Recruiters work on commission. It’s a known fact. We are here to get you the most $$$ possible… the salary that you deserve to make. Why? Because we are kind-hearted people that like to see others succeed. Very true. But also because your success inevitably means my success. I will do everything I can to land you a new gig while simultaneously getting you a hefty salary increase.

That being said, I implore you to have realistic expectations when discussing your desired salary with a TZ recruiter. Oftentimes, I speak with candidates who have completely impractical and sometimes utterly ridiculous salary requirements. Here are a few examples of responses that I’ve gotten lately to the salary question:

“I am currently an Account Sup making $70k and I’m miserable in my job. I’m looking for a similar position, but really need 6 figures to make a move.”

“I just got fired from my last job as a Media Director, so I don’t really have a salary. I’ll only look at positions that are paying upwards of $150k plus profit sharing. Don’t bother telling me about opportunities that don’t meet my specifications.”

“My advertising experience includes a 4 month internship and my major in college was advertising. I’m looking for an entry-level Media position in Kansas City with a minimum salary of $65k.”

Okay, I fully understand that we all want to make enough money to have a comfortable lifestyle and do the things we enjoy, but let’s be somewhat realistic. We are recruiters, not miracle workers. I can often get you a pretty sweet salary increase, but it will most likely not be more than your new boss is making. The fact of the matter is that agencies care a lot about budget and internal equity—they cannot pay you significantly more than they pay someone in a similar position.

If you really want to know what you’re worth, check out the salary monitor on the TZ website. It will give you accurate and up-to-date info on what you should be making in your current advertising position.

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