Respond when base is capped
Understand the constraint and evaluate alternatives without losing sight of recurring compensation.
Prepare your response
Understand the constraint and evaluate alternatives without losing sight of recurring compensation.
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
Respond to a firm base cap with two acceptable alternatives and a stopping rule.
Reveal worked answer guidance
An effective response clarifies flexibility, evaluates the actual proposal and accepts or declines intentionally.
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.
Respond to a firm base cap with two acceptable alternatives and a stopping rule.
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.