Its easy to tell your friends to negotiate when they get a job offer.

But when it comes to you?

Theres this nagging little voice that says, Do not doanythingthat might ruin this.

This post originally appeared onThe Muse.

I know this because when I was a recruiter, I often had the following conversations with hiring managers.

I Hope We Can Pay This Person Enough.

Most people I know do their best to offer what they feel is a fair salary off the bat.

In many cases, they have room to offer a little more if the candidate negotiates.

However, Ive lost count of the sleepless nights I experienced while waiting for someone to accept a job.

What This Means for You

Do a little research on whatfair market valuefor the role is.

If you feel the offer you received isnt fair, dont be afraid to make a counteroffer.

Im Nervous That This Candidate Has Multiple Offers on the Table.

More specifically, those people were worried about how each company would take it.

The fact that employers consider this is really, really good news for you.

So, be transparent with the hiring manager if youre decidingbetween two offers.

Avoid using one company as leverage to get more money from another, but dont sell yourself short either.

If your top picks offering the lowest salary, go ahead and nudge the hiring manager a bit.

I Really Hope This Works Out

I cant emphasize this enough.

They typically take a stab at hire people who get them energized about what theyll add to the team.

Just ask Muse writer Sara McCord about her$10,000 career mistake.

And I wish that were true.

But at the same time, show a little empathy for the hiring manager.

Sure, theres wiggle room, and you should 100% feel comfortable negotiating your salary.

So treat this process as a conversation and not a back-and-forth fight.

But trust me, youve worked hard to get to this point.

You have an offer in hand and have much more power than you think.

If you do need a little extra help, consider speaking to anegotiation coach.

In any case, youve got thisand you deserve to be compensated fairly.

Say hi on Twitter@rich_moy.

Photo byChristopher Furlongvia Getty.