Ask HN: Software Engineering Job Offer Negotiation?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3508680

by throaway_job • 15 years ago

6 4 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I have a Software Eng job offer from Cisco in the Bay Area. Would anyone know what the pay ranges are for the following Cisco pay grade levels. I have about 6 years work experience in another successful networking company in the Bay Area.

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 10

They are offering me in the Grade8 level with signing bonus. Their offer matches my current base salary compensation $ for $ which I thought was surprising since I gave them my current compensation + my stock benefits. They do not offer options/RSU unlike my existing company. It doesn't make financial sense for me to take the offer. Hence, I am wondering if I have room for negotiation based on the pay-grade ranges.

Skills: Python, Layer2/3 Networking, Automation, Python Robot Framework, Python Django

moocow01• 15 years ago

You may be able to get a sense of the salary ranges by looking at Glassdoor.com and browsing through the salaries posted for Cisco. If I was in your position and you feel comfortable doing it, I'd play your current employer against Cisco by asking them if they want to make a counter offer. I've seen many people dramatically increase their salary by allowing a few companies to counter offer against each other.

throaway_job• 15 years ago

Yes. I might be able to do that, but I don't wanna push too hard since I am Visa sensitive and financially I prefer my existing company as per the current verbal offer from cisco.

I did look at glassdoor, one I noticed is at an avg of 99k (upper bound at 137k) anther one at an avg of 112K (upper bound at 150k). I was personally expecting to hear a number north of 130K or at least 125k for the base salary + RSU, so was really shocked to hear their offer.

boot• 14 years ago

Based on my shaky sense of things going on, I doubt you'll be able to negotiate for a grade 10. The company is generally very frugal. 130k sounds like too much. (But you know, I could be totally wrong - actually let me know if I am).

rmk• 14 years ago

Based on many friends' salaries:

Grade 8 is what is offered to fresh PhD's -- I think around 115K. In addition there used to be a 401k match of upto 4% (I think).

Ask HN: Software Engineering Job Offer Negotiation?

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