Co-founder of a SaaS startup that is currently being acquired. How should I negotiate my future salary as an employee? Any tips or best practices?
Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
1–10 of 35 posts
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#2Ask for double what you want, to start.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#3Ask for double what you want, to start.
You'll have a good chance of getting "we can't pay that, sorry, see you" back. Then if you actually want that job you'll have to walk it back and negotiate down. Not always possible, so it may not be the greatest idea to start at x2.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#4Ask for double what you want, to start.
You'll have a good chance of getting "we can't pay that, sorry, see you" back. Then if you actually want that job you'll have to walk it back and negotiate down. Not always possible, so it may not be the greatest idea to start at x2.
If they want you, they want you.
If they balk, then you know where you stand and that information is probably valuable.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#5Ask for double what you want, to start.
I don't want to be cheeky with them, but at the same time I expect something more than industry standard. The problem is that I have never worked as an employee before and salary negotiations are new territory for me.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#6Ask for double what you want, to start.
You'll have a good chance of getting "we can't pay that, sorry, see you" back. Then if you actually want that job you'll have to walk it back and negotiate down. Not always possible, so it may not be the greatest idea to start at x2.
Or they could counteroffer.
Lets say you want $250k. Ask for $500k. They might be relieved, because they thought you would want $800k.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
You'll have a good chance of getting "we can't pay that, sorry, see you" back. Then if you actually want that job you'll have to walk it back and negotiate down. Not always possible, so it may not be the greatest idea to start at x2.
Or they could counteroffer. Lets say you want $250k. Ask for $500k. They might be relieved, because they thought you would want $800k.
So you would say to set an anchor as high as possible?
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
You'll have a good chance of getting "we can't pay that, sorry, see you" back. Then if you actually want that job you'll have to walk it back and negotiate down. Not always possible, so it may not be the greatest idea to start at x2.
If they want you, they want you. If they balk, then you know where you stand and that information is probably valuable.
It's definitely acqui-hire, too. That makes sense! Thanks for the perspective. I'm just wondering what arguments to bring to these types of conversations.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#9If it is a large company they have pay bands that limit their flexibility. I would start by negotiating level and research those pay bands. Might be easier to negotiate a one time payment or something that a deviation from their pay structure.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
Or they could counteroffer. Lets say you want $250k. Ask for $500k. They might be relieved, because they thought you would want $800k.
So you would say to set an anchor as high as possible?
What is your 2nd best option?
If your 2nd best option is a job making 200k.. and you ask for 800k and they just say no? Well, being cocky just lost you 200k (you could have asked for 400k).