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Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

fearlesssalarynegotiation.com

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Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#11

Post by strictnein »

mijustin wrote: post #3
Axsuul wrote: post #2

Saw this set of polls from @zedshaw on twitter and had JUST read this article. Seems relevant. https://twitter.com/zedshaw/status/795687259861172224

Wow. That poll seems to indicate the only way most folks get a raise is by quitting their job and getting a different one. :(

It's the only way I've ever received a real raise in the past ~12 years. I even quit to start a company and came back to the same company 18 months later at $30k higher than when I left (I was originally underpaid, but still).

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#12

Post by AcerbicZero »

conanbatt wrote: post #9
redwards510 wrote: post #5

If only things were so easy. Our department gets allocated $XX,XXX each year for raises. My boss has to split that among eight people. If I were to get a 5% bump like OP recommends, other people would get nothing. Sounds like typical D-grade manager motivation. "Everyone work yourself to death and I might throw you a bone after one year!" I'd rather give up that 5% to have a sane work-life balance. It's common knowle…

That surely sounds like a negotiation tactic was played on you. "I cant give you a raise without taking it from someone else" or "It's out of my hands" are cut and dry sales tactics. I am a bit pejorative to that tactic because if answered correctly, it actually harms the salesman: proclaiming you cant give X salaries means that they dont respect market rates and thus an employee is incentivized to leave to someone t…

I've worked at a number of places which had this basic policy. Upper management gives middle management a % of their budget for merit increases, and its up to the middle manager to break it up how they see fit.

While you can certainly try to negotiate increases in compensation outside of this, I've never seen it happen successfully.

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#13

Post by amorphid »

redwards510 wrote: post #5

If only things were so easy. Our department gets allocated $XX,XXX each year for raises. My boss has to split that among eight people. If I were to get a 5% bump like OP recommends, other people would get nothing. Sounds like typical D-grade manager motivation. "Everyone work yourself to death and I might throw you a bone after one year!" I'd rather give up that 5% to have a sane work-life balance. It's common knowle…

It is worth nothing that another way to get a raise is to earn a promotion :)

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#14

Post by posabsolute »

geofft wrote: post #8
redwards510 wrote: post #5

If only things were so easy. Our department gets allocated $XX,XXX each year for raises. My boss has to split that among eight people. If I were to get a 5% bump like OP recommends, other people would get nothing. Sounds like typical D-grade manager motivation. "Everyone work yourself to death and I might throw you a bone after one year!" I'd rather give up that 5% to have a sane work-life balance. It's common knowle…

What happens if your boss goes to their boss and says, "Hey, one of my employees is planning to jump ship for salary reasons, can we do anything here?"

I think you are missing the point,

Of course you can do that but you enter another level of negotiation because you are quitting and it might not even count toward the budget at this point. I would not recommend doing that every year as a negotiation tactic either.

I tend to agree with Redwards, and unless you are working in a small company if you do your job correctly it becomes more a political game than anything else.

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#15

Post by rhodysurf »

xchaotic wrote: post #10

You should always approach the negotiations with an upper hand - an offer from somewhere else. If it doesn't go well, just move.

Yup I've used this recently and it went really well. However, my boss is really good to his employees and understands negotiations are just business. A lot of situations are different and there are a lot of employers who do not like competing with other offers. Also have to make sure you don't over value your worth to your current company.

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#16

Post by JoshDoody »

Just saw a huge spike in traffic from HN and thought I would stop by to see what all the fuss is about. Glad to see people reading the article and having a productive conversation in the comments.

Happy to answer questions if you have them, and I'll hop into the comments as well.

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#17

Post by ffjffsfr »

> Bring more value to the company than what’s expected of you. Then ask to be compensated for it.

Sorry but it doesn't always work like this. Sure, performing well makes it more likely for you to get a raise, but there is no guarantee. Perhaps performing well increases probability of you getting a raise. But it does not guarantee anything nor is it most important factor in computing this probability. Probabibility of raise will depend on variety of factors including your company culture, your manager personality, company financial situation etc.

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#18

Post by zer00eyz »

fearlesssalarynegotiation.com sounds like such a reputable place to buy a $199 bundle.

So lets break down why this 199 bundle might work. Odds are that if your buying this, you lacked the confidence to negotiate upfront. If your low man on the totem poll its easy for me as a manager to get you to the same level as everyone else. That deals with year one, your not supposed to try this again till year three. By then your out side the 60 day window, and your not getting a refund on the BS package.

Re: Software Developers: how to get a raise without changing jobs

#19

Post by iamthepieman »

I've got raises as high as 206% by switching jobs. Most recent switch a little over 2 years ago resulted in a 20% raise which is much more typical.

Never had more than a cost of living increase otherwise (2-3%),

My strategy is to move when I stop learning. It maximizes both my enjoyment (learning challenges me and gives me motivation beyond a paycheck which is good for me and my employer.) and my potential earnings.

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