Freshmeat: Negotiating for Nerds

"From endless semesters of CS classes and/or endless cola-filled nights, hackers learn all the skills of their trade... or almost all. Who sat you down and taught you how to navigate an interview to make sure your next job is right for you? Since the answer is probably "no one", we're presenting an editorial today from Dennis Faust, who has spent a lot of time on the company side of the interview desk and offers his suggestions about what he should have heard coming from the other side.

"You are in business for yourself. You just don't know it and most of you don't act like it. I've hired dozens of engineers and have had only a few negotiate AT ALL. Given the value of compensation packages these days, it pays to get educated and to negotiate. This is true even if you are happily and comfortably employed or if you have ten good offers in hand. Never trust headhunters, hiring managers, or human resources personnel to take care of you. All have interests which are not perfectly aligned with yours.

"The only way to make sure you get what you want is to negotiate for it. To negotiate, you need information. Go prepared to every interview where you might be offered a job."

Read the article.