Re:Liquidity Is Coming
by fiddlerwoaroof on Saturday December 05, 2020 @01:43AM
(#25312385)
I’ve been trying to figure out just how strong a prospective Sr. Software Engineer’s bargaining position is here: if they walk away unless given RSUs instead of options, is this likely to be met? If they walk unless given a $20k signing bonus? Also, is “four year vesting with one year cliff” for options negotiable with any chance of success?
Re:Liquidity Is Coming
by fxtentacle on Monday December 07, 2020 @03:59AM
(#25330486)
A signing bonus is kind of based on your reputation and the alternative job offers that you decline to accept this one.
Also, it depends on whether you contacted them directly, or if you were introduced by a headhunter, as the latter will charge them.
If you approach them directly, you have a good reputation, and they can see a clear way from your time to increased profits, I'd say you can get up to a year of salary as signing bonus, which for senior positions will be a lot more than $20k.
There's also the path of being acqui-hired, where the money that they pay for your past startup is kind of like your signing bonus.
Out of my wider social circle, I know several people who I believe are underpaid but stay due to being afraid of interviews or due to loyalty to their company or their customers. I mean that's kinda also why nurses don't quit even though they are usually treated badly.
But I also know multiple people who negotiated a generous chunk of stocks as a signing bonus and/or who have agreements that allow them to convert employee stock options into convertibles debt notes (i.e. akin to seed investors).