Negotiations boil down to "are you actually willing to walk away if you don't get X". Power goes to the most willing to walk.
Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
11–20 of 35 posts
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#12[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
This reminded me of a 30 Rock episode in which Jack Donaghy applies insights from negotiating with his nanny to negotiations with the cable company acquiring NBC.[1] Basically, if you're vital for the acquisition to succeed, you have (some) leverage.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#14Ask 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 don't counteroffer then they don't want you. This is a negotiation. The starting offer is about anchoring. Neither side should expect the starting offer to be accepted immediately. If it is accepted then one side didn't anchor properly and lost the negotiation. Start with a number you think is too high but still leaves room for the company to negotiate down to an acceptable number for you. I usually don't go for double my target but others might. I usually start out at 150% of my target.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#15If 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.
It is indeed a big company. Definitely a good point, but they should have a little scope. I should start with the pay bands and find some good arguments why I want to move up in the payroll.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#16If 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.
This.
And gather some intel while you can. Get a sense of where you might land in terms of position, pay bands, etc.
Then argue for level first (it tends to be less contentious than money) and if they agree, you've locked in a pay band.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#17I have no experience of your situation but I think you should perhaps start by negotiating your level and title as an employee as part of the acquisition. I suppose that what's achievable is correlated to the size of your startup.
Whether you join as, say, Director or VP will have a direct consequential impact on your salary (you'll automatically fall within different compensation bands) but also on your standing within the company.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#18Negotiations boil down to "are you actually willing to walk away if you don't get X". Power goes to the most willing to walk.
But leaving would mean that the entire deal would fall through, which is no longer an option.
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#19I have no experience of your situation but I think you should perhaps start by negotiating your level and title as an employee as part of the acquisition. I suppose that what's achievable is correlated to the size of your startup. Whether you join as, say, Director or VP will have a direct consequential impact on your salary (you'll automatically fall within different compensation bands) but also on your standing wit…
Thanks for the advice! Very helpful. Do you have any general tips for negotiating a salary?
Re: Ask HN: Salary negotiation?
#20[deleted]