I am currently an associate producer at a Washington news bureau. I've been offered a producer position within my company at one of their smaller stations in Arkansas. It seems like an ideal opportunity for me to gain some show-producing experience in local news; however, the station is offering me significantly less than my current salary.
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I compared their offer with several cost-of-living calculators, and it seems fair. My concerns are:
- I have been with my company for a year, and I'm currently eligible for a raise in my current position, which I would waive by taking this position.
- The salary offered would be appropriate for someone freshly out of college and doesn't take into account the experience I've gained in D.C.
- Living in D.C., I currently live paycheck to paycheck and have started freelancing to make ends meet. Would I have to continue to struggle without the opportunity to freelance?
- I do not own a car and would have to purchase one to live in Arkansas, which would make my living expenses increase.
How can I negotiate a better rate?
Thanks for your help,
Doing the Math
Congratulations on getting the offer. You have done a good job of assessing the issues.
It seems all your concerns are about the money, not time off or training, and you have three strategies you can use.
First, I would go with the fact that you have a year of experience at what I presume is a larger station. Your negotiating position is stronger if you come from the position that you warrant the money rather than that you need it. See if you can find out what that station pays similarly experienced people to make sure you are dealing with their actual wage structure. Perhaps your boss can help, as this is all within one company.
The timing of your annual raise is relevant. I would say, "Look, although you're working off my base of X, that is set to go to Y on such-and-such a date. I hate to take a pay cut AND delay my annual raise by a year." Your angle here is to either get a higher rate going in the door or a review date that is sooner than a year out. Sometimes an employer will agree to review the wages after a shorter period of time, such as three or six months.
The car is one of those few practical needs that can enter into wage negotiations. You will have to incur a one-time cost to accept this job, and as you have been pretty much living hand to mouth, you have no savings to pay for this. Sometimes an employer will offer a signing or sign-on bonus to help with a one-time expense like this. Better would be if they just bring you in at a higher level, not just with a one-time bump that does not build your salary base. Not as good is the employer who offers to give you an advance on future earnings. That means you get a lump of money up front, but future paychecks are reduced to pay for it. Given your situation, that could be a real hardship, as you will have the monthly costs of a payment, insurance, fuel and repairs.
You've got some math to do. From the sounds of things, this deal is very near break-even and might not even be that. Do not take a promotion that you cannot afford. That would be good for neither you nor your employer.
Coming Friday: Long term, he'd like to get a job at a major paper in his hometown and would like to know when and how to start working with the recruiter there.
