Ask HN: Best salary negotiation tip? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Best salary negotiation tip?

15 pointsmavsman20 comments

I'm graduating this year and an anticipating negotiating my salary, wherever I end up. There's a lot of stuff out there about how to do that and I have some ideas about how I'll go about it but I think when I get into that situation I probably won't remember most of the "techniques" or tips that I've read. What one tip would you say is most important to you?

View on HN

Here's a great write up on salary negotiation by patio11: http://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/

I think that link might be dead but I think I've read this and it's awesome. If it's the same one I'm thinking of then it's about 7000 words and very well written, while also being aimed at engineers.

Shouldn't be dead. The blog host may have had transient technical difficulties.

Ramit has a lot of good tips on his free mailing list. Just ignore the upsell stuff.

http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/

When I first graduated I thought that job offers were something I had to accept or reject at the moment they were made. One of the best negotiating tactics I've learned since is just to say you need time to consider it. No matter if it's going well or going poorly, ask for time to think about it. Take a few days to calm down, explore your options, ask people for advice, and then get back to them with your response (or counter-offer).

This is definitely something I plan on doing as well. Do you really feel it's appropriate to counter-offer after a break in negotiations like this? Additionally, is there a certain amount of time you would suggest asking for or would you say that's more on a company-to-company basis?

Yes I think it's more convincing to counter-offer after a break because it conveys that you took some time to research your options and aren't just providing a knee-jerk reaction to their offer.

Of course, don't counter-offer unless you're prepared to walk away if they fail to meet it. It's a high-stakes game, and sometimes you'll lose.

The amount of time you ask for should fall in line with whatever narrative you've been weaving. If you've given them the impression that you're a sought after candidate with many suitors then asking for a few weeks to wrap up your other interviews would not be out of line. But it's very case-specific, you've got to keep in mind how much pressure they are under to fill that position fast. I typically say I'll get back to them next week.

Have multiple offers.

Run interview processes with companies concurrently. It makes it easier to negotiate because you have all of the other opportunities

Treat salary negotiation as trying to solve a problem together, as opposed to trying to get a better figure for yourself. When you can convince your potential employer that it's a problem that you want to work with together, your employer is more likely to want to help solve it.

Also, never give a number first ;)

Here is more about negotiating in general (including the "never give a number first" thing): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7713290

That's a great resource. Most of those are pretty simple to live by and he even warns about potential situations that may occur.

But what to say when they ask your current salary?

I would never share my current salary with anyone that can use it against me in negotiation.

If a recruiter asks, I tell them I'm not comfortable sharing it. If they press, I tell them that I only discuss numbers once the company and I both agree there is a mutual fit.

No one has ever told me they will not proceed without my current salary, but if it ever came to that I would thank them for their time and hang up.

This is a good policy. I know it's an unwritten rule that you don't tell someone your current salary when you're interviewing for a job but I like the way you put it. My professor last year said if there is a required field on a form you need to fill out then just put $1 for your salary. I've always appreciated that and followed it.

Isn't there a lot of potential to waste time that way though? If they're expecting to pay 80K and you're expecting 140K?

Then they should say what they are offering. Don't forget: they could give a number, too.

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~shipman/org/noel.html

This is fantastic. Very concise and sounds very effective. Thank you

Find a job you actually willing to accept and tell your current boss - "I'm leaving".

Have an alternative option you are willing to pursue if they don't give you what you want.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com