A decade ago, fresh out of college, I was at my first job cooking Enterprise Java Beans, the ContextMapperAbstractCommonAnnotationResolver ones, thinking:
For me, the biggest change was in framing how what I want to sell actually helps the other side. So when I asked for a raise, I didn't go with 'I think I deserve a raise, here's why:', but with 'I want to stay here for a long time, and I believe in the company. Based on X, and Y, I expected to have a raise in the next year'.
This approach helped me feel less guilty about insisting on a bigger raise then was offered, and finally getting what I wanted.
> I want to stay here for a long time, and I believe in the company. Based on X, and Y, I expected to have a raise in the next year
And this was your compelling story, and I guess you found buyers for it! 😃 And I agree, like with many things, you must first believe you deserve a raise, and then it's much easier to get one – or justify a higher price point as a freelancer. 🤝
I liked the parallelism between full-time employment and freelancing.
People don't realize but as engineers working a full-time job, we are constantly marketing ourselves, doing sales and we have a personal brand.
I always had this itch of "entrepreneurship" and realized I could be a bored employee or an employee with initiative. To be the latter, I need all these "entrepreneurship" concepts
One of my earliest managers used to say "Don't just learn to code. Learn to sell as well"
This post shows exactly how to do it. Great one!
I like how you compared freelancing with full-time employment. Many devs think you only sell in freelancing, which hinders growth in full-time employment.
Also, thanks for the mention Akos! Much appreciated!
You had a great manager, Saurabh! 😃 We market ourselves even in full-time employment and reap the rewards of our work once we want to get a raise or get promoted–that's why we should actively work on our marketing strategy. I enjoyed your last article! 🤝
For me, the biggest change was in framing how what I want to sell actually helps the other side. So when I asked for a raise, I didn't go with 'I think I deserve a raise, here's why:', but with 'I want to stay here for a long time, and I believe in the company. Based on X, and Y, I expected to have a raise in the next year'.
This approach helped me feel less guilty about insisting on a bigger raise then was offered, and finally getting what I wanted.
Thanks for the shoutout!
> I want to stay here for a long time, and I believe in the company. Based on X, and Y, I expected to have a raise in the next year
And this was your compelling story, and I guess you found buyers for it! 😃 And I agree, like with many things, you must first believe you deserve a raise, and then it's much easier to get one – or justify a higher price point as a freelancer. 🤝
I liked the parallelism between full-time employment and freelancing.
People don't realize but as engineers working a full-time job, we are constantly marketing ourselves, doing sales and we have a personal brand.
I always had this itch of "entrepreneurship" and realized I could be a bored employee or an employee with initiative. To be the latter, I need all these "entrepreneurship" concepts
Good post and thanks for the mention, Akos!
> we are constantly marketing ourselves
That is true for everyone, even for the "bored employee", unfortunately. But going in the other direction requires little effort, so why not do it?
I'm happy to share more of my freelancing and entrepreneurship insights in my newsletters, and I'm so glad if it helps you!
Thanks, Fran 🤜🤛
One of my earliest managers used to say "Don't just learn to code. Learn to sell as well"
This post shows exactly how to do it. Great one!
I like how you compared freelancing with full-time employment. Many devs think you only sell in freelancing, which hinders growth in full-time employment.
Also, thanks for the mention Akos! Much appreciated!
You had a great manager, Saurabh! 😃 We market ourselves even in full-time employment and reap the rewards of our work once we want to get a raise or get promoted–that's why we should actively work on our marketing strategy. I enjoyed your last article! 🤝