Salary Negotiation Hacks For Tech Professionals

The tech job landscape is rife with opportunity because the supply is short and the demand is high. As a professional, you can expect a good package even at the entry level. But your first salary offer may not match your expectations. In fact, you may feel disappointed even as you switch jobs down the line. Luckily, you are in a good place to negotiate with potential employers because tech talent is scarce. You only need excellent negotiation skills and a good understanding of the process. Let us share some actionable salary negotiation hacks that tech professionals can rely on.

Be ready for the money talk

Perhaps, the most critical advice for job seekers is to be ready for the money talk, regardless of the domain and role you work in. Most professionals feel too awkward to discuss the money with recruiters and end up accepting the offer on the table. Beginners are more likely to do it, though even experienced job seekers may face the same situation. Shed your inhibitions before diving in, and be ready to ask for what you deserve. The willingness to discuss salaries is half the work done!

Know your market

Knowing your market and understanding where you fit in it gives you a head start with salary negotiations. You can dig deep and check forums or get insight from other techies with similar skill sets to decide your worth. Knowing the actual money figures is an advantage when you sit across from a hiring manager. It gives you a command over the conversation, regardless of your experience.

Learn about the modern recruiting practices

Besides knowing your worth, you must learn about the modern recruiting practices in the tech domain. Going company-specific is a good idea. For example, you can excel at Facebook salary negotiation by knowing what the company prioritizes and how it hires. You can negotiate well with a specialty in technical areas like data science and machine learning. If you have these skills, there are good chances of taking the offer as high as you want.

Acknowledge any competition

Things get tricky if you compete with multiple job seekers for the same role, and it often happens in the tech domain. You will probably want a good offer, but there is always a chance that a competitor may accept a lower one. You have to achieve a balance between negotiating for your ideal salary range and not underselling yourself. Also, have convincing arguments to set yourself apart from other candidates during negotiations. The recruiter will have no qualms about paying you more if they see the value over the others.

Watch for red flags

Remember to watch for red flags and stop chasing if a recruiter tries to shut you down. Techies need not waste time on one opportunity if it does not seem good enough because there is a lot to explore in the landscape. If a hiring manager does not seem to have a conversation around compensation early, consider it a signal to leave sooner than later. Also, they should not decide on your worth or control the salary conversation altogether.

Salary negotiations can be stressful for professionals, and techies are no exception. But everything boils down to knowing your worth and staying strong. Once you master the skill, nothing can keep you from getting your dream job and package.