I think where a lot of technical people get fleeced in compensation discussions is they let themselves get into a 1:1 personal discussion where they feel compelled to agree on the spot. Most business deals are worked out at a distance once the in person meetings are out of the way.<p>Treat this the same way you might go over a lease for office space. Let them make the initial offer (they have much better data about market rate and what they are willing to pay, you don&#x27;t and may box yourself into a lowball position). Then take some time to figure out if it works, and take the comp discussion offline.<p>Keep the negotiation about compensation in writing. There are a million ways for an experienced negotiator to manipulate you in a live conversation. Break things down (salary, PTO, equity, 401k match, telework, other hard benefits), and figure out where they&#x27;ll budge. And remember, it&#x27;s not about being greedy, you&#x27;ll be locking in your pay for 1-2 years, and you&#x27;re doing your job of negotiating a good deal for you and your family. If someone doesn&#x27;t respect that, that&#x27;s a big red flag right there.