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After 3.6 years is 16lpa a good salary?
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“Chatroulette, but for apartment peepholes."
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Alas, I don't qualify.
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What’s it like producing at 360i NY?
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Don’t fall for the recruiter gasp. They do that shit all day every day. Remember that their bonus is based on how much money they trick us poor saps out of accepting. When u r talking to a recruiter, u r playing poker w a pro who plays full time.
100%! That shit is manipulative as hell. I fell for it once and much later when I told HR (exit interview) they were shocked at how low my pay was relative to everybody else - and this was an internal recruiter too (there’s a special place in hell for female recruiters that convince other women to take less money than they should).
Don’t take a cut unless its an amazing dream job (and maybe not even then), the recruiter doesn’t have your needs in mind.
OK, current gig is slow. Perfect time to chill and focus on you by making your own connections at dream agencies Miss/Mr Gaspy-pants probably doesn’t work with anyway. AND you say you’re already being paid well? All the more reason to wait for someone who knows your true worth and not get faked out by anyone trying to low-ball you. It’s like dating. Why settle?
perfectly put, ECD.
I’d take a pay cut for a better work life balance.
I did that and haven’t regretted it for a minute.
I’d do it. I was getting paid great at my last gig, but damn I missed doing good work with good people. Instead, I was making countless decks in a soul sucking environment instead of actually producing anything because of the way the agency was structured. I hear you on feeling like you’ve worked hard to get to where your pay is now though.
My current job is VERY slow. I’m paid well, so if I gotta stay at least I’m paid. But I worry about sticking at a job where no one is producing anything. Do you take a salary hit for the growth of your portfolio? Or do you say “screw that. I worked hard to earn this salary.” and wait for a job that can match, or pay better. (I’m ACD level)
Take the salary hit! You’ll thank yourself later.
I took a pay cut for my dream agency and less than a year later I was making my old salary again. I also started to get offers from other agencies for almost twice my salary so if you’re younger in your career definitely prioritize later over now.
Where was this at?
This is important because you sometimes end up at a shop that does, indeed, do good work but only on a few accounts while the other accounts are total garbage. The issue then is that you are getting a paycut just for the hope of someday maybe getting put on a decent account or winning one.
I do think if you know it’s a good account then it might be worth it.
100%! If you’re having issues with producing interesting pieces for your portfolio but have a good salary and life/work balance. Go home and hustle on some personal projects. Once you have a creative outlet, the 9-5 won’t be that important
I took a lateral move, and a lesser title and it was the best thing I ever did. The work and the people made it so worth it.
If you don’t have many financial responsibilities, I think it’s something to consider. Take the cut now, make it back and then some later when you’re a more valuable creative after having produced better work.
I know you are thinking about pay vs portfolio potential, but if the money is concerning you, also consider the other elements that could be part of the compensation. I took a job for “lower pay” because my old job had garbage yet expensive health care. So, technically I took a pay cut but my take home pay ended up being the same because I pay less for better health coverage.
I'd take a pay cut for consistent creative opps under great leadership at a place where you know they can sell good work.
How much of a cut? Was the <gasp> a tactic? All things to consider.
Also, there are so guarantees. All signs point to things going well if the agency’s done great thing, but, to echo others, you might not work on those accounts or plum assignments.
You could also get shit managers, lazy partners, blah blah blah.
Don’t mean to be harsh about it - just pointing out the risks. Then again, I’ve got a mortgage, a young kid and i’m the breadwinner, so it would have to be a once-in-a-lifetime move for me to consider such a move.
Stop saying your range. Make them tell you what the company has budgeted. You lowball yourself that way and potentially leave money on the table. Research salary negotiation tactics.
Yep
I’m about to do the same. Sometimes you gotta shake things up.
Never take a pay cut
The paycheck is all that matters.
Also, be mindful of - ‘your role’ in the new organisation (if and what are you supposed to bring to the organisation besides ‘ideas’ / how you would be measured for tangible growth YoY and if that will be assured upfront) - if and how will you be setup for success by the new organisation - what will be available to you to deliver what they are asking for (accounts/resources/exposure/trainings etc.) - etc.
Going in blind into lower pay for ‘better work’ is admirable intent but it needs to be tangibly realised. Otherwise low pay and bad work.
Long term, I think the pay cut for better work would pay off for a creative/your portfolio/what shop you land at later.
Personal is key word!
I would. so long as you still make enough to pay for everything and still save a bit. you don't want to go into debt for it.
Depends on the totality of the job. If it's a dream job and there may be other perks, both benefit perks (bonus, 401K, etc) and intangible life/balance perks (more normal hours) then I'd say consider being flexible and take a lower base salary. If they really want you, they may negotiate with you. There's always a budget attached to every role. It's not unusual to ask what that budget range is. They might not tell you (they are experts at this) but it shows you're willing to negotiate if the job is a perfect fit for both of you.