Make a clear counteroffer
Combine enthusiasm, evidence and a specific prioritized ask.
Prepare your response
Combine enthusiasm, evidence and a specific prioritized ask.
Original teaching material. All numerical examples are hypothetical, not live market benchmarks. Adapt scripts to your actual situation; no messages are sent from this course.
Practice and self-review
Write a 120-word counteroffer, then say it aloud in 60 seconds.
Reveal worked answer guidance
The request should be clear enough to forward to an approver and honest enough to defend under follow-up questions.
Check your response for accurate units, real evidence, a prioritized ask, a genuine alternative and a clear next step.
Sources and scope
Harvard MCS: Evaluating and negotiating offers ↗ · Reference checked 2026-10-18
Career-services reference for offer evaluation, preparation and negotiation conversations; original lesson scripts and examples are authored for this course.
This course teaches preparation and communication. It provides no live pay ranges, employer guarantees, tax calculations or personalized legal/investment advice. Governing documents and local rules determine actual award and employment terms.
Write a 120-word counteroffer, then say it aloud in 60 seconds.
Your negotiation draft
Separate offer facts from assumptions, state a truthful prioritized ask, and define your next step. Save your draft before comparing it with the worked guidance.
Self-review checklist
Self-guided practice. Automated AI feedback and code execution are not connected.