12 ms·

But it goes the other way, too. I've been contacted by many many recruiters offering interesting jobs but won't discuss the salary range targeted for that posi

But it goes the other way, too. I've been contacted by many many recruiters offering interesting jobs but won't discuss the salary range targeted for that position. So how much time are you willing to spend on resume polishing, phone screens, on-site interviews, getting to an offer...just to find out that they can't even come close to your current salary? So now I just flat out say what my jump-number is. Any answer other than "yeah, we can work with that" is a reason to end the conversation and save everybody's time.

jasonkostempski 11y ago
What's a jump-number? Googling it came up with your comment as the top result and then skydiving :)
- coke12 11y ago
  The salary number that would convince joezydeco to "jump ship".
  - tunesmith 11y ago
    jump ship to the new opportunity (meaning a high number), or jump ship on the conversation (meaning his bare minimum number)?
    - joezydeco 11y ago
      Jump to the new job. Doesn't necessarily have to be a high number, but if I'm not looking for a lateral (meaning, I like my current job), then it should be significantly larger than what I'm making in salary/benefits today.
    - dceddia 11y ago
      I can see how that's ambiguous, and this is just an assumption, but I assumed he meant "jump ship to a new opportunity" because starting off with the lowest number you'd accept seems like a bad negotiation strategy :)
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
srpeck 11y ago
My standard response is "What is the pay range? Who is the client?" to the recruiter emails. The recruiters that get back to you generally mean business. Because of this, I have a huge amount of data on contract rates now. Also, a good side effect is that at least someone is telling them their rates are too low. Hope it helps another consultant down the line...
- kzhahou 11y ago
  You should share that data, help your fellow job hunters. Last time I worked at a BigTechCo, salary ranges were $85-100K for juniors, 120-130 mid-level, and 150-165 for senior devs. Bonuses tend to hover around 30%. Of course, stock grants varied widely. The largest IC pay I saw was $2M/year for a someone who years ago was part of a famous project -- semi-known guy. More recently, I've seen (indirectly) BigTechCo's offering $300-350/year total comp to mid-levels, and 5-600K to seniors. Anyone else wanna share?
  - merpnderp 11y ago
    300-350 for mid level developers and up to 600 for seniors? Where is this?
    - kzhahou 11y ago
      Big tech companies in silicon valley.
      - conanbatt 11y ago
        I want to believe the numbers you provide are right, but then I look at https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Facebook-Salaries-E40772.htm https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Facebook-Salaries-E40772.ht... and cant see where to get more reliable sources for thinking facebook or google pay that.
        kzhahou 11y ago
        Those salaries on Glassdoor pretty much match what I'm saying, with salaries running up to $165 for senior devs. Add 30% for bonus and $100-150K in stock and you're into the $300K+ range I'm describing. The $600K+ figure is for director level and above. The $2M/year individual contributor was an outlier.
whoiskevin 11y ago
So now I just flat out say what my jump-number is. Any answer other than "yeah, we can work with that" is a reason to end the conversation and save everybody's time. Can't upvote that enough! I've been doing this for years. I don't have time to waste and if they won't talk the numbers there is no point in having the conversation. Statements like "we are competitive" or my other favorite "can you send us proof of your current salary" are hilarious. The proof is my favorite. What is the point of that? If I won't talk to you for less than x dollars there is no value in proving what I currently make.
- fleitz 11y ago
  Yup on every call a sale is made, either you sell them on a reason they can pay you that much or they sell you on a reason they can't. Taking on a fuck you pay me attitude is the best thing that ever happened to my life.
  - evo_9 11y ago
    Are you guys both over 45? Just curious.
    - ldehaan 11y ago
      I'm 32 and I've been setting my price for the past 4 years. I also didn't get out much for 6 years :D but it was worth it.
    - fleitz 11y ago
      34
  - ldehaan 11y ago
    Seriously, this is good advice, if you're in the above average skill set range in an area that is in demand, such as senior sys admin/ senior programmer, and various other combos. Then you can name your price, the trick is finding a company that can afford you and isn't a total shit place to work for. I took a decent cut in pay just to be able to work for a company I actually really like. And while I can't afford to buy a new computer nearly as often I do get to work with really fun people and on projects that I really care about.

jasonkostempski 11y ago

What's a jump-number? Googling it came up with your comment as the top result and then skydiving :)

coke12 11y ago
The salary number that would convince joezydeco to "jump ship".
- tunesmith 11y ago
  jump ship to the new opportunity (meaning a high number), or jump ship on the conversation (meaning his bare minimum number)?
  - joezydeco 11y ago
    Jump to the new job. Doesn't necessarily have to be a high number, but if I'm not looking for a lateral (meaning, I like my current job), then it should be significantly larger than what I'm making in salary/benefits today.
  - dceddia 11y ago
    I can see how that's ambiguous, and this is just an assumption, but I assumed he meant "jump ship to a new opportunity" because starting off with the lowest number you'd accept seems like a bad negotiation strategy :)
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

srpeck 11y ago

My standard response is "What is the pay range? Who is the client?" to the recruiter emails. The recruiters that get back to you generally mean business. Because of this, I have a huge amount of data on contract rates now. Also, a good side effect is that at least someone is telling them their rates are too low. Hope it helps another consultant down the line...

kzhahou 11y ago
You should share that data, help your fellow job hunters. Last time I worked at a BigTechCo, salary ranges were $85-100K for juniors, 120-130 mid-level, and 150-165 for senior devs. Bonuses tend to hover around 30%. Of course, stock grants varied widely. The largest IC pay I saw was $2M/year for a someone who years ago was part of a famous project -- semi-known guy. More recently, I've seen (indirectly) BigTechCo's offering $300-350/year total comp to mid-levels, and 5-600K to seniors. Anyone else wanna share?
- merpnderp 11y ago
  300-350 for mid level developers and up to 600 for seniors? Where is this?
  - kzhahou 11y ago
    Big tech companies in silicon valley.
    - conanbatt 11y ago
      I want to believe the numbers you provide are right, but then I look at https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Facebook-Salaries-E40772.htm https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Facebook-Salaries-E40772.ht... and cant see where to get more reliable sources for thinking facebook or google pay that.
      - kzhahou 11y ago
        Those salaries on Glassdoor pretty much match what I'm saying, with salaries running up to $165 for senior devs. Add 30% for bonus and $100-150K in stock and you're into the $300K+ range I'm describing. The $600K+ figure is for director level and above. The $2M/year individual contributor was an outlier.

whoiskevin 11y ago

So now I just flat out say what my jump-number is. Any answer other than "yeah, we can work with that" is a reason to end the conversation and save everybody's time. Can't upvote that enough! I've been doing this for years. I don't have time to waste and if they won't talk the numbers there is no point in having the conversation. Statements like "we are competitive" or my other favorite "can you send us proof of your current salary" are hilarious. The proof is my favorite. What is the point of that? If I won't talk to you for less than x dollars there is no value in proving what I currently make.

fleitz 11y ago
Yup on every call a sale is made, either you sell them on a reason they can pay you that much or they sell you on a reason they can't. Taking on a fuck you pay me attitude is the best thing that ever happened to my life.
- evo_9 11y ago
  Are you guys both over 45? Just curious.
  - ldehaan 11y ago
    I'm 32 and I've been setting my price for the past 4 years. I also didn't get out much for 6 years :D but it was worth it.
  - fleitz 11y ago
    34
- ldehaan 11y ago
  Seriously, this is good advice, if you're in the above average skill set range in an area that is in demand, such as senior sys admin/ senior programmer, and various other combos. Then you can name your price, the trick is finding a company that can afford you and isn't a total shit place to work for. I took a decent cut in pay just to be able to work for a company I actually really like. And while I can't afford to buy a new computer nearly as often I do get to work with really fun people and on projects that I really care about.