Salary Question Reinforces Wage Gap

[Quetzal]

Note the <optimistic> frubal is not sarcastic.

I know you well enough that if you wanted to give me a sarcastic jab, you wouldn't do it via frubal!

 

[Quetzal]

I am a software developer that graduated from a no name school. I settled for a low paying development job and then transitioned to market value over the next 5-6 years.

Further more, you can accelerate that by proving your worth and then demanding it. Another negotiation tactic is to interview with other companies and force your current company's hand with potential exit. They will quickly determine if you're worth it or not. Just don't take it personally. It's business.

Great advice, I will file that away for once I can get my foot in the door. I still have a lot to learn but I am looking to make that career transition in the fall-winter of this year. Meanwhile, I will continue to toss out my resume to any company who might like to read it.

 

[Revoltingest]

I know you well enough that if you wanted to give me a sarcastic jab, you wouldn't do it via frubal!

My comment was for the less perspicacious posters on RF (ie, moderators).

 

[Quintessence]

And promptly give them a pass until they can find the next sucker who will work at a fraction of the price. I am bitter because I never grew up in a time when the applicant had any real negotiating power. Now, the employer has most, if not all, of it.

Dismissing this as "loser talk" aside, I read another article today that basically points out how much this is the case because of the significant increase in megacorporations. When a few corporations control most of the hiring in the market, employees have few alternatives if they wish to seek work elsewhere. It keeps wages down for the vast majority and shunts it upwards to people who don't do anything near important enough to justify six figure (or more perverse) salaries.

Here, if you wanted to take a gander - Opinion | The Real Villain Behind Our New Gilded Age

 

[suncowiam]

Great advice, I will file that away for once I can get my foot in the door. I still have a lot to learn but I am looking to make that career transition in the fall-winter of this year. Meanwhile, I will continue to toss out my resume to any company who might like to read it.

Where are you based? If you can get an internship, that is a very good way to get your foot in the door.

Internships offer companies low risk at evaluating NCG (New College Graduate) hire. You can apply for internship specific positions too. It doesn't have to be school sponsored.

Many company does this as a strategy for "cheap" labor to mix up their seniority profile. You noticed those GE commercials promoting the hip technology towards the younger generation? They're trying to change their image to tap into this wage group.

 

[Quetzal]

Where are you based? If you can get an internship, that is a very good way to get your foot in the door.

Northern Virginia. This is something that I have considered, however, the internship would need to be paid. I should look into this further.

Internships offer companies low risk at evaluating NCG (New College Graduate) hire. You can apply for internship specific positions too. It doesn't have to be school sponsored.

Many company does this as a strategy for "cheap" labor to mix up their seniority profile. You noticed those GE commercials promoting the hip technology towards the younger generation? They're trying to change their image to tap into this wage group.

Good to know! I will take another look at some locally.

 

[Revoltingest]

Dismissing this as "loser talk" aside, I read another article today that basically points out how much this is the case because of the significant increase in megacorporations. When a few corporations control most of the hiring in the market, employees have few alternatives if they wish to seek work elsewhere. It keeps wages down for the vast majority and shunts it upwards to people who don't do anything near important enough to justify six figure (or more perverse) salaries.

Here, if you wanted to take a gander - Opinion | The Real Villain Behind Our New Gilded Age

Regarding his "loser talk", as his semi-mentor, it's useful to
occasionally use challenging language to break him out of
his self-imposed limitations. May he dare to be great.

 

[Quetzal]

Regarding his "loser talk", as his semi-mentor, it's useful to
occasionally use challenging language to break him out of
his self-imposed limitations. May he dare to be great.

Tigers have thick skin (fur) after all.

 

[suncowiam]

Northern Virginia. This is something that I have considered, however, the internship would need to be paid. I should look into this further.


Good to know! I will take another look at some locally.

Our interships are paid...

 

[Quetzal]

Our interships are paid...

Nice! Where are you located?

 

[suncowiam]

Nice! Where are you located?

I live in San Jose, CA. Work in Santa Clara, CA. Basically Silicon Valley.

If you need help with interview questions, ping me. I've done many interviews.

Just keep in mind though, AI is ramping up and could also be disruptive with SW development. Not sure what fields could get disrupted now but just be on the look out.

 

[Quetzal]

I live in San Jose, CA. Work in Santa Clara, CA. Basically Silicon Valley.

If you need help with interview questions, ping me. I've done many interviews.

Just keep in mind though, AI is ramping up and could also be disruptive with SW development. Not sure what fields could get disrupted now but just be on the look out.

Nice! Living the dream!

 

[suncowiam]

Nice! Living the dream!

I'm not really living the dream.

California isn't ideal. If I could, I would move to other tech hubs and settle for a less paycheck. The cost of living out here is outrageous. It's definitely nice, but its not perfect.

Good luck.

 

[suncowiam]

Dismissing this as "loser talk" aside, I read another article today that basically points out how much this is the case because of the significant increase in megacorporations. When a few corporations control most of the hiring in the market, employees have few alternatives if they wish to seek work elsewhere. It keeps wages down for the vast majority and shunts it upwards to people who don't do anything near important enough to justify six figure (or more perverse) salaries.

Here, if you wanted to take a gander - Opinion | The Real Villain Behind Our New Gilded Age

I feel like you approach this like many socialists... That human equality should exists across different scales. There's a reason why companies offer select individuals an outrageous sum of money. It's not random or arbitrary. They are dependent on a skill level to continue the success of their business. This skill level is in high demand and hard to supply. It's just as simple as that. There's nothing fancy about it. Let's just say it's much easier to negotiate your end if what you offer cannot easily be duplicated by others. If what you offer can easily be replaced, then you're dead in the water.

There's a reason why some athletes get paid as much as they do. Are they truly worth it? That's not for any single individual to decide. IMO, society decided that. Getting hung up on what should be is just a detriment to your own goals.

 

[Quetzal]

I'm not really living the dream.

California isn't ideal. If I could, I would move to other tech hubs and settle for a less paycheck. The cost of living out here is outrageous. It's definitely nice, but its not perfect.

Good luck.

I appreciate it! If your company happens to offer any remote internships/Jr roles that use Java (learning Python and Web Dev/JS this summer), let me know! I would be more than happy to send some samples and a resume.

 

[suncowiam]

I appreciate it! If your company happens to offer any remote internships/Jr roles that use Java (learning Python and Web Dev/JS this summer), let me know! I would be more than happy to send some samples and a resume.

Sorry, they do not have a site in WV. That's why I was asking.

Web development is not core in our business. Seems like you're learning scripting languages which really is more for automation and testing. You might be able to secure a SWQA position. IMO, there's isn't that much development that builds on top of itself with scripting languages. It's usually one and done... You could broaden your market if you learned C/C++ and Java as your core languages. Just suggesting...

 

[Quetzal]

Sorry, they do not have a site in WV. That's why I was asking.

Web development is not core in our business. Seems like you're learning scripting languages which really is more for automation and testing. You might be able to secure a SWQA position. IMO, there's isn't that much development that builds on top of itself with scripting languages. It's usually one and done... You could broaden your market if you learned C/C++ and Java as your core languages. Just suggesting...

I agree! Java is my core language in regards to OOP (OOP is my favorite!). I like Python for big data, data analysis and some automation. Basically, by the time this program is over, my goal is to be prepared for two job roles/fields that I am really interested in: data science and object oriented development.

 

[suncowiam]

I agree! Java is my core language in regards to OOP (OOP is my favorite!). I like Python for big data, data analysis and some automation. Basically, by the time this program is over, my goal is to be prepared for two job roles/fields that I am really interested in: data science and object oriented development.

Nice. You got your bases covered.

 

[Quetzal]

Nice. You got your bases covered.

The great news is I love all sorts of development/analysis. I think I chose the right field!