I was hoping if someone could narrate a firsthand experience about salary negotiations.
I am on the tech interview panel for god knows how many years.
Candidate is just a resource. Salary negotiations depend on the company and the urgency to fill the position. If a company doesn't offer that much money for a particular skill set then you cannot get a hike while switching jobs. Company cannot risk upsetting rest of their employees by giving you a hike (by putting you in next higher salary band), when you haven't even shown your skills on the job. There is a concept of salary bracket/band for each position. You can negotiate only between that band, which the recruiter won't disclose to you. If the company needs you badly, or if you are quite good then they can easily put you near the top of the band. But to cross that band, you need to be promoted to next level.
It happened twice that I was put in the next salary band even though I wasn't eligible for promotion. But that was because I was really good
. It pissed off lots of people but it served as an inspiration for them. Similarly, they can't risk pissing off their current set of productive employees, just by giving unjustified hike to a new joiner.
In another MNC, I was supposed to be given raise but they couldn't as I was already at the top of the salary band for my position. Company came up with some "skills allowance" and I was paid extra as long as I worked for that project. Once I left that project, my 'special skills' weren't relevant anymore and they reduced my salary. The point I want to highlight is that the company can go extra mile to satisfy deserving/loyal employees. So, if you are supposed to get 2X at the new company, then you'll get it.
Prospective recruiters always ask for current salary details during the hiring process ? And this dents the chances of securing a higher CTC due to lower present income.
No. It doesn't matter. If are too below their current salary band, they'll give you a higher package without much resistance. After all, they wouldn't want to piss off a new employee (because ultimately you'd find out you are being underpaid).
When I moved from a desi company to MNC, I was given 2.5X without even asking about my current salary details. In fact, they never asked. Most probably, they put me at the lowest level of their salary band but they gave me what I should've been getting according to my experience.
MNCs have quite straightforward processes. Can't say about desi companies.
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Company came up with some "skills allowance" and I was paid extra as long as I worked for that project.
Sounds like I am highly sought after
No, apart from regular salary, they came up with this allowance thingie for many other employees as well. Not meant specially for me. Though I was among the first batch to be given this allowance.
