This Comms Pro Nearly Tripled Her Salary By Becoming a Consultant
Want to make more cash at work? Of course you do. For our sequence The Top Up, Canadians throughout totally different industries inform us precisely how a lot they earn—and the way they navigated each elevate, promotion and job change to get it. Each month, a special government shares their journey and their greatest recommendation for how one can higher negotiate your wage, too. This month, a Vancouver-based communications guide tells CB how she took a leap to land a big pay improve.
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Current job title: Communications guide
Industry: Tech PR
Location: Vancouver
First full-time job wage: $30,000 in 2019 as an editorial coordinator for a content material advertising company
In college, I did a bachelor of business administration in skilled communications, and a part of that program concerned a two-month unpaid editorial internship. So in the summertime of 2018, I interned at a content material advertising company for college credit score. When that ended, the company employed me as a contractor at $14 an hour for 20 hours every week whereas I completed my final yr of college. I fact-checked and copyedited each doc they produced, guaranteeing the writing aligned with the corporate’s type guides.
When I completed faculty in May 2019, the company provided me an editorial coordinator place with a wage of $30,000. I wished to barter, however I used to be so younger and too scared to lose the chance. I’d heard horror tales about individuals not getting jobs for seven months after graduating with a comms diploma. So I accepted the job, and figured I’d keep in editorial and pivot to PR later. I considered changing into an unbiased PR guide sooner or later. My dad was a guide who labored with energy utility corporations and he talked about how a lot he loved working for himself. But I knew I wanted to get some on-the-job expertise earlier than I might try this.
In my new position, I did social media administration, edited slide decks, supported business growth and helped with RFPs. The company had a variety of purchasers, however a lot of the accounts I labored on have been B2B tech corporations. I’ve all the time been occupied with know-how. As a child, I’d keep up watching YouTube movies about quantum computing. But I used to be dangerous at math and science, so I figured this was loophole for me to work in tech.
First elevate: $2,000 in 2020, bringing wage to $32,000
I rapidly realized that $30,000 was not sufficient to stay on in Vancouver. So I obtained a second job working on the entrance desk of a health studio for 12 to fifteen hours every week, incomes minimal wage, which was about $13 on the time. When Covid hit, the studio closed, so I labored at a espresso store on the weekends, doing two eight-hour shifts for $14 an hour plus about $25 a day in ideas.
At the one-year mark of working full-time for the company, I had an annual evaluation with the CEO, chairman and CFO of the corporate. Prior to the assembly, I instructed my supervisor that I wished to ask for a elevate. She was tremendous supportive and suggested me to make a business case for my elevate, so I put collectively some measurable outcomes to indicate my affect on the firm. Then I did some analysis and located a examine from Van City Bank concerning the dwelling wage being $45,000 a yr in Vancouver on the time. So I made a decision that’s what I’d ask for. I wrote a script and practiced it with my supervisor and my mother and father.
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I introduced my findings on the finish of my annual evaluation and requested for $45,000. It was nerve-wracking. I used to be making my case to a few C-suite government males of their 40s and 50s. Thankfully, it was over Zoom due to Covid, which helped mitigate my nerves. They have been very good about it however they didn’t get again to me for 4 months. I adopted up with my supervisor each week and with the executives each month. By the autumn of 2020, they lastly provided me a elevate of $2,000. I used to be actually upset. Obviously, I accepted the elevate, however at that second I assumed, “I need to leave.”
Second full-time job wage: $55,000 in 2020 with a 2 per cent bonus as an affiliate at a tech PR agency
I began trying round for different roles within the late fall of 2020. This was the start of the Great Resignation period—it was a job seeker’s market. I saved speaking to my supervisor, who I used to be nonetheless shut with. She knew I used to be searching for one other job and was actually supportive. I bear in mind her saying, “I want you to make as much money as you can.”
She related me to a good friend with a boutique PR agency that was searching for an affiliate. Someone new to PR would sometimes begin as a coordinator, however my supervisor helped me finesse my resume in order that I might go in on the affiliate degree. For instance, we highlighted the initiatives I did that might apply to an affiliate position in PR. I had three interviews with the corporate. I introduced them with a wage expectation of $55,000 to $60,000 and so they provided me an affiliate position at $55,000. I used to be so excited. I might lastly cease working aspect jobs. In retrospect, that’s not even a lot cash to stay off of in Vancouver, however going from $32,000 to $55,000 felt life-changing. I’d additionally get a 2 per cent bonus if the corporate hit our income targets for the yr.
They provided me the job on a Friday and gave me the weekend to consider the provide. The position got here with 10 days of trip, which was 5 days fewer than my earlier job. My dad prompt I negotiate for extra trip days—I hadn’t realized you might try this. On the Monday following, I responded over e-mail saying how appreciative I used to be of the wage however that I’d like 15 trip days a yr since that’s what I had at my earlier position. They stated they sometimes don’t try this on the firm, however they have been pleased to do it for me. It was the primary time I requested for one thing and obtained it, which felt good.
As an affiliate, I labored below an account supervisor and compiled media lists, researched angles for media pitches, drafted press releases and sat in on shopper calls to take notes and provides media relationship updates. After a couple of months, I began to guide small accounts on my own. I used to be the help particular person and the supervisor, creating methods and executing them. I continued to work largely with B2B tech purchasers, comparable to tech business associations, early-stage start-ups and neighborhood organizations.
Third full-time job wage: $50,000 in 2021 with a 2.5 per cent bonus as an affiliate at a tech PR agency
I had job alerts arrange on my LinkedIn as a result of I used to be inquisitive about what was on the market. I wasn’t searching for one other job on the time, however a gap for an affiliate position got here up at a tech PR firm that I admired. I utilized for the job, went via rounds of interviews and obtained a suggestion of $50,000 with a 2.5 per cent bonus if the corporate hit income targets.
Even although it was a pay minimize of $5,000 from my earlier position, the brand new company was larger and I’d have extra alternative to maneuver up the ladder rapidly. I didn’t negotiate any of the phrases as a result of again then I used to be nonetheless frightened that asking for extra would jeopardize the job provide. My tasks have been similar to my final place, besides I by no means led my very own accounts. I simply contributed to different accounts as a part of a group.
Next elevate: $5,000 in 2021 as a senior affiliate, bringing wage to $55,000
About 4 months into my position, the corporate provided me a brand new place. They stated I had been excelling and wished to place me in a senior affiliate position with a $5,000 elevate. I feel they valued me as an worker and wished me to develop within the firm. I had an amazing relationship with the corporate founders.
I didn’t negotiate the provide, which I now remorse. At that point, I used to be nonetheless within the mindset of regularly making an attempt to show my value and being too conservative, so I seemingly left cash on the desk. Today, I imagine that any time somebody provides you a brand new place, there’s all the time room for negotiation.
Related: How This HR Exec Doubled Her Salary Within a Year
Second elevate: $15,000 in 2022 as an account supervisor, bringing wage to $70,000
Throughout my time with this firm, I used to be very vocal about eager to be in a management position. My subsequent step could be changing into an account supervisor. I wished to get extra expertise with client-facing duties. I favored speaking to individuals and networking. I additionally noticed the worth of assembly with corporations, making connections and constructing my private model. My supervisor was very supportive and put me on a three-month motion plan with particular KPIs to hit, like getting a certain quantity of media protection monthly and attending business occasions.
I did analysis on Glassdoor and noticed that PR account managers have been getting between $70,000 to $90,000. I figured I’d nonetheless be junior in that position, so I made a decision that $70,000 was the quantity that I wished. I knew I used to be hireable and felt extra assured negotiating. Around this time, one other company in Vancouver reached out and wished to rent me at $90,000. I used to be a bit naive and felt loyal to the corporate I used to be with. I’d have felt dangerous for leaving. Plus, I actually did prefer it there and was studying lots.
I did use the job provide to my benefit, although. I made a decision to inform somebody that I trusted on the firm, who was in a VP position, about it. I didn’t know for sure that they’d get the knowledge again to the fitting individuals, however I I had a hunch they may.
My firm ended up providing me $62,000 for the promotion. When it got here time to barter, I instructed them I used to be actually appreciative of the brand new position and excited to continue to grow on the firm, however I wished to get nearer to $70,000 as a result of that quantity match with my worth and expertise.
I feel they have been stunned I countered immediately. They stated they must focus on it internally. They got here again the following day with the $70,000 that I requested for, which was actually validating.
As an account supervisor, I grew to become the purpose of contact for a shopper and managed their companies. I ran all of the shopper calls, set and despatched agendas, negotiated for extra price range and pitched new concepts to extend our companies. I additionally labored on technique and managed the group of coordinators and associates engaged on the account.
Current revenue: $205,000 as an unbiased PR guide
At the tip of 2022, somebody actually necessary to me handed away very immediately. It actually rocked me. I used to be doing a little soul looking out and my firm had an expert growth platform the place I might discuss to a profession coach, so I made a decision to benefit from that. She requested me: “Now that you’re a manager, what do you want to do next?” I knew I wished to progress and have extra accountability. I assumed it is likely to be time to go searching and see what different alternatives have been on the market. So I arrange informational interviews with individuals in roles that I used to be occupied with, like tech gross sales and in-house communications.
The third informational interview I had was with an unbiased tech PR guide to speak about what it might be like to begin my very own consulting business. She stated: “Your experience is perfect. I think you’re ready.” That was the push I wanted. The loss that I skilled that yr made me cease caring about being terrified of failure or what different individuals would assume. I assumed, “Life is short. I’m just going to do it.” A number of months earlier than I gave discover on the PR agency, I began constructing my business within the evenings and on the weekends by creating a web site, organising my incorporation and reserving my first business growth journey to Toronto. I gave my firm 4 weeks’ discover.
While I used to be constructing my business, I reached out to individuals in my community who have been additionally PR consultants. One of them instructed me he was in determined want of a subcontractor. He signed me on a retainer working three hours a day for $75 an hour, which quantities to about $6,000 a month. That was principally what I used to be incomes full-time in my final position earlier than tax. It was the right security web to begin off by myself. I used to be so excited concerning the potential for what I might do with this new alternative. Now I simply wanted to search out purchasers to fill the remainder of my time.
I introduced on LinkedIn that I used to be open to work and the referrals began coming in. That’s how I obtained my first shopper—an previous good friend who had a start-up and wanted to arrange an enormous announcement. It was my first time setting my charges so I requested different consultants what they sometimes charged and the way their hourly charges in comparison with a retainer. When calculating my quote, I included my estimated hours for every side of the mission. I landed on $5,000 for about 35 hours of labor.
Since then, I’ve taken on two common purchasers on month-to-month retainers that vary from $2,500 to $3,500 a month, relying on their wants. I’ve additionally elevated my hours and price for that first subcontractor position. It fluctuates primarily based on want. But every month I’m invoicing him between $10,000 and $13,000 for about 5 hours of labor per day. If the whole lot stays the identical with my retainer purchasers and that subcontractor work, I’ll earn $205,000 by the tip of yr. I really feel fortunate to be on this place, and happy with myself for going for it. It was excessive threat, excessive reward.
I’ve far more autonomy now. I get to select the purchasers I’m working with, and I get to do relationship-based gross sales and tackle discovery calls, which is one thing I wasn’t capable of do once I was working as an account supervisor. I get pleasure from leaning into these totally different elements of being a guide and seeing what occurs subsequent.
Best negotiation tip: Find sponsors, not simply mentors
A mentor is any person who’s prepared to offer you their time and recommendation. But a sponsor is any person who will put themselves on the road that can assist you get forward. My supervisor at my first full-time job on the content material advertising company was a sponsor—she taught me the right way to vouch for myself and ask for what I would like, and she or he launched me to connections that helped me get subsequent jobs. It was so useful early in my profession. Now, I attempt to pay it ahead and be a sponsor for individuals I work with.
