Salary Negotiation English: Phrases for IT Professionals
5 exercises — asking about compensation ranges, countering offers, discussing total comp, expressing enthusiasm while negotiating, and accepting/declining gracefully.
0 / 10 completed
1 / 10
You have just had your final interview and the recruiter asks what salary you are looking for. Which phrase BEST asks about their budget range first?
Asking about the compensation range first is a strong negotiation tactic — it avoids anchoring too low. The phrase 'Before I share a number, I'd love to understand the budgeted range' is polite and professional. Many recruiters will share the range when asked directly. If they push back, you can then give a range rather than a single number.
2 / 10
The recruiter offers you £90,000. You were hoping for £105,000 based on your research. Which counter-offer phrase is MOST professional?
Professional counter-offer language: Always open with appreciation ('Thank you', 'I'm genuinely excited'). Anchor your counter with a reason ('based on my research', 'scope of this position'). Use softening phrases ('I was targeting', 'is there flexibility') rather than demands. Option B follows this pattern precisely.
3 / 10
You want to discuss total compensation including equity, bonus, and learning budget. Which phrase BEST opens that conversation?
Total compensation language: Asking about 'total compensation' or 'the full package' is standard professional phrasing. Option B names the specific components you want to understand (equity, bonus, L&D budget) — this shows you know what to ask for and helps the recruiter give you a complete picture, not just a base salary number.
4 / 10
You want to express enthusiasm for the role while still negotiating. Which phrase BEST balances both?
Enthusiasm + negotiation balance: The phrase 'this role is genuinely my first choice' is a strong signal of intent. 'I want to make this work' signals collaboration rather than confrontation. 'With that said' pivots to the negotiation. 'So I can join with full commitment' frames the higher salary as benefiting both parties — a win-win framing.
5 / 10
After negotiation, the company's final offer is £98,000. You decide to accept. Which acceptance phrase is MOST professional?
Accepting an offer professionally: Thank the recruiter for the process, confirm the accepted number clearly, request the written offer (standard practice — always get it in writing), and close warmly. Option B does all of this. This leaves a positive impression as you enter the onboarding process.
6 / 10
During a code review, you spot a potential performance bottleneck in Sarah's recent PR. You want to discuss it constructively without sounding critical. Which phrase is MOST appropriate to start the conversation with her?
Option 1 uses softer language and focuses on 'potential improvements,' framing the feedback positively. Options 2 is also constructive, suggesting a discussion rather than directly criticizing. Options 3 and 4 are too direct and could come across as overly critical or prescriptive, potentially shutting down the conversation. It's crucial to start with a collaborative tone.
7 / 10
You're in a Slack channel discussing a new feature implementation with your team lead, Mark. You want to politely push back on the proposed timeline while acknowledging the importance of the project. Which phrase demonstrates this effectively?
Option 1 is confrontational and unproductive. Option 2 expresses a concern about the timeline in a diplomatic way, suggesting further discussion. Options 3 and 4 are agreeing with Mark without offering any challenge or alternative perspective, which isn't helpful when negotiating priorities. Maintaining a professional and slightly cautious tone is key here.
8 / 10
You receive the following API response after submitting your salary expectations for a Senior DevOps role:
HTTP/1.1 200
Content-Type: application/json
{
"status": "pending",
"message": "Your request has been received and is under review."}
Which phrase BEST summarizes this response in a professional follow-up email to the recruiter?
Option 2 politely requests clarification and indicates a desire for a quicker response. It's appropriate given the 'pending' status of the request. Options 1 is passive and doesn't push for action, option 3 accurately reflects the response but lacks any proactive engagement, and option 4 is overly demanding and unprofessional.
9 / 10
During a standup meeting, you're reporting on your progress. Your manager, David, asks about the challenges you've faced with integrating the new microservice. Which phrase BEST describes a situation where you need to negotiate for additional support without sounding negative?
Option 1 is overly dramatic and potentially blames others. Option 2 clearly explains the complexity of the situation in a professional manner, setting the stage for a discussion about support needs. Options 3 and 4 are dishonest and avoid addressing any challenges, which isn't beneficial during a standup. Transparency and framing the issue as 'complex' is important.
10 / 10
The hiring manager, Emily, offers you a final salary package of £95,000 after several rounds of negotiation. You've previously discussed a minimum target of £110,000 based on your experience and market research. Which phrase is MOST suitable for declining the offer while maintaining a positive relationship?
Option 1 is abrupt and unprofessional. Option 2 politely declines the offer by stating your reasoning without directly criticizing the company. It's a standard, diplomatic response. Options 3 is too direct and negative, and option 4 delays the conversation unnecessarily – it's better to be clear about declining when you have a firm decision.
What will I practise in "Salary Negotiation English: Phrases for IT Professionals"?
This module focuses on Phrasebook — 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 Phrasebook exercise for?
It's aimed at IT professionals with working English who want to sound more natural and precise around phrasebook — 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 Phrasebook exercises?
See the Phrasebook 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.