It probably doesn't hurt to talk to the other company and see what's what. At the very least you'll make some contacts going forward. I would only negotiate with your current employer if your willing to leave if they so no. If they are willing to pay to keep you that shows they won't be looking to fire you since they would just let you go if they didn't want to keep you. If they don't counter or play games like counter less, leave because they are willing to gamble with replacing you.
Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
31–40 of 41 posts
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#32If you're very early in your career, you probably haven't learned that most companies are very disloyal even to people that show them extreme loyalty. You owe an employer nothing other than giving 100% of your effort for your time there. Unless there is something about this current job that you really, really love, it would be (IMO) pretty foolish to turn down double the salary. I would at least interview with them a…
> "it would be (IMO) pretty foolish to turn down double the salary" Why is that? Is life always better with more money? If the OP is happy with the amount of money he is already making, why should he look for ever-higher salaries?
> Is life always better with more money?
More money can buy you more security (unexpected medical bills...), free time (why not take 6 months off to travel?), and opportunity (I'm gona fund my own startup!) that OP might not be considering at the moment. With the future being uncertain, and all other things being equal between the jobs, it would be silly not to take the money.
Worst case, you shove it in a savings account/index fund and never think about it again.
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#33Go to interview, get the offer, get back and have current company beat it.
Rinse and repeat.
The winner wins an excellent developer.
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#34If you're very early in your career, you probably haven't learned that most companies are very disloyal even to people that show them extreme loyalty. You owe an employer nothing other than giving 100% of your effort for your time there. Unless there is something about this current job that you really, really love, it would be (IMO) pretty foolish to turn down double the salary. I would at least interview with them a…
> "it would be (IMO) pretty foolish to turn down double the salary" Why is that? Is life always better with more money? If the OP is happy with the amount of money he is already making, why should he look for ever-higher salaries?
I'm anxious to work full-time on a startup (currently doing 2 hours every morning on the side)
Longer runway.
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#35A couple things:
The salary quoted by the recruiter is "up to". That figure was created when the recruiter asked the company how much they would potentially pay, max, and the CEO answered "well, up to $150k, if it's a really senior guy, like the inventor of jQuery or something". They won't give that sum to a junior guy like you. The recruiter quoted that amount just to lure you in.
Also, it's not an offer, it's a recruiter trying to get bodies into the door of that company. It's similar to you finding the same job ad on craigslist, except that the latter would have a better chance to get you hired, because there's no recruiter involved that has to be paid out.
I was in a similar situation, went to the interview, never heard from the company again, probably because I was too expensive (even though my demanded salary was less than the "up to" sum quoted by the recruiter.
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
> (if you still are unsure about leaving) tell your current employer about the offer you've been made (you may not be allowed to give details, but you can give enough) and see if they counter offer. Don't ever do this. Leave or don't. If I'm your manager, the moment you expect me to counteroffer I'm planning on getting rid of you. No offense, but you just told me, "Hey, I'm shopping around." No offense, but that mean…
May I share with you two pieces advice my father gave that I take with me everywhere: - Never say no - always negotiate. - If you don't ask, the answer is no. The reaction you shared is not particularly business savvy. Business relationships (contrary to lots of shitty analogies out there) are not like a friendship/romance. >Leave or don't. If I'm your manager, the moment you expect me to counteroffer I'm planning on…
Most managers do not view "I am looking elsewhere" as a time of negotiation unless it is a highly valued employee. Even then it is wise for the manager to start looking around too because the likelihood of the employee leaving is high. However if the employee asks for a raise rather than saying "I have another offer", then it is a negotiation. Because the manager also knows that if the employee does not receive a raise, then he or she will likely become unhappy and leave.
I agree with your general premise that most things are a negotiable. However it also depends on the situation and how the employee and employer approach the situation. "I got another offer so you should match it." is not a good way to approach a negotiation unless you are a star employee.
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
You at least owe them to make a good faith effort to be productive. That's what the money is for.
Well I disagree. If someone wants to give you money, just take it. You can be charitable to them if you want with your effort.
They are not "giving" you money, you have entered into a contract.
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#38If you're very early in your career, you probably haven't learned that most companies are very disloyal even to people that show them extreme loyalty. You owe an employer nothing other than giving 100% of your effort for your time there. Unless there is something about this current job that you really, really love, it would be (IMO) pretty foolish to turn down double the salary. I would at least interview with them a…
> You owe an employer nothing other than giving 100% of your effort for your time there I disagree. You don't owe your employer anything.
The law disagrees. So does society. So in what imaginary world does that statement hold true?
Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#39Re: Ask HN: One month into dev job and I'm recruited for one with twice the salary
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
> (if you still are unsure about leaving) tell your current employer about the offer you've been made (you may not be allowed to give details, but you can give enough) and see if they counter offer. Don't ever do this. Leave or don't. If I'm your manager, the moment you expect me to counteroffer I'm planning on getting rid of you. No offense, but you just told me, "Hey, I'm shopping around." No offense, but that mean…
May I share with you two pieces advice my father gave that I take with me everywhere: - Never say no - always negotiate. - If you don't ask, the answer is no. The reaction you shared is not particularly business savvy. Business relationships (contrary to lots of shitty analogies out there) are not like a friendship/romance. >Leave or don't. If I'm your manager, the moment you expect me to counteroffer I'm planning on…
> The reaction you shared is not particularly business savvy. Business relationships (contrary to lots of shitty analogies out there) are not like a friendship/romance.
Rational reason? As a manager, I have deadlines to make, planning to carry out and crises to solve. You just added yourself to to my upcoming crisis list and impacted all three of those areas--especially if you are a star performer.
Ask for a raise? Sure, we can talk about it. Unhappy? Let's figure out how to fix that.
However, people are creatures of inertia. Once you've broken that inertia to the point that you have another job offer, let's be honest, there's probably too much that requires fixing in order to make you stay and make you happy.
And, you are also not considering the impact of this on the other 10+ people I'm managing. I don't want them to necessarily start interviewing to possibly get a raise even if I'm the better employer/job. Yeah, they may find that out, but it's a distraction, the grass is greener, etc. Or there may be a temporary bump while some competitor's group staffs up, but then there will be a corresponding layoff (seen it)--oh, gee, thanks, now all my salaries are up even after your group cratered. I was a junior employee when that happened and the group rehired some of those people (whom we desperately needed)--at a 20% salary cut--that was a management failure for the history books-- but it was a good lesson to a junior employee about understanding your negotiating position downside.
All told, if a good employee presents me with a competitor's offer I'm 99% certain to say, "Sorry to see you go. I'll give you a good reference." I don't take it personally as I've left jobs for better salaries. That's the nature of the game nowadays.
Now, I will admit that a salary jump of 2x is unusual although I have been in that position. If that happens, the manager or the company have failed dramatically (in my instance it was both). Or, someone else really needs that employee (that was also the case for me). Either way, the employee should take the new job.