Salary Starting Point | Yakezie Reader Insights | Yakezie Forums

Hi all,

If you were gunning for a new job and salary pops up, where would you start things off?  Aim high and then work down where both parties are happy or start at your minimum and try to work higher together?

Appreciate any feedback!

If you are completing an application, you should say open. If they ask you about it during the interview, you should make sure you sold them on your skills.  Then you can say, I am sure you will make me a fair offer based on my skills and what I can do for you.  The only reason an employer wants to know what you want is to take you out of the running.  Never negotiate about salary until you sold them!

Hi Andrea,

I'm conservative by nature and used your tactic before.  Worked out well.  This time around, trying to push for a little more.  Trying to find a sweet spot.  Thanks!

Hi KC,

Thanks for the clear, logical instructions.  You are absolutely right.  I should focus on selling myself and then price should take care of itself.  Thank you!

I'd start high, then let the negotiations work their way down if they have to. But don't start with your reservation (minimum) price, give some room. I've gotten extra money that way before, and I've also been rebuffed too. Either way, it generally doesn't hurt to ask for the high end of the range.

Also, if you start too high – as in WAY out of range, you could be screened out. Keep that in mind too.

There is always a salary 'range' for any job. When I decide to offer a salary for a new hire, I determine the skill level of that person and his future potential to grow before giving out an offer. If the asking price is beyond my expectation I say 'no'.

I found many times that the range on offer is much above the candidate's current salary expectation, in those cases the new hire, even though ended up in the lowest bracket of the range, still got a significant jump as compared to salary he drew before joining us.

In big companies we can't deviate much from the set rules and processes. It is always better to set asking price after doing a lot of research. A good way to make friends with employees of 'target' company on linked-in. I do get such 'add friend' request on linked in all the time who ask me about our salary structure. 

I don't have that much experience with this TBH, but what I have seen others do and what I would do as I prepare negotiating for the next leg up is to research what others in a similar position make — people working at similar companies, with similar levels of experience.

You have sites like glassdoor, and you can also just ask people you know if you know them well enough that they would be willing to share or at least give you the salary scales.

Then, like any negotiation, you have to find a happy middle. Go for as much as you can but also remember salary alone doesn't count for everything. Commute time, quality of work, etc, and the company itself, what they do, where they're going, are all very important as well and can also impact the potential of future raises.

Good luck! :)

Hi One Cent,

Thanks for the valuable feedback.  Are you a hiring manager?  You sound quite familiar with the process.

Hi Jeff,

Thanks, will keep it in mind!

Hi IIW,

I started the discussion on salary to keep thing simple, but now that I am reviewing other factors like you mentioned.  Thanks!