Strategy: When base salary and equity have reached their caps, non-monetary perks and professional development budgets are valuable levers recruiters can often approve easily.
Script: 'Thank you for explaining the salary band limits. Since the core compensation numbers are set, I would love to explore a few non-salary items that are important for my continued growth and transition:
1. Professional Development: Could we include an annual $3,000 stipend for technical conferences, certifications, and books?
2. Equipment: Could we allocate a dedicated home-office equipment budget of $1,500 to ensure an ergonomic remote workstation?
3. Relocation: Is there flexibility to provide a $5,000 relocation stipend to support my move?
These additions would make this an easy and immediate yes for me.'