Q. I graduated from college last December and began working as a beat reporter for a mid-size daily not long after. Honestly, when I was hired, I was just relieved to have a job. I accepted the salary offer without negotiation. I know, stupid me. Even then, I felt it was a little short given my experience and skills. But it's too late to go back now.
Fast forward to today. I recently learned that another recent grad hired this summer as a beat reporter is making several thousand dollars more. The same amount, in fact, that a fellow reporter who's approaching the five-year mark is making! Yes, the recent hire had a second, higher profile internship than me. He chose to go post-grad, whereas I launched straight into the job market. But, I have significant new media skills, of which he has none; in fact, he shows almost a hostility toward learning (at least in discussions with other reporters, away from the ears of editors).
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I also produce significantly more copy than he does, and my editor regularly relies on
me to pick up breaking stories for A1 on top of my normal beat coverage. In October, for example, I had just short of 50 bylines, whereas he was in the mid-20s, mostly daily and meeting coverage. I wrote a number of enterprise pieces, shot several photos and continued with duties on other committees, which are not technically part of my job.
I am happy with my job most of the time and my performance. I love what I cover, the area where I live and most of my co-workers. I know that I should not judge my worth by a salary, or measure my performance by a byline count (even if I know that's how our editors rank us). I know it shouldn't bother me how either quantity stacks up against my peers -- but in reality, it does.
I always intended to see this job through at least next summer, which would be a year and a half. Because of my beat, I hesitate to leave any time other than summer. So I figure if I stay on past next July, I will be signing on for at least the following year. I am concerned the only way I could potentially be paid what I am "worth" would be to move on to a new job, and the longer I stay at a lower wage the longer it will take me to get to that level. Since starting this job here, I have turned down two other (unsolicited) offers and several interview requests at mostly larger papers because I feel I should give at least a year here. Perhaps this also was stupid of me?
My real question, since this is "ask" the recruiter and all, is how do I approach this in my upcoming annual job review? I am scared about the evaluation because I've been told these reviews are intense and pretty much an excuse to be held accountable for every little thing you messed up or could have done better. But I'm also worried about how much of a raise I will or won't receive, especially in such a tight budget climate. I calculated it would take about a 16 percent raise to get where my peer is now, and I would by no means expect that. But I'm not sure how much I should expect -- or how to ask for more if they only offer me say, 2 percent. I don't want to pull the "I could be paid more at another paper" card, but given my experience, I am concerned this may be my best bet, and wonder if/when/how I ought to play that hand. Part of my problem when I accepted the job was, as much as I was prepared to interview and sell myself, nobody ever prepared me to negotiate or accept the offers.
Recent grad with much to learn
A. This is a classic predicament, and you have read your circumstances well.
The best time to negotiate pay is when you enter a new job or are promoted. Annual raises tend to be small. The exception can be if there is, as you mention, an offer from another employer or a corrective raise intended to erase an inequity.
Do not seek a new offer just to win a larger one from an employer you want to stay with, and never ever invent a competing offer. Journalists have been fired for that.
You might ask for a larger than usual raise if your work is very good and if you are asking the bosses to close an inequity. This has two risky components. One is that you might have to withstand the kind of nitpicking you've heard about. The other is that the editors could ask uncomfortable questions about whose salary (and work) you are comparing yourself to.
All in all, though, it might be better to take the chance than to suffer in silence.
Usually, employers have determined the raise before the evaluation conversation takes place. So, make your case in a pre-evaluation meeting.
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Coming Monday: Her graduate program is not right for her and she is ready to quit, but she wonders whether it will be tough to explain this to employers.
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