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How much hike did you guys get this year?
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I positioned my raise request around impact and market value, brought salary comps, recent wins, and made it about fairness, not feelings. I framed it as a conversation, not a demand, and my manager was surprisingly receptive. You don’t have to wait for review season to know your worth.
I was in this exact position. Found out the other copywriters were making 10k more than me (we were all copywriter level, so pretty junior). I asked for a raise, bringing forward all of the reasons why I deserve it: first due to my achievements, and second of course, because of fairness. I was denied and told it’s not that big of a difference.
Jumped to a different agency and got a 40k raise. I don’t have any advice for asking for a mid cycle raise, but my advice is - jump.
If you want a mid cycle raise, do some high profile work and win some big awards. Your agency usually will give you a raise so you don’t get poached.
Advocating for your value is never “being difficult”. Difficult is a company that makes you have to prove what they should already know.
The advice already here is good. Alongside that, you could also begin to look past Senior CW and start building your case for ACD, if that’s something you’re interested in. Make you goal known and start asking for those types of responsibilities. Then when review time comes around either a) you’re talking about a promotion or b) you’ve proved your value in new ways that make it hard to not give you more money if a promotion isn’t in the cards yet.
Are you a man or a woman? Female creatives tend to get paid more.
Female creatives leave the industry at a higher rate, especially after having kids — so as they get more senior, the women who stick around are in high demand and are usually paid a 15-20% premium.
If you are a woman and making less than your female coworker, it could be for other reasons, such as she had a poaching offer and the agency made a counter to keep her or maybe she just complains more.
They assume it's nonsense bc they've been fed the feminist line that they're at a chronic disadvantage just for being a woman. Spoiler: women are treated better in some fields and worse in others. The victim game is not one anyone wins.
(Speaking as a woman who's tired of men patronizing me and my female peers complaining when they've never been oppressed in their lives.)
Market value. Do your research on your role’s salary benchmark in your region/industry and lead with that.
How much was your raise for?
Depends on your relationship with your ECD’s. If it’s good, you can work on it over time. Discuss where your goals are to grow, and what responsibilities you want to take on throughout the year while emphasizing that you want to grow in compensation with the growth in responsibility. Then keep on them every quarter to show them how you’re hitting on those goals. Better to grow to grow to the next step up on the ladder though than to try to negotiate for the role they’re already paying you for.
In all my experiences, you will almost never do well staying where you are. You can show salary comps, discuss your achievements, etc… nothing is better than moving to the next agency. It’s a really tough time to do that though. Especially if you like your current situation.
Best case, make yourself invaluable, and learn every skill you can where your are. Start interviewing. And when this madness is over, make the move for higher pay.
Time to ask for a raise, and dust off the resume if you don't get it.
I had the same thing happen to me. I found out a new hire in my department was making more for the same role and the same assignments. When I brought it up to my manager, he said, "That's your fault for accepting the first offer". UGH! I will never make that mistake again, and I no longer work there, and neither does he, lol
Please, I am new to copywriting where can I get job, and I'm even open to also learn more. Your response will be highly appreciated.