This Executive Assistant Doubled Her Salary In Less Than 4 Years
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In our series My Salary Story, women with long-term career experience open up about the most intimate details of their jobs: compensation. It’s an honest look at how real people navigate the complicated world of negotiating, raises, promotions, and job loss, with the hope it will give young women more insight into how to advocate for themselves — and maybe take a few risks along the way.
Been in the workforce for at least eight years, and interested in contributing your salary story? Submit your information here.
Previously, we talked to 37-year old Marketing Insights Manager in the Beauty industry who made $85,000 at an internship, a 37-year old IT professional who got A $8,000 raise with a counter-offer, and a 29-year-old Senior Product Marketing Manager who was denied a raise based on her age.
Age: 33
Current Location: Boston, MA
Current Industry & Title: Biotech, Executive Assistant
Starting Salary: $18,720
Current Salary: $115,000 + 10% bonus, $8,500 in equity ($135,000)
Number Of Years Employed: 8
Biggest Salary Jump: $40,500
Biggest Salary Drop: "No salary drop as of yet, thank goodness."
Biggest Salary Negotiation Regret: "Not asking for what I thought I deserved. When I started getting into negotiating salaries off the bat with an offer on the table, I often got so excited just to be making some money that I would say yes to the first offer that came through. I really regret, in my last job, getting the offer and asking for only $5,000 more. They refused and I still took the job. But, if you think about it, this amount extrapolates so much and once you’re in a position it’s difficult to negotiate again. Your biggest opportunity for leveraging salary is when you’re walking in the door. You can see a company's true colors through negotiation, but you should always negotiate politely and firmly and not jump at the first opportunity. I have also learned to walk away from offers that didn't feel right even though they would be a pay raise."
Best Salary-Related Advice: "Never let anyone else tell you what you are worth. Nothing is permanent and things are always changing, just because you are in a rough situation right now, keep the perspective that things will change. If you work hard and honestly it will work itself out. You know your value and what you bring to the table, it's your own personal responsibility to find the right job match for yourself."
Current Location: Boston, MA
Current Industry & Title: Biotech, Executive Assistant
Starting Salary: $18,720
Current Salary: $115,000 + 10% bonus, $8,500 in equity ($135,000)
Number Of Years Employed: 8
Biggest Salary Jump: $40,500
Biggest Salary Drop: "No salary drop as of yet, thank goodness."
Biggest Salary Negotiation Regret: "Not asking for what I thought I deserved. When I started getting into negotiating salaries off the bat with an offer on the table, I often got so excited just to be making some money that I would say yes to the first offer that came through. I really regret, in my last job, getting the offer and asking for only $5,000 more. They refused and I still took the job. But, if you think about it, this amount extrapolates so much and once you’re in a position it’s difficult to negotiate again. Your biggest opportunity for leveraging salary is when you’re walking in the door. You can see a company's true colors through negotiation, but you should always negotiate politely and firmly and not jump at the first opportunity. I have also learned to walk away from offers that didn't feel right even though they would be a pay raise."
Best Salary-Related Advice: "Never let anyone else tell you what you are worth. Nothing is permanent and things are always changing, just because you are in a rough situation right now, keep the perspective that things will change. If you work hard and honestly it will work itself out. You know your value and what you bring to the table, it's your own personal responsibility to find the right job match for yourself."
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