“As a newbie, always research the salary range for your job role in your country before applying for jobs so you don’t undervalue yourself.”
Breaking into tech is an exciting journey filled with endless opportunities, but one of the biggest challenges for newbies is knowing how to negotiate their salary. Many tech professionals, especially those just starting, tend to accept the first offer they receive, either because they are eager to secure a job or because they fear rejection if they ask for more, not realizing they might be undervaluing themselves.
Blessing Nwokolo, a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), shares her go-to strategy for salary negotiation.
Step 1: Research Salary Ranges
“The first thing I do when looking for a job is to check the salary range for my job role online, specific to my country and city,” Blessing shares. Platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary Insights, and PayScale provide valuable data on industry standards.
Pro Tip: Don’t just look at the average salary; check the lowest and highest offers as well. This helps you set realistic expectations and determine the range in which you should negotiate.
Step 2: Ask Industry Professionals
“If I have friends in the industry, I ask them about the salary range their organizations offer for my role,” she adds. But what if you don’t have friends in the industry?
- Join LinkedIn tech groups and participate in salary discussions.
- Attend tech meetups, conferences, and webinars where professionals share industry knowledge.
- Engage in online communities like Twitter Spaces, Discord, or Slack channels where techies discuss job offers and salaries.
The more information you gather, the stronger your negotiation power becomes.
Step 3: Inquire About the Company’s Salary Range
During an interview, if an employer asks about her salary expectations, Blessing turns the question around and asks about the company’s budget for the role. Why? It allows her to gauge whether their range aligns with her research before stating her expectations.
There are three possible outcomes here:
- If they insist on their budget and it’s too low, she evaluates the company’s benefits, growth opportunities, and work culture before deciding whether to accept the offer.
- If their offer matches her research and expectations, she moves forward with the interview process.
- If their offer is lower than expected, she negotiates for an increase, citing her research and industry standards.
Step 4: Offer a Well-Informed Salary Range
If the company does not disclose its range, Blessing provides hers, based on research.
“This approach helps me understand my worth and make informed salary decisions,” she concludes.
When stating your salary expectations, keep these tips in mind:
✔️ Always give a range, not a fixed number. This allows room for negotiation.
✔️ Consider additional perks such as remote work, bonuses, equity, or learning stipends.
✔️ Be confident but flexible. If an offer is slightly lower but comes with great benefits, it might still be worth considering.
What Was Your Starting Salary in Your First Tech Role?
Did you negotiate your first tech salary, or did you accept the first offer?
Share your experience! 🚀
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