but be prepared to compromise. And don’t lose sight of the intangibles you won’t see in your job offer letter. Happiness and fulfillment don’t always come with more money.