Practice English vocabulary for salary negotiation: discussing compensation packages, market data, competing offers, and total compensation components.
0 / 10 completed
1 / 10
You want to open a conversation with a recruiter about your pay. Which phrase is most professional?
'I'd like to discuss the compensation package' is the professional, neutral phrase to open a salary negotiation. It is collaborative and broad, covering all components, not just base salary.
2 / 10
The recruiter asks what you are looking for. You state your desired salary. Which phrase is most natural?
'My current expectation is...' is the standard soft phrase for stating your desired salary. It signals flexibility while still anchoring the negotiation at your preferred level.
3 / 10
You researched salary data from Levels.fyi and LinkedIn Salary. How do you reference this in the negotiation?
'Based on market data, the range for this role is...' is the strong, credible way to anchor your number to external evidence rather than personal need or feeling.
4 / 10
You have received an offer from another company and are using it as leverage. Which phrase is correct?
'I'm comparing two offers' signals to the recruiter that you have a competing offer without being aggressive. It creates urgency and justifies your negotiation without revealing all details.
5 / 10
You want to understand the full value of what the company is offering beyond just salary. Which term covers everything?
'Total compensation' includes base salary, annual bonus, equity (RSUs or options), and benefits (health, retirement, PTO). Always negotiate on total comp, not just base salary.
6 / 10
During a code review discussion about a complex feature, your teammate asks: 'What's the rationale behind this aggressive salary expectation?' Which response best communicates your position without appearing demanding?
The best response here avoids overly assertive language like 'significant increase' or stating a fixed number. Option 1 politely acknowledges your belief while framing it as a discussion about value. Options 2 and 3 are too direct and potentially confrontational, whereas option 4 is vague and lacks justification. It's crucial to demonstrate you're open to a conversation rather than making a demand.
7 / 10
You're drafting a pull request description for a large refactoring project. You want to subtly hint at your desired compensation without explicitly stating it. Which phrase is most suitable?
Option 1 focuses on the value of your work – highlighting the positive impact. This implicitly suggests investment and expertise. Options 2 is too direct and potentially awkward. Option 3 emphasizes technical details without relating them to compensation, and option 4 simply requests a review with no mention of reward or value.
8 / 10
You receive an API response from the company's HR system indicating a base salary offer of $140,000. The response includes a note: 'Benefits package negotiable.' What is the most appropriate way to acknowledge this and start a discussion about total compensation?
Acknowledging the base salary is necessary, but directly stating an expectation of more than $140k immediately creates a negative tone. Option 3 focuses on asking for clarification about the *value* of the benefits package - it's polite and opens a dialogue without confrontation. Options 1 and 2 are too direct, and option 4 is overly broad.
9 / 10
During a standup meeting, your manager asks: 'What's blocking you on the X project?' You respond with: 'I'm waiting for clarification on the acceptance criteria and considering my compensation expectations.' Which of the following is the MOST professional way to follow up with your manager after this discussion?
Option 1 directly brings up salary expectations in a public forum – highly unprofessional. Option 2 frames the situation as ongoing evaluation and seeking justification, which is appropriate. Options 3 expresses frustration inappropriately, and option 4 simply ends the conversation without addressing the core issue. Maintaining professionalism requires carefully navigating sensitive topics.
10 / 10
You've received an offer of $160,000 per year from Company A and are using it to negotiate with Company B. Which phrase best communicates your position while emphasizing the holistic value you bring?
Option 1 provides a clear reference point (Company A's offer) but doesn't fully articulate your value. Option 2 correctly frames the negotiation as considering *all* aspects of compensation – salary is just one component. Options 3 focuses solely on leverage and sounds demanding, and option 4 is an ultimatum that's likely to damage negotiations.
What will I practise in "Salary Negotiation Vocabulary"?
This module focuses on Negotiation English — real workplace phrasing you'll use on the job. It contains 10 scenario-based multiple-choice questions with instant feedback.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account or sign-up required.
How many questions does this exercise have?
This module includes 10 questions. Each one gives an immediate right/wrong result plus a full explanation of the correct phrasing.
What happens if I answer a question incorrectly?
You'll see the correct answer highlighted straight away, along with a plain-English explanation of why it's right and why the other options don't fit — mistakes are part of the learning here.
Can I retry the exercise if I want a better score?
Yes — use the 'Try again' button on the results screen to reset your score and go through the questions again. There's no limit on attempts.
Who is this Negotiation English exercise for?
It's aimed at IT professionals with working English who want to sound more natural and precise around negotiation english — useful whether you're preparing for real conversations at work or just building confidence with the vocabulary.
Do I need an account to track my progress?
No account is needed. Your progress through the exercise is tracked locally in your browser for the current session, and you can replay the module at any time.
How is this different from reading a blog article?
This exercise is an interactive drill that tests and reinforces specific phrasing through multiple-choice questions with instant feedback, while blog articles explain concepts and vocabulary in prose. The two work well together.
Where can I find more Negotiation English exercises?
See the Negotiation English hub for more modules like this one, or browse the full Exercises page for other IT-English topics.
Can I complete this exercise on my phone?
Yes — every exercise on CoderSlingo is fully responsive and works on phones and tablets, so you can practise anywhere.