In the weeks coming up to graduation, many of us are going through what can often be termed “extremely awkward pre-graduation job offer negotiation.” Some of us have just one offer. Some have multiples. How do we go about negotiating up a low salary offer when we’ve got nothing to play it against? It’s actually simple (oh, and also, it’s really difficult):

Be bold.

HBR offers a dynamite line to use in a situation where you’re negotiating up a low salary without much to leverage it against (aka another offer)– it comes from Amy Gallo, who writes it in a recent Harvard Business Review article:

“Maybe I haven’t conveyed enough the value I think I can bring to your organization because that sounds like a number you’d quote for someone who-” is much more junior, doing a different type of job, has less experience, etc.

Then back up your statement with the information you’ve gathered.

[via HBR]