5 ms·

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

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.
_delirium 11y ago
To me it depends a lot on the job though, which is not always clear up front, so I usually like to find out a little more about what they have in mind. My real "minimum salary" is a really huge range, roughly anywhere from $70k to $130k depending on what kind of job it is. I do AI research, which can be more or less applied, and more or less "researchy". Is there very interesting work, good vacation policy, freedom to pursue research, and company support for me publishing code & papers? I'll take quite a bit less money for that kind of job. Less interesting work, less freedom, little time off, and a no-publishing policy? Well, then I'll want a much higher salary.
emcrazyone 11y ago
No, you never give out a number. It's like asking the person sitting across from you to show you their cards before placing a bet. If a company is willing to pay $100K and you throw out a number, say $80K for example, then how much are you out? If your first thought is $20K, then you'd probably be wrong. You would be correct if you stayed only one year with the company. However, every year you're with the company you're out another $20K not to mention any salary bumps or profit share that is a percentage of your salary, etc... After 5 years, you're out $100K. You never give out your number. When you are asked, "what's it going to take", you should always answer with something like: you're most competitive offer. I don't feel this is rude at all. I usually recap how key points from the interview. Come back with how you believe you would add value to X and would love to work on Y and that your best competitive offer would get the ball rolling. Your job is to find out the maximum a prospective employer is willing to pay. Likewise, a prospective employer is attempting to get the best bang for their buck. Never show your hand. I've interviewed probably 15-20 times in my career and have never strayed from this course. Now I'm a business owner. I've interviewed 100s of people over the years and it never ceases to amaze me how many candidates flat out give me a number when I ask. Head hunters are pain in the ass to deal with. They insist on knowing where you're at because they don't want you wasting their time. Well, tough shit! Head hunters need to figure out what the going rates are for whatever it is they are seeking candidates for. A good head hunter will let you negotiate for yourself.
- usaar333 11y ago
  It's only true to never give out your number if you have a nontrivial probability of being offered a higher salary than said number. If you expect $X and only 5% of employers out there are willing to pay >=$X, it might very well be worth your time to state $X at the start to avoiding wasting countless hours in an interviewing process.
  - hayd 11y ago
    They should tell you their range before beginning, not the other way around. Recruiters already have a massive advantage: they have much better knowledge of the market (many more datapoints), why give them for free an additional advantage they can only use against you?

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.

_delirium 11y ago

To me it depends a lot on the job though, which is not always clear up front, so I usually like to find out a little more about what they have in mind. My real "minimum salary" is a really huge range, roughly anywhere from $70k to $130k depending on what kind of job it is. I do AI research, which can be more or less applied, and more or less "researchy". Is there very interesting work, good vacation policy, freedom to pursue research, and company support for me publishing code & papers? I'll take quite a bit less money for that kind of job. Less interesting work, less freedom, little time off, and a no-publishing policy? Well, then I'll want a much higher salary.

emcrazyone 11y ago

No, you never give out a number. It's like asking the person sitting across from you to show you their cards before placing a bet. If a company is willing to pay $100K and you throw out a number, say $80K for example, then how much are you out? If your first thought is $20K, then you'd probably be wrong. You would be correct if you stayed only one year with the company. However, every year you're with the company you're out another $20K not to mention any salary bumps or profit share that is a percentage of your salary, etc... After 5 years, you're out $100K. You never give out your number. When you are asked, "what's it going to take", you should always answer with something like: you're most competitive offer. I don't feel this is rude at all. I usually recap how key points from the interview. Come back with how you believe you would add value to X and would love to work on Y and that your best competitive offer would get the ball rolling. Your job is to find out the maximum a prospective employer is willing to pay. Likewise, a prospective employer is attempting to get the best bang for their buck. Never show your hand. I've interviewed probably 15-20 times in my career and have never strayed from this course. Now I'm a business owner. I've interviewed 100s of people over the years and it never ceases to amaze me how many candidates flat out give me a number when I ask. Head hunters are pain in the ass to deal with. They insist on knowing where you're at because they don't want you wasting their time. Well, tough shit! Head hunters need to figure out what the going rates are for whatever it is they are seeking candidates for. A good head hunter will let you negotiate for yourself.

usaar333 11y ago
It's only true to never give out your number if you have a nontrivial probability of being offered a higher salary than said number. If you expect $X and only 5% of employers out there are willing to pay >=$X, it might very well be worth your time to state $X at the start to avoiding wasting countless hours in an interviewing process.
- hayd 11y ago
  They should tell you their range before beginning, not the other way around. Recruiters already have a massive advantage: they have much better knowledge of the market (many more datapoints), why give them for free an additional advantage they can only use against you?