How to negotiate a pay rise in your creative role

 Creativity is not something you can learn from books.

You can’t simply spend a few hours studying and instinctively know how to be more innovative.  

Someone can spend days reading texts on problem-solving and artistry alike, but still: creativity is inherent to our nature and, quite simply, is often something we are born with.

Although we certainly can look to the world around us for inspiration, ideas can be as fickle as sleep. Either they come, or they don’t. 

The Demand for Creativity  

Businesses are desperate for talent with the ability to be creative right now and, if that’s you, you’re in a wonderful place to:

1. Negotiate your salary.
2. Climb up the career ladder.
3. Prepare to move on to the next opportunity that awaits you. 

Why? 

Creativity has become the backbone of advertising and marketing. It’s the heartbeat of entrepreneurs in the digital and technology spaces, where one new idea after the next is driving exponential sector growth.  

The industry is contributing nearly £13 million to the UK economy every single hour – from copywriters meticulously typing article after article to graphic designers producing the adverts that businesses use to grow. Creative staff are essential to every single growing company, and, as a result, average sector salaries have seen a massive surge to a national average of £36,289 across all roles.  

Negotiating for A Pay Rise in Your Creative Role 

With so many opportunities out there and such high demand across a range of sectors, creative talent have a choice to make between seizing the candidate-driven market and letting career advancement pass them by.  

Step 1: Do Your Research 

Depending on what role you are currently in, it’s imperative you take the time to research up-to-date average salaries. 

Use Glassdoor, Payscale, and our Salary Survey 2022 to compare rates and calculate what your earning power is (which can depend on experience). Once you’re confident about the pay grade you want to move to, consider your options. 

• Do you want to stay at the company you are working at? 
• Is a generous benefits package enough to subsidise a slightly lower salary? 

• What are your priorities for an employer: competitive earning or great company culture? 

Step 2: Request A Pay Review 

After deciding on whether to continue advancing your career path with the current employer you are with, reach out to your boss to request a pay review.  

Be clear and concise with your request, and don’t hesitate to mention what the meeting is for.

Remember, being secretive about your desire for a higher salary can blindside managers and not give them the chance to assess budgets before meeting with you. 

Step 3: Prepare Your Evidence 

When you have your meeting scheduled, start compiling any evidence required to convince leadership that you deserve a higher salary.  This should include:

• research on average salaries in your job position 

• what you’ve specifically contributed to the company over the years 
• the work you do and your future career goals 
• examples of the times you have gone above and beyond work expectations 
• the rate you want to move to 

In general, it’s better to first ask for a higher salary than you’d actually be willing to accept (adding a “safety barrier”) – as many companies will negotiate with you.  

Step 4: Deliver Your Presentation 

The final, and most important, step to achieving a pay rise is delivering your presentation.  

Be confident.  

Remind yourself that you deserve a pay rise but enter the meeting with an open mindset, ready to take questions.  

Remain polite, and you should be pleased with the response. 

Step 5: Enjoy Your Pay Rise or Begin Job Hunting 

If your manager is unwilling to listen and negotiate with you about your requirements, then this is a huge warning sign about the importance they place on you as their staff member.  

In this event, consider renewing your initial research and begin to hunt for new opportunities elsewhere – somewhere that will be more willing to provide you with an industry-suitable salary.  

To land a position with an engaging company culture that rewards you as you deserve, reach out to specialist creative recruiters Ross Clifford & Associates.