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I’m making 55k in Chicago. Am I underpaid?
37 / F / $250 / media / svp
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walk. if you enter on the low end, your entire career there will be low until you leave for a different agency.
It’s fine to counter. You have nothing to lose if you’re walking anyway and have other offers. As AD1 said, you’ll be low there until you leave, and it’s much harder to get a big bump once you’re there be when you change jobs (sad but true!).
They could come back and just say “sorry this is the best we can do - take it or leave it”, and you can decide from there. Seems like you’re in a good spot! But also, please don’t take take less pay than you’re worth. Not in this job market.
Tell them the high end of other interviews. Say “this is what I’m hearing from other agencies and it’s what I think I’m worth, I’m very interested because I love your agency and what it stands for, but you need to be able to get closer to this number to make it happen. What can we do to get there?”
Just saying I did this recently and the low agency found more money. It’s all a bit like a game of chicken.
Always get the money. Don’t let the agency name or reputation dictate your value. A counter shows confidence and the ability to negotiate. Which in the long run they want people who don’t back down. Go for the high, hope for the middle. Anything over their first offer is a win for your wallet and your confidence.
Shoot big win big. When I was making $100k and interviewing at another job I was asked what my salary expectation was. I told them $290k, they countered with $210k, and I just suggested we just split the difference and go for $250k and they accepted it. Honestly, I’m certain I could have pushed it higher.
Yes, I know this anecdotal, but it’s a real-world example of how it works. Only you know your worth, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Say it confidently and then shut up. Let them do the talking.
It's a lot of work for an agency to find a candidate that they like enough to offer a job. They like you and they want to hire you. If you ask for a bit more money, they won't immediately withdraw their interest. It's too much work to find someone else. Worst case scenario, they'll say that they can't pay you any more and keep the offer the same. Maybe they'll offer more days off. There is no down side for asking for more.
And, if by some crazy chance that they are so sensitive that they withdraw their interest because you asked them to match the market, you don't want to work there anyway.