#JobMarket #JobOffer #SalaryNegotiation #JobSearch #CareerAdvice
So, you’ve just received an offer from a multi-billion dollar company for a job role you applied for, and the salary range they’ve presented is way below your expectations. You’re left wondering, “Is this the reality of the market right now or am I insane?” Let’s break this down and see what’s really going on in the job market.
First off, it’s important to acknowledge the value of your skill set and the experience you bring to the table. With years of experience as a Senior Manager in OffSec and a background in security engineering, your expertise is in high demand. It’s natural to have certain expectations when it comes to compensation for a job that requires a substantial amount of knowledge and responsibility.
When evaluating a job offer, it’s essential to consider various factors beyond just the salary range. This includes the benefits package, potential for career growth, work-life balance, and company culture. However, let’s focus on the salary negotiation aspect and address your concerns about the offer you’ve received.
Salary Expectations vs. Market Reality
Your salary expectations of $140k-$200k for the role you applied for were based on a fair assessment of your skills and industry standards. However, the recruiter’s response of $115k-$125k came as a surprise and raised doubts about the current state of the job market. So, let’s assess whether your expectations align with the market reality or if there are other factors at play.
Understanding Market Trends
With the constantly evolving job market, it’s crucial to stay informed about the latest trends in compensation and skill demand. The cybersecurity sector, in particular, has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats. Organizations are actively seeking professionals with expertise in security engineering, monitoring, incident response, and risk compliance, among other key areas.
Analyzing Your Expertise and Value
Considering your extensive experience and the comprehensive set of responsibilities listed for the role, it’s evident that the position requires a high level of expertise and leadership. Your current salary of $190k for a security mission and previous income of around $130k as a security engineer reflect the value you bring to the table. It’s important to recognize the tangible contributions you’ve made in your previous roles and how they align with the requirements of the new job opportunity.
Reflecting on Company Size and Financial Capacity
The fact that the job offer comes from a multi-billion dollar company suggests that they have the financial capacity to offer competitive compensation. Large companies often have robust resources and are willing to invest in top talent to drive their organizational goals. Considering this, it’s reasonable to expect a salary range that aligns with industry standards and reflects the value of your skills and experience.
Negotiating Your Worth
It’s clear that the initial offer from the company doesn’t accurately reflect the value you bring to the role. When it comes to negotiating your worth, it’s essential to approach the situation with confidence and a clear understanding of your market value. Remember, negotiation is a standard part of the job offer process, and employers are often open to discussions about compensation.
Here are some key steps to consider for effective salary negotiation:
Conduct a thorough market analysis: Research industry standards and salary benchmarks for your role and level of expertise. This will provide you with concrete data to support your negotiation.
Highlight your achievements and impact: Prepare a compelling case that showcases your contributions in previous roles and how they directly correlate with the responsibilities of the new position.
Communicate your expectations professionally: Approach the negotiation with a positive and professional demeanor, clearly articulating your expectations and the reasons behind them. Emphasize your commitment to the company’s success and how your expertise will drive positive outcomes.
Consider a holistic approach: If the initial offer falls short of your expectations, consider negotiating for additional benefits such as stock options, performance bonuses, flexible work arrangements, or professional development opportunities.
Seek professional guidance if needed: If you’re uncertain about the negotiation process or feel the need for support, consider seeking advice from a career coach, mentor, or professional in the HR or recruitment field.
It’s important to approach salary negotiations from a position of strength and confidence, backed by a clear understanding of your value in the job market. By taking proactive steps to address the disparity between the initial offer and your expectations, you can position yourself for a successful negotiation outcome that reflects your expertise and contributions.
In Conclusion
It’s not uncommon to encounter discrepancies between salary expectations and initial offers in the job market. When faced with such a situation, it’s crucial to evaluate the factors at play, assess your market value, and approach negotiation with a well-informed and confident mindset. Your expertise, skills, and experience hold significant value, and it’s important to ensure that you are fairly compensated for the contributions you bring to the table.
Remember, the job market is dynamic, and your worth is defined by the tangible impact you make in your role. Be bold, be informed, and advocate for your value in the negotiation process.
So, to answer your question – no, you’re not insane, and you’re certainly not out of touch. Your expectations are rooted in your expertise and market reality. It’s time to confidently navigate the negotiation process and secure a compensation package that reflects your true worth in the job market.
All the best in your negotiation journey, and may you achieve a successful outcome that aligns with your professional value and contributions. Happy negotiating!
Stay informed, stay confident, and keep driving your career forward.
#CareerGrowth #SalaryNegotiationTips #CyberSecurityExpertise #JobMarketRealities #ProfessionalValue
That’s awfully low. I made about 170 as an individual contributor at a no-name bank last year before jumping ship.
It’s a long list, but it really depends on what the actual role is.
It’s lots of orgs lower tier managers make less than higher tier engineers (even ones they manage) so if it’s primarily a manager role and less actual engineering and an average size team and actual scope, that’s probably on target.
You’re making what would normally be a directors salary. But not moving into a directors role based on the JD.
The salary would be a little low if all of that stuff is generally actually expected in a larger environment, but in a small shop where each of those is actually a lot of vendor mgmt or something similar or it’s just a generic JD with everything security listed (the company I work for does this because HR doesn’t want 10 JDs, which makes hiring hard for this exact reason) then it’s probably on target. Industry and location also matter.
These big banks do not pay technical talent as well as tech companies.Â
In my experience, the large US banks are not the most stellar paying places to work in finance, even at the VP/SVP IC level in a specialized area, I think I topped out at around $155k base and something like a $10k bonus in NYC at the Band 4/SVP level. I had a much better comp adjustment by going to something else in the finance industry, but that wasn’t actually a bank.
Yeah, that’s a pretty good position and a pretty fair price, especially as a starting
They low balling you. If they want you to manage and work. If you just an engineer, maybe that’s acceptable
The compensation seems fair for what is essentially a scan monkey and clerical security role with a little leadership sprinkled in. There’s no deep technical domain expertise required for this.
Obviously the market is ridiculous right. So I’m not asking to be rude or inappropriate.
What are your creds?
Relevant degrees, certifications,
I do less for $182k. They are lowballing you
This is for a large financial institution? If it’s a bank, I’m actually surprised this is one role. Usually GRC would be a separate first line team within Cyber, especially at a bank, where Cyber Audit and Compliance is crucial due to regulations. Same with Incident Response.
Someone will take it.
Unfortunately this is where we are today go back there or two years ago and h it’s a different story
Whats the role title and market salary for it? IF you highly paid now why do you want to leave? Seems kind of low for what sounds like a cybersec manager