4 ms·

Check out http://www.glassdoor.com http://www.glassdoor.com. They have anonymous salaries from current and former employees, along with actual interview questi

by byoung2 16y ago

Check out http://www.glassdoor.com http://www.glassdoor.com. They have anonymous salaries from current and former employees, along with actual interview questions and reviews. Look up the company name there and see what it says. For example, I looked up DreamWorks in Los Angeles, and there are 10 salaries listed for software engineer, with a range from $74k-$98k. There are 3 salaries listed for senior software engineer with a range from $98k-113k. That is valuable info when negotiating salary, and you get an idea of advancement potential

DanielStraight 16y ago
Good call. See also: http://www.indeed.com/salary http://www.indeed.com/salary http://www.payscale.com/ http://www.payscale.com/ Most importantly, look for evidence. Don't trust unsupported numbers from people you've never met.
- AlexC04 16y ago
  I wonder though. How good is indeed's data? I ran a query for "PHP developer" and got an average salary of $72k - check the standard deviation of about $7k. Is my salary really almost two standard deviations below the mean for Toronto? That's embarrassing more than anything else. I find myself wishing I had a post anonymously option on HackerNews.
  - borski 16y ago
    You do. Just create a new throwaway account.
  - jarin 16y ago
    It's a good reason to start looking around, even if only to get an offer you can use to get a raise. It's not about being greedy, most companies will pay you the minimum amount you'll work for, or close to it. If your salary is that far below the mean, there's probably still a good chunk of money on the table (if your company isn't broke or doesn't just have a policy of underpaying).
tom_b 16y ago
I had a negotiation completely implode using glassdoor and payscale along with "insider" info on salaries at a company. But I had naively given a complete salary history when asked early in the process. Since I was currently working for less than I had earned in years (academic/research job), it turned out that their expectation was that I would leave for 3% to 5% over my current base. They were pretty perplexed when I refused to consider anything less than my previous industry base (which was below an offer I had in hand from other sources and slightly below market rates in my area).
- parfe 16y ago
  I had the same problem. I work for a public university and gave out my salary in an after-interview meeting with a company's HR rep. She said my asking salary was obviously too high based on my current salary. They wouldn't offer me more than +5% because otherwise that would just be an unreasonable jump in pay. She felt so sure her logic would convince me it was a reasonable offer. I shrugged her off and said I wouldn't take the job. I ended up getting offered 33% above my current, but turned the job down as I felt that HR conversation was a one of many symptoms of a dysfunctional company. (Print media trying to convert to web based income, but already abusing their Dev team as if they were a cost sink before the digital products even launched).
  - evoltix 16y ago
    Good move. When a company gives a low-ball offer to a potential developer then counters with a more realistic offer, this raises a big red flag to question the company's intentions and morals .
  - frak_your_couch 16y ago
    Just curious, why would you tell them your current salary? In salary negotiations, wouldn't that give the employer a substantial advantage in bargaining? I've been asked this before in post-interview negotiation, so evidently this is somewhat common practice. I always respond with, "I'll tell you that if you give me a salary breakdown of your engineering positions by experience level." They always back off at that point.

by byoung2 16y ago

DanielStraight 16y ago

Good call. See also: http://www.indeed.com/salary http://www.indeed.com/salary http://www.payscale.com/ http://www.payscale.com/ Most importantly, look for evidence. Don't trust unsupported numbers from people you've never met.

AlexC04 16y ago
I wonder though. How good is indeed's data? I ran a query for "PHP developer" and got an average salary of $72k - check the standard deviation of about $7k. Is my salary really almost two standard deviations below the mean for Toronto? That's embarrassing more than anything else. I find myself wishing I had a post anonymously option on HackerNews.
- borski 16y ago
  You do. Just create a new throwaway account.
- jarin 16y ago
  It's a good reason to start looking around, even if only to get an offer you can use to get a raise. It's not about being greedy, most companies will pay you the minimum amount you'll work for, or close to it. If your salary is that far below the mean, there's probably still a good chunk of money on the table (if your company isn't broke or doesn't just have a policy of underpaying).

tom_b 16y ago

I had a negotiation completely implode using glassdoor and payscale along with "insider" info on salaries at a company. But I had naively given a complete salary history when asked early in the process. Since I was currently working for less than I had earned in years (academic/research job), it turned out that their expectation was that I would leave for 3% to 5% over my current base. They were pretty perplexed when I refused to consider anything less than my previous industry base (which was below an offer I had in hand from other sources and slightly below market rates in my area).

parfe 16y ago
I had the same problem. I work for a public university and gave out my salary in an after-interview meeting with a company's HR rep. She said my asking salary was obviously too high based on my current salary. They wouldn't offer me more than +5% because otherwise that would just be an unreasonable jump in pay. She felt so sure her logic would convince me it was a reasonable offer. I shrugged her off and said I wouldn't take the job. I ended up getting offered 33% above my current, but turned the job down as I felt that HR conversation was a one of many symptoms of a dysfunctional company. (Print media trying to convert to web based income, but already abusing their Dev team as if they were a cost sink before the digital products even launched).
- evoltix 16y ago
  Good move. When a company gives a low-ball offer to a potential developer then counters with a more realistic offer, this raises a big red flag to question the company's intentions and morals .
- frak_your_couch 16y ago
  Just curious, why would you tell them your current salary? In salary negotiations, wouldn't that give the employer a substantial advantage in bargaining? I've been asked this before in post-interview negotiation, so evidently this is somewhat common practice. I always respond with, "I'll tell you that if you give me a salary breakdown of your engineering positions by experience level." They always back off at that point.