Where the real pressure sits
A candidate gets an offer with a base number below what they researched, and equity they don't yet know how to value, and the recruiter opens by framing the number as already generous for the level. In new-offer mode, that's the scenario this interview type recreates: the AI plays the recruiter, holds a position, and doesn't fold just because the candidate states a number they'd prefer.
In internal-raise mode, the scenario shifts to defending a case for more money to a manager who already knows the candidate's actual output, which is a different kind of pressure, since vague claims about value don't work on someone who was in the room for the work already.
Either way, a candidate who has only ever rehearsed asking for the number, and never practiced the part where the other side pushes back, tends to fold faster than they meant to.
What the practice session covers
Choose new-offer mode to practice negotiating a data scientist offer that just came in, including base, equity, or a signing bonus, or internal-raise mode to practice asking for more within a current role.
The AI voice agent plays the other side of the conversation and genuinely pushes back rather than caving to a stated number, so a candidate has to handle real resistance, counter an anchoring tactic, or hold a position without the conversation just resolving in their favor.
Scoring
How the scoring applies here
This is the one interview type scored on the negotiation itself rather than whether the candidate comes across as hireable, since hireability isn't the question in a comp conversation that happens after an offer already exists.
A named penalty applies for ending the conversation abruptly without landing a next step, which reflects a real negotiation mistake: walking away from a counteroffer without securing a follow-up, a deadline, or a written confirmation leaves a candidate worse off than staying in the conversation a little longer, even an uncomfortable one.
Frequently asked questions
Which mode fits negotiating a base-plus-equity offer versus asking for more in my current role?
New-offer mode is built for a fresh offer where base, equity, and a signing bonus can each move separately. Internal-raise mode fits asking for more within a role you already hold, arguing from output a manager already knows about rather than a number on a new offer letter.
Will the AI just agree to my number if I push back?
No. The AI plays the other side of a real money conversation and pushes back the way a recruiter or manager would, so the practice value comes from handling actual resistance, not a conversation that resolves easily.
Is this interview scored the same way as the others, on whether I'd get hired?
No. This type is scored on how the negotiation itself went, since the point of the conversation is compensation, not whether the candidate is a fit for the role.
What happens if I end the conversation without agreeing on anything?
A penalty applies for an abrupt ending that doesn't land a next step, since walking away from a negotiation without a follow-up or a deadline is a real mistake worth catching in practice rather than in an actual conversation.
Related pages
Practice holding your ground before a real offer lands
Run a salary-negotiation AI interview to work through a base-plus-equity offer or a raise conversation before the real one starts.