Interviewing Software Developers About Their Views And Opinions On Job Negotiation
Hello folks đź‘‹,
Today, I will be doing something different from my regular How-to. I will educate young minds on how to negotiate a job offer. I knew little about this, so I had to interview some developers. We all know that the tech industry is one of the most competitive job markets in the world. Negotiating a job offer is tougher than anyone knows and I hope this article will serve as a guide to entry-level or mid-level developers.
I interviewed three software developers about the pros, cons, and what they wish they had known during their first job negotiation.
Let's start with the first question 🚀
Q. At what point, did you feel you could develop a system for a client?
Answered by Akinola Raphael
A. Every story is different, Mine was when I felt I had enough knowledge required to build without technical issues during development. I believe intensive learning for about 3 - 6 months should be enough for anyone just starting depending on the initial knowledge the individual has.
Q. How was your first experience negotiating for a job? And what did you wish you did differently?
Answered by Divine Orji
A. It was all new to me and I wish I prepared more for the interview. I didn't really spend more time knowing the pros and cons, and it backfired on me. Also, I wasn't bold enough, so I stammered. It showed a sign of weakness.
When I really think about it, it wasn't really a negotiation, per se. It was more like they gave me a price based on their perceived worth, and I just flowed with it. I believe my first advice to new developers that are exploring entry-level jobs is to prepare thoroughly for the interview, so you can have the boldness to negotiate after you've shown your skills and competence.
Q. Is there a standard or an average amount for entry-level developers? Or does it depend on their stack?
Answered by Divine Orji
A. It depends on their stack and sometimes the hiring company. Some companies can afford to pay more, while others just work according to their pockets. The average amount I have seen so far is 30,000 dollars. Although, some companies pay more though and many pay less.
Q. What can you classify as a red flag (s) that entry-level developers should note while negotiating?
Answered by Divine Orji
A. "Just blow our minds, and you'll be settled for life. " or You hear the HR manager say, "Money is not an issue".
When the interviewer doesn't seem so open and honest with you or over trying to cover up when you ask questions relating to your job description or salary. That is a red flag.
Q. How was your first experience knocking down for a job? And what did you wish you did differently?
Answered by Iwinosa Igbinosa
A. My first job negotiation was bad. I charged way below my skills because I thought I wasn’t good enough. I told him my price, and he just said ok. If I had more belief in myself, I would have made more money.
Q. What is the standard salary for an entry-level react developer?
Answered by Iwinosa Igbinosa
A. Over the years, I have discovered that there is no standard or a bar to how much you can make as an entry-level developer. If you know what you are doing, just tell them your price (worth), it all depends on if your client can pay or not.
That’s like a major determinant, your client’s budget. It determines how well, how fast and how efficient you work or you carry out your task.
Q. What is a red flag while negotiating?
Answered by Iwinosa Igbinosa
A. Beware of people who act as they know. That's what some people do to downplay your confidence. They act like they can do the job or they have an idea about how it can be done. They are only looking for a way to underpay and they do it while negotiating.
It's just like buying what you sell from another person who sells it. You know the price, so you know how much to offer the other person. This is the logic they use. They act like they are in the field and make you charge less.
Also, study your client well, to be sure that he/she will pay you your full cash when you are done.
Q. How can a developer ace a Job negotiation?
Answered by Akinola Raphael
A. It all comes down to four main things:
Know your worth: When negotiating, know your value and know how much of a price value your knowledge/ skill worth.
Make the first call: While negotiating, be the one to ask the first questions then you can ask for more but not too much that it would chase them away though.
Take your time to think well. Think extensively about how the offer will benefit and how it will not benefit you. This goes a long way.
Negotiate only when necessary. Do not just negotiate all willy-nilly. If the offer given is okay, don't push further.
Other Tips
You could also use websites like AngelList and Payscale to know your market value.
Do your research on the company. Use Cruchbase to know about their market value.
Be realistic about where you are in your career, your technical skills, and the value that you would bring to an engineering organization compared to other engineers.
Work with a recruiter: This will save you a lot of time and can make you more money. You already have a demanding job, so you don’t need to spend your free time researching every startup out there to make sure it’s well-funded, has a viable product, offers the benefits you need.
You are now a pro negotiator.
I hope this article helps you in your career. Thanks for reading till the end ❤️.
Shoutouts:
A huge shout-out to the developers that contributed to this piece. To know more about them, visit their portfolio site.
Keep in touch:
You can contact me via email and/or Discord:
Email - iroegbusophia3@gmail.com
Discord - Sophyia#8929