Hi All,
I was hired through a temp agency to work for a reputable company as a Customer Service Rep at $15/hr three months ago. At the end of my first week there I met the director and had the chance to work with him on several executive-level presentations. My second week I was given a business laptop, cell phone and and the insider view to everything that goes on. Fast-forward 3 months later, I now manage his schedule, make his travel arrangements, work on exec-level power point presentations, compile reports, complete his expenses, follow-up on tasks given to management and travel out of town few times a week to work at different locations. It is a demanding position juggling several responsibilities at once and find that I put in at least 10+ hours of overtime every week and work at least one weekend a month. I have also planned two separate conference events (including presentations, hotel, restaurant reservations, conference room and IT set-up), putting in over 13 hours a day to complete everything with no help.
It is now the end of my three months and going forward they've offered me $19/hr, full benefits and 5% bonus. I've not yet accepted the offer as I am disappointed. I've been researching "Executive Assistant" salaries and the median is at about $48k. My job highly affects my personal life as I am on call 24/7 and find myself talking to my boss on the phone at late hours of the night. I have a Bachelors and a post-graduate diploma in a somewhat related field (and lots of $$$ student debt to pay off!)
This is not to sound ungrateful but I figure that if a customer service rep starts at $15/hr through a temp agency, they would be (or should be) making at least $17-18/hr once hired on permanently. They also have the luxury of not worrying about work once they are off the clock. I feel that I have earned my co-workers' and managers' respect through my hard work.
I will be going back with a proposal of $24/hr and hope that they will meet me in the middle. I would be satisfied with $22/hr with the opportunity to re-open discussion down the road, say 6 months when I receive my review.
Does this sound reasonable? How do I explain to my director that while I am grateful for the position, experience and opportunity, that their proposed wage just does not cut it for me?
I was hired through a temp agency to work for a reputable company as a Customer Service Rep at $15/hr three months ago. At the end of my first week there I met the director and had the chance to work with him on several executive-level presentations. My second week I was given a business laptop, cell phone and and the insider view to everything that goes on. Fast-forward 3 months later, I now manage his schedule, make his travel arrangements, work on exec-level power point presentations, compile reports, complete his expenses, follow-up on tasks given to management and travel out of town few times a week to work at different locations. It is a demanding position juggling several responsibilities at once and find that I put in at least 10+ hours of overtime every week and work at least one weekend a month. I have also planned two separate conference events (including presentations, hotel, restaurant reservations, conference room and IT set-up), putting in over 13 hours a day to complete everything with no help.
It is now the end of my three months and going forward they've offered me $19/hr, full benefits and 5% bonus. I've not yet accepted the offer as I am disappointed. I've been researching "Executive Assistant" salaries and the median is at about $48k. My job highly affects my personal life as I am on call 24/7 and find myself talking to my boss on the phone at late hours of the night. I have a Bachelors and a post-graduate diploma in a somewhat related field (and lots of $$$ student debt to pay off!)
This is not to sound ungrateful but I figure that if a customer service rep starts at $15/hr through a temp agency, they would be (or should be) making at least $17-18/hr once hired on permanently. They also have the luxury of not worrying about work once they are off the clock. I feel that I have earned my co-workers' and managers' respect through my hard work.
I will be going back with a proposal of $24/hr and hope that they will meet me in the middle. I would be satisfied with $22/hr with the opportunity to re-open discussion down the road, say 6 months when I receive my review.
Does this sound reasonable? How do I explain to my director that while I am grateful for the position, experience and opportunity, that their proposed wage just does not cut it for me?