Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Anything to do with the traditional world of get a degree, get a job as well as its alternatives
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Stahlmann
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Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Stahlmann »

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Last edited by Stahlmann on Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:53 am, edited 5 times in total.

Scott 2
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Scott 2 »

Within a single company, you'll be hard pressed to gain salary increases via pure negotiating tactics, especially as a junior employee. Barring an extremely small company, your boss's hands are tied by those above, and so on. Nobody is going to put themselves on the line for you.

I think it's better to optimize your variables for the system that exists. Some considerations:

1. Work for a company in a high margin industry. Some industries just have bigger profit margins. They can afford to pay more.
2. Work in a high value profession. The programmer earns more than the janitor.
3. Work in a growing company. They will give better raises to ensure retention and have space for promotions.
4. Big raises come from promotions, not performance. Exceeding "acceptable" performance does little for your pay.
5. If doing overtime, make sure it is the activities of the level above you. Otherwise you're just working for free.
6. Rather than chasing excellence, put your energy into managing perceptions (relationships). People promote those they like and trust.
7. Depending on your field, additional credentials might help. This is not a sure thing at all.

Jumping companies every 2-3 years is certainly a strategy. It is tolerated in tech. As an introvert myself, I've never been a fan of the approach. Upkeep of a public professional profile is time consuming. Every jump requires rebuilding relationships, re-proving yourself (longer hours), resets benefits (profit sharing / time off), and comes with risk of being the new guy when business slows down (first to go). For me, the chance at extra money is not worth the stress.

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Stahlmann
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Stahlmann »

1. Work for a company in a high margin industry. Some industries just have bigger profit margins. They can afford to pay more.
-> will publish something later
2. Work in a high value profession. The programmer earns more than the janitor.
-> same as above
3. Work in a growing company. They will give better raises to ensure retention and have space for promotions.
-> interesting point... but how do I spot such companies?
4. Big raises come from promotions, not performance. Exceeding "acceptable" performance does little for your pay.
-> the second sentence is very novel to me... hmm.
Are there any fancier ways to get promotions without increasing responsibility or going up to managerial roles? Yep, this probably sweet spot and everybody wants to be here...
5. If doing overtime, make sure it is the activities of the level above you. Otherwise you're just working for free.
-> Wow! This struck me. I did something different in the last 6 mo. Hmm. At that time I thought I could earn a bit more money... It's difficult to find side hustle after entering professional workforce.
6. Rather than chasing excellence, put your energy into managing perceptions (relationships). People promote those they like and trust.
-> Heard about it. I was asked to work here. Hmm, my direct boss is constantly busy (he was the 2nd person in company so he believes in "success" etc.). Busy in the sense it's hard to talk to him, because he is constantly engaged in something.
7. Depending on your field, additional credentials might help. This is not a sure thing at all.
-> What do you mean? EDIT: Well, I mean examples, because everything can be packed into "fulfilling your duties".

EDIT: Finally, there is proper formatting in first post. Don't write [i, because algorithm makes this into italics automatically.

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Chris
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Chris »

Stahlmann wrote:
Sun Apr 15, 2018 6:59 am
This time I will have sheet of paper with what I accomplished.
That's a good start. It's not sure to result in a better outcome, but assuming your boss does manage many employees, it is important to show the value you are bringing to the company, and to differentiate yourself from your peers. Or more directly: remove pain points that your boss has. If your boss sees you as the person who makes his life suck less, he has personal incentive to make sure you stay happy. Ramit also has some good advice on negotiation.

But as Scott 2 alluded to, it is difficult to get a big money increase out of your current position. In my own experience, being very cognizant about my own employee-manager relationship, presenting the value I bring to the company, getting top ranks on performance reviews.... only resulted in eking out few percentage points more than my peers. In the shorter (1-3 year) term at least. In the medium term, it did set me up for promotions, which is where more substantial increases came from. Not super, but substantial.

It's really only when you have a strong negotiating position that you can get big jumps in salary. And as an employee, your strongest negotiating position is leaving the company. Example: after months of negotiation with one employer, showing displeasure with the annual salary increase, and demonstrating the discrepancy between the adjusted salary and the market rate, I informed my boss that I was leaving the company. Magically, one day later, he produced an offer with a 30% salary increase. Funny what upper management can produce in one day that couldn't be done for months, isn't it? You need to be willing to walk.

Finally, if there is a hard ceiling on salaries in your country, you might consider alternatives to making more money:
  1. Leaving the country
  2. Joining a startup company that offers equity in the company. It's not a sure thing, but it's a lottery ticket where your effort has some effect on the outcome.
  3. Go in to sales or sales engineering... some job where you work on commission. Not optimal for an introvert, engineering sales often entails working with other engineers, which is more agreeable than say, selling cars or something.

FBeyer
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by FBeyer »

Chris Voss - Never Split the Difference.

Have fun.

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Mister Imperceptible
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Mister Imperceptible »

As stated above, try to find a job in a high profit margin industry. They can afford to pay more.

Employers use the strategy of trying to lowball everyone, then give them incremental 3-5% raises or less from that low number. The best way to make a big jump is to change employers. If you think you can leverage another job offer, think again. At best, they will give you the raise, backfill you, and fire you 6 months later. You can be sure your replacement has also been lowballed.

When a prospective employer asks me how much I make at my current job, I simply lie. Corporate America (or Corporate Poland) does not deserve the truth.

The most valuable thing I got from reading The Four Hour Work Week was nothing written by the author himself, but this book I found in his recommded reading list:

“The Secrets of Power Negotiating” by Roger Dawson

(Regarding the author of 4HWW, I definitely “killed that Buddha” and discarded what I considered not useful ;) )

P.S. You’re going to need to get over all that communist/socialist stuff. I’m not just saying that because I’m not sympathetic to it. It simply is not helping or will help you.

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Stahlmann
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Stahlmann »

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Mister Imperceptible
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Mister Imperceptible »

When interviewing, you will be asked by a prospective employer how much you currently earn. The proper answer is (what you actually earn) multiplied by (a significant multiplier). I misrepresented my income at my previous employer by a multiple of 1.7 (I said I was earning 70% more than I actually was) when interviewing for my current job. So it was on my current employer to beat that number. I made 125% more in 2017 than in 2016 by simply leveraging competitive firms against each other and misrepresenting my salary.

I also listed “4 years of project management experience in X industry” on my resume even though I had no such experience. What’s the worst they can do? Not hire you? Or fire you 6 months into the job? Oh no! By that time, you should be lining your pockets and saving your dough with ERE-like frugality. Do you know where I learned to be a project manager? On my current job, after previously lying about having project management experience.

I did this in a job that supposedly requires a STEM field degree with nothing more than a Bachelor of Arts. Now, I am a born actor and a trained one at that, so if you are lacking that natural talent (you profess to being an introverted neckbearded virgin), I doubt a sales job is for you. I’m not sure cracking open the texts by Stanislavsky will help you, but try and channel this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iBp2bWAIX1Q

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eCWU3a4MhqI

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Stahlmann
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Stahlmann »

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Mister Imperceptible
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Mister Imperceptible »

IIRC I remember you mentioning familiarity which Nietzsche. Revisit and reread. That will prepare a mental framework. Corporations are “legal entities” and have rights of persons, but these so-called persons act like psychopaths. You do not need to feel guilty when dealing with them. Wear the black hat. You can put the white hat back on when dealing with individuals. You owe corporations nothing, other than that which is necessary to continue being employed and procure future employment.

If you want to practice not blushing, start approaching women in public. Ask 1000 women on dates, even if it means you are rejected 1000 times, it will dull the sting of rejection. You can become indifferent to the judgements of others. (Just make sure you don’t get arrested. Approach but be polite.) This is a practical exercise that fits the mental framework. I’m sure there are other ways.

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Stahlmann
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Stahlmann »

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Mister Imperceptible
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Mister Imperceptible »

It’s a numbers game. As I suggested to speak to 1000 women to get over blushing, speak to 1000 companies and ask for a big number from each. It only takes 1 to say yes.

Scott 2
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Scott 2 »

For credentials - you can chase certifications or advanced degrees.

Certs - A cyber security guy might go after a Security+, for instance. Or a project manager a PMP. Degrees, an MBA is most common.

For the most part, unless a position requires the professional credential by law (doctor, lawyer. professional engineer, etc.) I've seen people without the same credentials do the jobs as well. Credentials can make getting respect easier at the start.


When interviewing, part of your job is to learn about the company. They will have public information that lets you guess as to their trajectory. You can also ask about these things during the interview. What sort of growth rate are you experiencing? What's the plan for the division over the next 3-5 years? Etc.

I personally would not be comfortable misrepresenting my compensation looking for new work. I would make sure to understand the full value of my compensation and compare accordingly. Benefits and perks are about 1/3 of my cost to my current employer. So were I to take a pure contract position, I'd see current salary + 50% as an equal offer.

I would also account for work culture. Is this a 40 hour per week place or a 70 hour per week place? That information can be hard to get at w/o seeming lazy. But I'd take a lot less money at a 40 hour per week place.

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Mister Imperceptible
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Mister Imperceptible »

It’s whatever you are comfortable with. Technical training and certifications/degrees/rubber stamps can only help.

But personally I wouldn’t think you have to sit in a job interview like a Catholic confessional booth. Multinational corporations destroy the environment, exploit people and resources ruthlessly. Perhaps once upon a time they were beholden to communities and individuals, but no longer.

Do what is necessary. All is fair play.

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Stahlmann
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Stahlmann »

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Mister Imperceptible
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by Mister Imperceptible »

You don’t need a beard. I am clean shaven.

I am intentionally using provocative language because you need to be shaken from your doldrums. The corporations are gaming people. All I am suggesting is that you level the playing field. That does not mean you are a sociopath by doing so.

There are no guarantees or promises in life, but especially not in the corporate arena. The only kind of job security is being able to walk out of your current job and being able to land another one. “Job security” as people have come to know it (specifically, the lie being fed to them in corporate speak), is folly.

I do not consider a philosophy that affirms the ultimate terror of the universe and is life-enhancing to be “negative.” But I will go ahead and call Herr Marx, a spendthrift blowing his inheritance and mooching off of his uncle, “delusional.”

liberty
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by liberty »

Mister Imperceptible wrote:
Sun Apr 15, 2018 5:43 pm
I also listed “4 years of project management experience in X industry” on my resume even though I had no such experience.
That's kinda stealing. :x


liberty
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by liberty »

I'm kinda FI, and would like to use my FU money in negotiation. Last negotiation I said something like "I'm not so dependent on earned income anymore". Should I mention retirement in a negotiation about salary/tasks? How would you phrase it? "Option 1) This 2) That 3) Retirement"? I would not have a problem with quitting at this point.

2Birds1Stone
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Re: Negotiating raise - experiences, techniques and more

Post by 2Birds1Stone »

Be willing to quit.

I received a 35% raise to base salary after telling my employer I'm leaving for another company.

After staying for 4 more months, I found an even better job and used that new salary to get something even higher where I work now.

Of course you have to be someone they would hate to lose, in my case it's sales, so you have to produce.

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