Significantly Underpaid
I believe I’m being significantly underpaid compared to market salary because my starting salary was so low when I signed on. (Was young and didn’t know any better - wish Blind was around then!) How would you approach this situation? Talk to manager? Talk to HR? Analyst - San Jose, CA 2.5 YOE Base: 67,500 Bonus : 7% RSU: NONE Market Salary with similar YOE Base: 83,000 Any and all advice on how to approach would be appreciated
I would bring it up to manager (not HR) in a polite way. If manager doesn’t show interest, start applying elsewhere.
Thanks for the advice! Would you recommend mentioning that the salary is far below the market salary?
Yeah pretty much. I would also probably start applying elsewhere right away as well while the conversation is underway. There’s no harm in seeing what the market might offer you.
Interview and leave, Cisco is not a place you want to be when a weak economy is on the horizon
I’ve started the interview process recently! Would still hope to get a salary raise before I leave... but thanks for the advice!
You get no significant advantage by getting a raise at your current job if you plan to leave. Your yardstick for negotiating salary in the new company should be market value , not your current (upgraded) salary. You are under no obligation to mention your current salary as well by law.
Interview, get competing offers, leave. If you want a raise while you interview elsewhere, go to your manager and ask for one. Don’t tell them you’re interviewing unless you have an offer you’re ready to take, because Cisco is the kind of place that might just boot you out.
Definitely not telling my manager. She’s not the nicest person lol. When talking to my manager, do you recommend telling them that my salary is below market, especially considering this is the Bay Area?
Sure. It’ll be a natural conversation.
If you have a degree in CS and aren't garbage I think you should apply to other places. Job search is always an uphill battle, and taking a lower salary is an easy way out. There is always a 6 figure offer around the corner.
I’m definitely applying right now
I was in this situation too because I started off as a project hire and once I converted HR was like nah bro it’s a lateral move and we don’t do increases for lateral moves as a rule...despite my boss who left the company before this telling me he’d go to bat to make sure I got an increase to match my peers. Big companies are not interested in retaining talent they already have but overspend on new hires and execs. Only way to win is to hop around unfortunately or if you love your job and you’re in the six figure club just be satisfied with what you have and stay longer but not 25 years like the boomers: those days are over.
You are only worth as much as your best offer ☺️ so go get a lot of them to compete against each other
Leet away. Good luck. Don’t reveal your current salary to recruiters when you talk to them.
Thanks for the advice!
2.5 yoe means you are fairly young. So it is easier for you to do leet code and join a better paying company.
Thanks for the advice! I’m actually not a SWE (data analyst) but definitely taking everyone’s advice on leaving
Lol analysts get paid like shit at cisco. Just leave and find a cooler company with better perks and higher salary
Leave
Definitely trying