The Insider's Guide to Tech Compensation, Negotiation, and Career Growth

In this episode, I’m joined by my co-host Carly Malatskey, a former software engineer turned investor and podcast host of She Leads. We dive into a listener's question about multiple tech job offers, and compare three compensation packages. We break down tactics for negotiating comp while exploring how to pick a role that aligns with your superpower. Whether you're actively job hunting or looking to understand tech compensation better, this episode offers practical insights for making informed career decisions.

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Key topics:

• Why chasing comp early hurts career growth
• Comparing job offers
• Breaking down key components of total comp
• Ensuring you can exercise your shares
• When and how to discuss salary expectations
• Much more

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Referenced:

• Tech compensation: Beyond the offer letter

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Where to find Carly:

• LinkedIn
• She Leads Podcast
• Twitter/X

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Where to find Nikhyl:

• Twitter/X
• LinkedIn

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Find The Skip:

• Website
• Substack
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• TikTok

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Don't forget to subscribe to The Skip to hear me coach you through timely career lessons. If you’re interested in joining me on a future call, send me a note on LinkedIn, Threads, or Twitter. You can also email me at nikhyl@skip.community

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Timestamps

(00:00) Tactic for negotiating comp

(01:54) Unpacking the mailbag format

(03:09) Three job offers: which one should I take?

(06:02) Understanding bonus structures

(09:32) Why equity still matters today

(17:38) Breaking the equity exit trap

(25:29) Equity versus your market rate

(30:37) Don't chase comp early on

(34:12) Aligning the role to your superpower

(37:47) Negotiating comp: Start with what matters most

(47:30) When to discuss salary

(51:49) Problems with averaged comp

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theskip.substack.com