The elephant in the room: salary negotiation
My experience learning about negotiation as a UX Designer
Have you found yourself in the thick of your job hunt and finally starting to get a few interviews under your belt? Next thing you know, the hiring manager asks what your salary expectations are.
Your heart skips a beat and a wave of heat rushes over you. You don’t want to lowball yourself, but you’re also afraid of saying a number too high in fear of risking the opportunity. It’s at this moment that you wish you would’ve been a little more prepared and confident in your response. As a Junior Designer, this was always a moment of panic for me when interviewing for my first UX job. I knew how much I needed to make, at a minimum, to pay my bills. But factoring in other areas of compensation or even negotiating at all, was something that terrified me.
To be clear, salary negotiation is not a new concept to me at all. In fact, the idea was instilled in me by mentors that I’ve had over the years. My problem was being able to dance the dance once it was game time…(who doesn’t love a good metaphor mix?). For example, I did tons of research and learned what the average salary for a UX Designer in my city was. I referred to Glassdoor to get a feel for what people were making at the company. I even talked to my peers in the industry and learned about what ranges I should expect for someone with our (lack of) experience. All of that didn’t prepare me for the intense anxiety I felt when the moment finally came to answer the big question.
I knew I wasn’t alone in this feeling. I also knew that I regretted not negotiating when I did receive offers. My curiosity peaked, I reached out on Twitter and Instagram to learn how other Designers navigated this subject- particularly women.
From Twitter, I heard from tons of people who were happy to share resources, knowledge, and advice on how to feel comfortable navigating the so-called elephant in the room. I also learned why people chose to (or not to) negotiate when they were in the position to do so. I’ll share all of my insights below.
How do people feel about salary negotiations, in general?
- “People will always try to lowball you.”
- “I get scared and don’t negotiate as much as I should.”
- “I heavily prepare. I ask for the range and choose the highest”
- “Wage transparency across peers is important!”
This is the one. I will fight for wage transparency until I can’t fight any longer. We know that Black women are the most educated, yet some of the most underpaid demographic in our workforce. By continuing to perpetuate a culture of salary taboo, we ensure that the wage gap persists. I’m happy that so many people felt comfortable sharing what they’re currently making and how they got there.
And now, here’s the invaluable advice I’ve received (and distilled a bit) from my network:
- Never start the negotiation with what you want. Don’t feel obliged to share what your current salary is. Reframe the conversation to discuss what your expectations are for the role.
- If they ask you for a number, ask for a salary band, make note of it, and think about it.
- Always ask for more than what you need.
- Don’t let imposter syndrome get to you. You are valuable, you are doing real work, and deserve to be paid fairly for it.
- Research salaries in your industry, region, and experience level to make an informed decision about your own salary range.
- Try to understand the market rate for your area and fully-remote companies as well.
- Salary isn’t the only thing that can be negotiated. Ex. Total compensation = Base salary + equity/shares + performance bonus + signing bonus
- If you aren’t able to get what you want as a base salary, try to get an increase in the other areas: commission, vacation days, work schedule (4-day work week), etc.
- The negotiation sweet spot is when the company has decided they want to hire you, but before you’ve accepted the offer. This way you can still use your leverage before jumping through more formal employment hoops (individual performance reviews & company performance)
- You don’t have to make a decision on an offer on the spot. Give yourself some time to confer with your family and mentors, and compare other offers.
- Practice several negotiation scenarios so you feel more prepared and confident in the moment.
- Know your number, say your number confidently, and stick to it.
Resources: (I’ll be adding to this list with continued research & suggestions)
- Levels.fyi — compare salaries and career levels
- 81cents — get feedback on the fairness of your pay
- Glassdoor — company salaries, bonuses, and total pay
- Candor — negotiation strategies
- O’Reilly — 2017 Design salary survey
- Payscale — salary comparison, salary surveys, and wage search
- Bustle article — How To Know If You’re Getting Paid Fairly — And What To Do If You’re Not
- Tutti Taygerly’s article addressing similar topics — The art of salary negotiation for designers, women and more
- Payscale article — The Top 12 Negotiation Mistakes and What You Can Do Instead
Have resources I should add to this list? Feel free to message me or comment here.
My biggest takeaway from the people that I’ve spoken to: it takes a village. No one is born knowing the ins and outs of salary negotiation- except maybe entitled, elitist men- so you have to start from SOMEwhere. It really helps to have a few people in your corner who can share their experiences with you. Hype you up. Remind you of your worth, Help you evaluate your offers. You want to feel confident when you have this conversation and you will with a little preparation and a big push. I hope that this serves as a jumping point for someone who was in the same position as me when I had no clue where to begin. Happy Negotiating!
Hey there! I’m Sierra Rackley, a UX Designer looking for my next challenging opportunity, as well as mentorship. Feel free to reach out and view my latest work here.
