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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

#101

Post by draw_down »

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. :(

Yeah, that's been the received wisdom for a while now. Certainly true in my experience. Loyalty just doesn't work out for the employee. Firms know they do this and most of them don't care. The only exception I know for sure is Netflix.

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

#102

Post by freddyc »

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…

If threatening to quit is the only way to get the raise that you (presumably) deserve, then it's probably a good sign that it's time to, you know, actually quit and move to a better opportunity where your contribution is properly valued.

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

#103

Post by draw_down »

dxxvi wrote: post #20
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.

You'll be given the raise, but you'll be let go very soon.

Yes, I think this strategy has some real downsides. If you're willing to go this far just quit; one who accepts a counter-offer will most likely be seen as suspect thereafter until they leave.

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

#104

Post by sk5t »

amorphid wrote: post #13
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 :)

Being the very best at your job doesn't always put you in line for management to have you stop doing that job... "too valuable to promote" is a thing.

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

#105

Post by kasey_junk »

ryandrake wrote: post #75
vogt wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since Oct 2012, I've gone from $32k, to $44k, to $75k, to $85k (and killer benefits) now. None of these were in SF, NYC, LA, Boston or Austin. All from switching jobs.

One thing not mentioned a lot in this discussion is that those triple- and double-digit increases tend to only happen early in one's career. Later in your career, it gets very difficult to find a different company that is willing to pay you even 10% more than you're making. You definitely will hit a ceiling at some point. My last job hop probably did not result in more than a 1% bump or so. So, Junior Engineer going…

Just to give a anecdotal data point. I'm in that high end range and have been for a long time, and I go between it (a little higher and lower for that matter) based on the job opportunity. Literally, I've taken jobs that go down that much because it sounded like a good job. Similarly, I've been given raises that much because of a variety of factors.

But to your larger point, at the top end of the scale, to make dramatically more money you need to get attached to the business revenue directly, either as a founder, a partner, a solo operator etc.

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

#106

Post by dasil003 »

conanbatt wrote: post #69
JustSomeNobody wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure it's a weakness, but they (management) don't care. If the developer leaves, they'll hire another and in the mean time the remaining devs get to pick up the slack. It's actually a convenient excuse for the schedule slipping; they blame it on the developer who left because he "wasn't a team player", even though management knows the real reason is because they simply don't ... know ... how ... to ... manage.

Replace-ability is actually a solid negotiation tactic, but that's not the same as intransigence regarding budget. The characterization of management as incompetents backastabbers is as childish as the one that says employees are lazy bums who should be grateful of their salary.

A million times this. The insidious part is that if you come up in that kind of management culture, it destroys your motivation and ethics to where you actually become a bad employee. You will then be less hirable by good companies, and hence the vicious cycle. It's really a type of abusive relationship.

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

#108

Post by Can_Not »

redwards510 wrote: post #76
byoung2 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never seen it happen successfully. I've done it at least half a dozen times in my career. I was told "the maximum we can give is a $7k raise since there is a fixed pool for raises in the department." I said if I quit and you have to replace me, not only will you have to hire 2 devs to replace me (as I pulled dev and sysops duty) and pay them market salaries, you will have to pay a recruiter 20-30%. They still wo…

> They still wouldn't budge, so I got a counteroffer for $30k more than I was making, Getting a counteroffer is not the same as what the OP is suggesting. Using another job offer as a leverage for a raise is not recommended by most experts. Just google "Should i accept a counteroffer?". Mainly because you create bad blood at your current employer and you have to be ready to follow through on your threat. Also, that e…

I've read that, are you sure it's not a scare tactic by recruiters?

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

#109

Post by maxxxxx »

ryandrake wrote: post #98
maxxxxx wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you just think it's that way or do you have experience? I used to imagine management would take this personally but they generally don't. I wouldn't recommend doing this every few months though.

Admittedly no, I've never known anyone to do it but people tend to be pretty cagey about talking about salary and job hunting and that kind of stuff, so who knows? I also have never seen anyone poop on their manager's desk but can speculate about what would happen thereafter :-)

They may take pooping on their desk personally so I would advice against that! Try asking for more money first. If that doesn't work then you can poop on their desk.

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

#110

Post by rosege »

sk5t wrote: post #104
amorphid wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Being the very best at your job doesn't always put you in line for management to have you stop doing that job... "too valuable to promote" is a thing.

Kinda like The Dilbert principle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilbert_principle
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