Learn Offer Negotiation

Understand every part of a software engineering offer - and negotiate it with confidence.

Start learning 10 lessons · about 3.5 hours · free
About this track

Getting the offer is only half the job. This track explains how software engineering compensation works - base, bonus, equity, vesting, and levels - and how to research what a role is worth. You will learn to handle the salary expectations question, build leverage, make a specific ask, respond to pushback, compare offers over several years, and close well. Python exercises cover the numbers that matter. This is general education, not financial, tax, or legal advice; details vary by country and company.

Before you start
  • No negotiation experience needed.
  • Basic Python for the exercises.
  • The first exercise run loads the Python runtime in your browser.
  1. Unit 1 · 0/3 lessons

    Understand the offer

    Compensation components, equity, and market data. Badge: Offer analyst

    1. 0x001Break down total compensationUnderstand every part of an offer and add them up correctly. 20 min 0/1 exercises solved 20 min 0/1 exercises solved
    2. 0x102Understand equity and vestingValue RSUs and stock options, and read a vesting schedule. 20 min 0/1 exercises solved 20 min 0/1 exercises solved
    3. 0x203Research levels and market dataKnow what the role pays before you name a number. 20 min 0/1 exercises solved 20 min 0/1 exercises solved
  2. Unit 2 · 0/2 lessons

    Prepare

    Leverage, timing, and the salary expectations question. Badge: Well prepared

    1. 0x304Build leverage and manage timingCreate options, align offer timelines, and know your walk-away point. 20 min 20 min
    2. 0x405Handle the salary expectations questionRespond to early questions about pay without weakening your position. 20 min 20 min
  3. Unit 3 · 0/3 lessons

    Negotiate

    Make the ask, handle pushback, and compare offers. Badge: Deal maker

    1. 0x506Make the askCounter with enthusiasm, a specific number, and reasons. 20 min 0/1 exercises solved 20 min 0/1 exercises solved
    2. 0x607Respond to pushbackKeep negotiating when they say the budget is fixed. 20 min 20 min
    3. 0x708Compare offers side by sideCompare offers over several years, not just year one. 20 min 0/1 exercises solved 20 min 0/1 exercises solved
  4. Unit 4 · 0/2 lessons

    Close and beyond

    Accept or decline well, and negotiate raises later. Badge: Career advocate

    1. 0x809Close, accept, or declineFinish the negotiation cleanly and keep relationships intact. 20 min 20 min
    2. 0x9010Handle counteroffers and raisesRespond to a retention offer and negotiate raises in your current role. 20 min 20 min
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