negotiation

Generous terms now, constraints later. The interviewer wants the value of the offer weighed against the cost of losing optionality, and a counter-proposal that keeps the benefits without the trap.

Experiments show agent buyers favour whoever answers first and can be redirected by injected text. Allow structured exchange, treat the other agent as untrusted and keep hard limits outside the model.

Custom models are sometimes right and usually premature. Show a ladder of cheaper options, the evidence that would justify climbing it, and how you kept the customer while saying no.