1. Always negotiate 2. Read this book: Never Split the Difference NOTE: Understand the difference between negotiations and bluffing.
is that the one by the FBI hostage guy?
Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
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Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#12I think people who try to negotiate and walk away from a job that doesn’t pay enough is almost always the wrong idea if you don’t have a job.
Every month you don’t bring in income, you have to make 8.3% more just to make up for the month of lost income.
Even though it didn’t come to it when I was looking for a job in late 2023 and again in late 2024, I was willing to take the first job or contract that came along *and keep interviewing*. It is especially easy when I am interviewg and working remotely.
Honestly, most of my career and I’m now 10 jobs in, it’s been a tik tok between changing jobs to up skill and changing jobs for a pay bump or now just to stay remote and half to deal with as little bullshit as possible.
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#13Always ask. Worst case, they say no. Best case, you compound that extra 5–10% for the rest of your career. You already got the job if you are negotiating salary, they wont take it away.
The rest of your career? When I want more money than a cost of living raise, I change jobs. Because of salary compression, you’re almost always going to be better off changing jobs.
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#14[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#15Always
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#16You're meeting humans in interviews? That's already a big step up in this market.
The core negotiations are the same as always: know your worth , and only do it if you're willing to walk away from the job. But it's much harder to get that ability these days for many.
The only additional wisdom is to track layoff history these days. Getting an offer now may not mean you'll have that job in a year.
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#17Always ask. Worst case, they say no. Best case, you compound that extra 5–10% for the rest of your career. You already got the job if you are negotiating salary, they wont take it away.
These days, the worst case is that they rescind any offers they make. They probably have a dozen other applicants who won't negotiate if you do.
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#18Always ask. Worst case, they say no. Best case, you compound that extra 5–10% for the rest of your career. You already got the job if you are negotiating salary, they wont take it away.
> You already got the job if you are negotiating salary, they wont take it away. Exactly this. In all my decades in the industry, both during up cycles and down cycles, I've never had anyone respond to negotiation by saying "never mind, the deal is off". The worst case is that they'll say "our offer is not subject to negotiations, take it or leave it."
>Ive never had anyone respond to negotiation by saying "never mind, the deal is off".
I had that happen during my very first negotiation. Unless I'm lead to believe "suddenly, funding changed. We have to cancel". It does happen.
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#19Always ask. Worst case, they say no. Best case, you compound that extra 5–10% for the rest of your career. You already got the job if you are negotiating salary, they wont take it away.
The rest of your career? When I want more money than a cost of living raise, I change jobs. Because of salary compression, you’re almost always going to be better off changing jobs.
Are you finding it easy yo change jobs these days?
Re: Ask HN: Do you negotiate salary in this job market?
#20Negotiate downward. They offer 100k, you counter with 90k. they meet you in the middle at 95 then you counter 85 and stand firm there.