2 ms·

"Being a shrewd negotiator is an absolutely critical skill in life, even if you don't want the best-ever-salary. If you know how to negotiate the best-ever-sala

"Being a shrewd negotiator is an absolutely critical skill in life, even if you don't want the best-ever-salary. If you know how to negotiate the best-ever-salary, you can trade it in for things that do matter to you." What if I am absolutely at peace with what I have? There are plenty other skills that I would put as more critical than negotiation. Its not an absolute. "Don't want tons of money but want great work-life balance? You can turn part of that salary into more vacation time, more flexible working conditions (remote?), one day off every single week, more benefits, and other things that matter to you." I want to make the same point as tetraodonpuffer. Its not easy to say I will work 50% less, give me 50% less salary.

Consultant32452 11y ago
Salary growth is generally exponential, some % per year. Negotiating even a slightly higher salary early in your career can mean an extra million dollars in your 401k at retirement. You say money isn't that important, but is it really not worth polishing up your negotiating skills a little bit for a million bucks?
- cgopalan 11y ago
  If salary growth is important to you, there's also another way to get it. Whenever I have changed jobs, the increase in salary has been like an order or magnitude more than what you would get if you stayed. (2% vs 20%). I am not saying you should always be looking to change jobs, but if you are looking for salary increases, negotiating is only one way to get it.
  - potatolicious 11y ago
    I think you're strongly agreeing with each other? Negotiating is something you do while you are in a job and while you are switching jobs. Even when switching jobs your negotiation ability can mean a dramatic difference in how much you are compensated. > "but if you are looking for salary increases, negotiating is only one way to get it." Well no, negotiating is the only way you can get it - you have to negotiate with the next company too. Switching jobs might get you a 15% raise by default, but a good negotiator can make that 50% instead (or 15% + a bunch of other perks).
    - cgopalan 11y ago
      I say "I am currently at X now, and I am looking for Y% more" and the recruiter/company says "done". If you consider that negotiation, yes I am negotiating. According to other people on here (including patio11) its a more subtle, nuanced and longer drawn-out game. Edit: Key point here is that I am not gauging how much I can get out of the company. I have a number in mind that I am comfortable with, and asking for that. Edit - Response to the comment below from Consultant32452: That was never in question, I fully am aware of the lack of money obtained as a result of non-negotiation. It just doesn't matter to some people, as they are not optimizing for the highest amount they can get. Maybe they are already well off, or the salary they "non-negotiated" for already is a good-enough amount for them, or are optimizing for other things. Hence once cannot say that negotiation is "necessary".
      - deleted 11y ago
        [deleted]
      - Consultant32452 11y ago
        You're certainly negotiating, you're just doing so in a way that will statistically mean over the course of your career you will make hundreds of thousands of dollars less.
      - thedufer 11y ago
        I think Patrick's blog post about salary negotiation opens with an illuminating metaphor. In a nutshell, are there any strange but ultimately trivial tasks you wouldn't do for 20 minutes for $100,000? Because that's the trade you're suggesting is not worthwhile.

Consultant32452 11y ago

Salary growth is generally exponential, some % per year. Negotiating even a slightly higher salary early in your career can mean an extra million dollars in your 401k at retirement. You say money isn't that important, but is it really not worth polishing up your negotiating skills a little bit for a million bucks?

cgopalan 11y ago
If salary growth is important to you, there's also another way to get it. Whenever I have changed jobs, the increase in salary has been like an order or magnitude more than what you would get if you stayed. (2% vs 20%). I am not saying you should always be looking to change jobs, but if you are looking for salary increases, negotiating is only one way to get it.
- potatolicious 11y ago
  I think you're strongly agreeing with each other? Negotiating is something you do while you are in a job and while you are switching jobs. Even when switching jobs your negotiation ability can mean a dramatic difference in how much you are compensated. > "but if you are looking for salary increases, negotiating is only one way to get it." Well no, negotiating is the only way you can get it - you have to negotiate with the next company too. Switching jobs might get you a 15% raise by default, but a good negotiator can make that 50% instead (or 15% + a bunch of other perks).
  - cgopalan 11y ago
    I say "I am currently at X now, and I am looking for Y% more" and the recruiter/company says "done". If you consider that negotiation, yes I am negotiating. According to other people on here (including patio11) its a more subtle, nuanced and longer drawn-out game. Edit: Key point here is that I am not gauging how much I can get out of the company. I have a number in mind that I am comfortable with, and asking for that. Edit - Response to the comment below from Consultant32452: That was never in question, I fully am aware of the lack of money obtained as a result of non-negotiation. It just doesn't matter to some people, as they are not optimizing for the highest amount they can get. Maybe they are already well off, or the salary they "non-negotiated" for already is a good-enough amount for them, or are optimizing for other things. Hence once cannot say that negotiation is "necessary".
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
    - Consultant32452 11y ago
      You're certainly negotiating, you're just doing so in a way that will statistically mean over the course of your career you will make hundreds of thousands of dollars less.
    - thedufer 11y ago
      I think Patrick's blog post about salary negotiation opens with an illuminating metaphor. In a nutshell, are there any strange but ultimately trivial tasks you wouldn't do for 20 minutes for $100,000? Because that's the trade you're suggesting is not worthwhile.