I just graduated on Monday with an MSW. I’m in the process of applying for my first real job, and after a month and a half of elimination rounds, I’m one of the few that’s left for consideration. The decision should be made by the end of month.
This job is pretty much everything I have ever wanted to do with my career and everything I have been preparing for. It combines my passion for immigrant health and labor rights with legislative advocacy and programming. It’s not a lock (it never is), but I think my chances of being offered the job are pretty high. I had an interview yesterday that went very well, both in terms of my ability to convey my strengths and the rapport with my prospective employers. I have hope.
At the interview yesterday, one of the board members informed me that salary and benefits were not yet determined, and that as a final step of the decisions process, they may invite the two or three contenders back to discuss compensation.
I am aware that social workers really don’t earn that much money, and I’m also aware that women are less likely to negotiate salary. Even though I hate negotiating about anything, I decided I was going to ask for what I’m actually worth. My plan for any job was to request the median income of graduates from my program, which is pretty high for an entry-level MSW, but it was a damn good MSW program and I don’t see why I should make less than my peers.
The job itself entails an enormous amount of responsibility - not just running but expanding a coalition of multiple organizations - so I don’t think what I want is unreasonable. It requires monthly out-of-state travel, weekend hours and frequent trips to D.C. It’s exactly the kind of job that can easily become your entire life, and I am completely willing to let it be so.
Problem is, I’m not sure they can afford to pay me that much. The organization to which I have applied is a tiny non-profit on a shoestring budget, and in truth I would be happy with far less than the average salary of my fellow graduates. The bare minimum I would need to maintain our current standard of living is about $15k less than what I want to ask, but I know that what I make now will set the tone for the rest of my life.
My greatest fear is that by asking for what I feel I’m actually worth, someone else will get the job I want. Is there a professional way to say ‘‘I want $X, but actually you could pay me in Girl Scout Cookies and I would still show up every day with a smile on my face’’? Would it basically invalidate my negotiating power? Or should I argue for my desired salary on the basis of my exceptional qualifications? (And candidly, I do, in all honesty, believe I am exceptionally qualified.)
I’m confused and want this job.
Thanks,
Christy