Never go into raise negotiations without knowing what other people in your profession are making. The first place to check is your university's career center. Career counselors can tell you if the company's salary history is consistent with its offer.

From there, ask if the recruiter can put you in touch with last year's grads who received offers from that company and their competitors. If you're planning to negotiate, ask the contact how he or she negotiated and if it was successful. That person can also offer tips on how to ask for more money since he or she knows the company's culture after being there for a year.

Then, see what recent grads with similar jobs in your geographic area are making by visiting sites like salary.com and vault.com. These sites post all sorts of information from employees about what it's like to work for their organization.

Many companies hire entry-level employees into structured programs that give them an opportunity to rotate throughout the company. Salaries for those positions aren't usually flexible. That doesn't mean there isn't room for discussion, says Victoria Tracy, director of staffing at Tyco International. She recommends being completely honest. For instance, if you need help with moving costs, she suggests telling the recruiter to see if that money can be put in the form of a signing bonus.

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Another way to get around a structured salary is to ask if your manager can review your performance and salary at six months instead of at the year mark, she says. "We want candidates who work for us to feel good as soon as they walk in the door," says Tracy. "We also want them to be reasonable. If they're willing to work with us, we're willing to listen to their concerns."

Keep in mind that some offers are too good to refuse even if the money isn't there. That's true for programs that will teach you unique skills or employers that have exemplary records when it comes to professional development and work/life balance. Some jobs and employers are so prestigious that having it on your résumé will help you get other, more lucrative offers.

"Too often people see their career as nothing but a paycheck," says John Leech, director of recruitment for FedEx. "It really is so much more."

Tyco's Tracy offers one final piece of advice: No matter what, never, ever have your parents call up to do the negotiating for you.

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