Offer evaluation and negotiation tips (240k TC)
I recently got an offer for a senior SWE backend role.
A little about my background: Sr backend SWE, 8 yrs of experience
Offer:
- Big city in the Midwest
- 190k base
- 152k RSU (38k a yr)
- 12k bonus flat (they don't do performance bonuses)
- 3 days a week hybrid
- unlimited pto
Total: 240k TC
I was told the base goes up to 225k pre-offer so I'm thinking of asking how we can bridge the gap or land somewhere in between. Planning on using the no-performance bonus as a talking point to get more base pay. Overall my interview performances were definitely strong from my perspective. Company and role-wise everything lines up for what I'm looking for in my career. The initial offer exceeds my expectations but I definitely want to maximize my comp.
Any recommendations or tips?
Discussion
(2 comments)- 2
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9 months agoOutcome-Based Career Coach • Former Head of EngineeringHere are some negotiating levers to consider:
- See my response to a similar question here on how you can articulate the value you bring rather than only focusing on the components of the offer
- Base pay is often the toughest lever to negotiate, especially in larger corporate environments
- Ask for a signing bonus, especially if you are walking away from a bonus in your previous workplace
- See if you can squeeze something out of the benefits package (e.g. L&D budget)
- Leverage the start date - if they want you to start earlier and you want a break, you can make some compromises here in exchange for something else
- See my response to a similar question here on how you can articulate the value you bring rather than only focusing on the components of the offer
- 16 months agoTech Lead/Manager at Meta, Pinterest, Kosei
I'm delayed here! Agree with Casey on focusing on value, not pay. A few things to try:
- Often companies are more generous on RSUs. If the company is public / stable, you can view this almost as good as your base salary. So don't negotiate on salary, negotiate on RSUs.
- After one round of negotiation, say: "I will sign the offer if you can give me a $30K sign-on bonus". This is a substantial increase, and companies are more likely to do this since they know you’ll sign.
