Your first job or internship: negotiating pay, hours and terms

Many young people accept their first offer without a word because they fear losing it. US research suggests polite negotiation is usually low risk, and that pay is only one of many things you can discuss. Knowing the legal basics in the UAE also tells you what is not up for negotiation at all.

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Is it safe to negotiate?

• PON reports a 2023 Pew Research Center survey in which about 60 per cent of US workers did not try to negotiate pay when offered a job.
• PON also reports a 2024 study by Einav Hart, Julia Bear and Zhiying Ren: in a survey of nearly 1,500 employers, about 6 per cent of offers had been withdrawn, often after candidates behaved rudely or inappropriately rather than after polite requests for more.
• Candidates in that study rated the chance of an offer being withdrawn 33 per cent higher than managers did. In other words, the fear is bigger than the risk.
• A 2025 US survey by Resume Genius, reported by PON, found that 78 per cent of those who negotiated their initial job offer said they ended up with a better one.
• These figures come from the US. For many entry-level or student roles pay is fixed, but you can often still discuss your schedule, start date or training.

UAE rules for students aged 15 and over

• The UAE Government portal says establishments may train or employ students aged 15 and above.
• MOHRE offers a Training and Work Permit for Students aged 15 and over. For students aged 15 to 18, written consent signed by a guardian or custodian is required.
• MOHRE also requires a medical fitness certificate, proof of student status, a no-objection certificate from your school or university for training, and an employment contract approved by the Ministry and signed by both you and the employer.
• The permit is valid for three months, according to MOHRE.
• UAE labour law gives extra protection to workers under 18, including limits on the type of work and working times. Check the current rules on the MOHRE website before agreeing any job.
• For students working in academic holidays, the portal says employment is limited to a maximum of three consecutive months each time, and the contract must state the nature of work, duration, wage, weekly holiday and daily working hours.
• These protections are not negotiable. If an employer asks you to skip the permit or work outside these rules, that is a reason to walk away.

Contract terms worth understanding

• The UAE Government portal says that once a contract is signed, the employer may not alter or replace terms of the offer letter unless the employee consents. Read the offer carefully before you sign.
• For adult private-sector workers, the portal gives a standard maximum of 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week, and overtime of no more than two hours a day paid at the basic hourly rate plus 25 per cent (plus 50 per cent between 10pm and 4am). Different rules may apply to young workers, so check with MOHRE before agreeing any hours.
• Probation must not exceed six months, and an employer ending a contract during probation must give 14 days' written notice (UAE Government portal).
• The portal lists the recognised work models: full-time, part-time, temporary, flexible, remote and job sharing.
• The portal also notes that students who train or work are not entitled to end-of-service gratuity or other leave except as stated in their contract, so check what yours says.

What you can negotiate besides pay

• PON's article on job offers lists flexible hours, travel, remote work and responsibilities as worth discussing alongside salary.
• PON suggests trading: a candidate who values remote work more than a small signing bonus could propose swapping one for the other.
• For students: a schedule that fits around exams, a later start date, training, a named supervisor, a project you can own, or a reference letter at the end.
• PON advises taking a long-term view, since a higher starting rate usually affects later raises too.

How to ask: steps and scripts

• Research norms first. PON suggests asking people in your network whether offers in that field are usually negotiable.
• If the employer knows the pay range better than you, let them name a figure first (PON on first offers).
• Express appreciation, then ask for improvements before you accept (PON).
• Frame it as a shared problem. Hart, Bear and Ren, quoted by PON, advise reframing a zero-sum mindset by looking for win-win solutions.
• Script: 'Thank you, I'm really pleased to be offered the role. Before I confirm, could we talk about the schedule? My exams finish on 12 June, so could I start on 15 June and work three days a week?'
• Script for pay: 'From what I've learned about similar roles, the rate is often a little higher. Is there any flexibility, or could we review it after the first month?'
• Get every agreed change confirmed in writing before you start.

If something goes wrong

• Raise the issue calmly with your supervisor first, in writing if possible, and involve a parent or guardian.
• The UAE Government portal says employers or workers can file a complaint with MOHRE, which must first try to settle the dispute amicably, within 14 days, before referring it to court.
• The portal lists the MOHRE app and the toll-free Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084 as complaint channels.
• Keep copies of your contract, permit, payslips and messages. Records make any discussion simpler.