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The following is just an inexperienced guess, so feel free to ignore it and seek other counsel, but . . . I think the most important thing is to realize that n
by seagreen 14y ago
The following is just an inexperienced guess, so feel free to ignore it and seek other counsel, but . . .
I think the most important thing is to realize that negotiating pay takes a totally different mindset from programming. When programming you're trying to be creative and cooperative.
When negotiating pay you should have a competitive mindset. Your employer is to some extent your opponent and you're playing poker with him. The thing is -- that's OK (or at least it should be). If a potential employer is making it feel like you're pushing against him personally when you ask for higher pay he's being the jerk, not you (this is of course situational -- things might be different if you've already committed to work for X amount of time).
- swombat 14y agoI don't agree about a competitive mindset for negotiating salary, actually. It should also be collaborative. Don't say "Why don't you give me a pay raise?" but say "What can I do to earn £Xk more?" If the answer is "nothing" - find another job. If the answer is "just keep doing what you're doing and wait 10 years until you get promoted to the level where that's the salary" - find another career. If the answer is reasonable, and achievable within a reasonable period of time, do it and get your pay raise.
- seagreen 14y agoI really like your way of approaching salary. Often though people will start providing more value without an agreement up front that it will earn a raise. In those cases a great boss might go ahead and give it to you spontaneously, but if that doesn't happen you need to know how to apply firm but friendly pressure.
- swombat 14y agoWell, providing extra value without any kind of agreement as to what compensation you might get for it is, IMHO, a rookie mistake - and one you shouldn't make twice. If you have confidence in your abilities, address the topic up front!