💰 Your First Salary

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💰 Your First Salary

How to Research, Ask, and Negotiate with Confidence

Talking about money can feel awkward. Especially when it’s your first real job offer and you just want someone to say “yes.”

But here’s the truth: Negotiating your starting salary sets the tone for your future earnings.

Even a small bump now can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over time. So let’s walk through how to research, ask, and advocate for what you deserve — without sounding entitled or unsure.

📊 Step 1: Know What the Market Pays

Before you talk numbers, you need a baseline. Use these tools to find realistic salary ranges:

• Glassdoor or Levels.fyi for company-specific info

• Payscale and Salary.com for role + location benchmarks

• SCALIS roles, which show you upfront salary transparency

Pay attention to:

• Your location (or the company’s, if remote)

• Industry norms (tech and finance often pay more than nonprofits)

• Experience expectations (some “entry-level” roles ask for 2–3 years)

Tip: Save screenshots and sources so you can refer to them if asked.

💬 Step 2: Practice How You’ll Ask

Once you’ve done your research, be ready to talk about salary professionally and clearly.

Here’s one way to phrase it during an interview or after receiving an offer:

“Based on my research and the responsibilities of this role, I was expecting something in the range of [insert your range]. Is that in line with what you’ve budgeted?”

Use a range, not a single number. Make sure the bottom of your range is still something you’d accept.

Avoid saying:

• “I’ll take whatever you offer”

• “I’m just happy to be here”

• “I don’t really care about salary”

You can be excited and flexible without underselling yourself.

⚖️ Step 3: Evaluate the Whole Package

Salary is important, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Ask about:

• Health insurance

• Paid time off

• Learning budgets

• Remote work or flex schedules

• Promotion timelines or reviews

If the salary is fixed but the role is strong, you can sometimes negotiate for earlier performance reviews or growth opportunities.

🧠 Step 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Pause

Got an offer and need time to think? Say so.

“Thank you so much. I’m really excited about the opportunity. Can I take 24 to 48 hours to review everything and get back to you?”

That’s completely normal. It shows you’re thoughtful and serious — not difficult.

👏 Final Take

Your first job offer is a milestone.
Asking questions or negotiating professionally won’t scare off a good employer. It shows maturity, preparation, and self-respect!

Remember:

• You’re not being “difficult”

• You’re not “lucky to be considered”

• You’re valuable and your time and skills are worth something

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In this episode of Career Hack, Brandon Amoroso sits down with Priscilla Philavong, Senior Technical Recruiter at Abnormal Security, to uncover what it takes to land your dream tech job. From the power of networking and mentorship to navigating AI in the recruiting process, Priscilla shares actionable advice for early career professionals and job seekers aiming to break into tech or elevate their careers.

Here's What You'll Learn:

🚀 Navigating Different Work Environments: How to decide between joining a startup or a large organization.

🤖 AI in Recruitment: How AI is transforming both the hiring process and job applications.

✨ Standing Out: Tips for making your application stand out in a competitive job market.

🤝 Networking and Referrals: Why building connections can help you skip the job application line.

⚠️ Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Mistakes job seekers make and how to avoid them.

🧠 Mentorship Matters: How finding the right mentor can supercharge your career journey.

🔑 The Power of Keywords: How to tailor your resume for high-volume recruiting processes.

📊 Job Market Realities: Balancing quality versus quantity in job applications.

Follow SCALIS on social to stay updated with early career opportunities and exciting new trends!