Mastering the art of salary negotiation can be a game-changer in your career. Uncover the ten commandments that can guide you through this intricate process, empowering you to secure a compensation package that truly reflects your worth.
1. Negotiation starts earlier than you think
Do NOT give the recruiter a number
- Ask for the range they’re budgeted for the role
- “Can you tell me the salary band for this level? Happy to let you know if it’s within my range, and we can discuss specific numbers later when I’ve met the team.”
7. Your job is to win hearts and minds
Ask for follow-up meetings with decision-makers
- Come prepared with three things, tailored to who you’re meeting
- Questions about how you can create meaningful impact
- Ideas based on your interviews so far
- Obstacles to you taking the role and making them sell you on it
9. Comparing offers
Which company has a better trajectory?
- How do promotions work?
- Is your manager influential enough to pull for you when needed?
- Is your product or team visible enough to get good resourcing?
- What’s the company brand worth to your earnings trajectory?
10. Time to make an ask
Being able to say you’re speaking to other companies is sufficient – you can quote the expected salaries for other roles if needed
- When asked to provide copies of other offers, you can always use the NDA as a reason
- Never quote the number you find online
- Use the information you collected during the interview about what challenges the team is facing; discuss why you are critical to the team
5. Read between the lines
Your initial offer speaks volumes
- Scenario 1: Initial offer comes in low
- Dig deeper and ask the interviewer to share feedback from folks who met you to fix any misconceptions before you _ever _negotiate
- Scenario 2: Middle of the row
- Do not negotiate until you match with a team and you have a manager batting for you
- Scenario 3: Initial offer comes in top-of-band
- Have a chance to push for an “out-of-band” offer
2. Mine for intel during interviews
Ask for detailed information
- What’s the biggest priority for the team right now?
- Why is this role open?
- What’s the biggest challenge for someone stepping into this role?
- How does the org structure on the teamwork?
6. At a startup, the playbook is different
The goal of the initial offer conversation is to understand three things
- The current state of the company
- The plan for your role/function
- The value of the equity
8. OK, now get some good data
Women should be more proactive in fully evaluating the offer before negotiating
- Is the offer competitive?
- How does it work?
- Is it all true?
- Does it add up?
- If you have goaled company, are they realistic?
3. Don’t give in to the pressure
Once you’ve been offered the role, the recruiter will ask you for a number again. Again, do NOT give them the exact number
4. At FAANG, your recruiter may have no say at all
Clever recruiters do get your number up-front to save themselves much work
- This may deprive you of some valuable data — where you fall in the level/salary band
- Most companies will consider “new information,” like another offer, to reopen a negotiation
