[OnmywaytoCPA]

Hi Ninja Fam, I recently accepted a position that was in the middle of the salary range that I asked for. I have not started yet but while I am wrapping up my final weeks with my current employer, I cannot help but start to feel that I was robbed. After doing some digging, I think that they could have offered me more and that I should have pushed back for more. I think that I was too excited or eager to make the move that I did not completely think it through. And I did not ask the right questions regarding benefits. The company does not have a 401k match, life insurance or short-term disability. I got a 10% salary increase but around half of that will go to me funding an IRA, purchasing life insurance, and purchasing a short-term disability plan. My wife was super excited as well because it is 100% remote and she hates the job that I’m resigning from. She keeps saying that I think too much and that if I am making anything above my current position and I get to be home with her and the kids that it is a win win situation. I guess over these last couple of weeks, my brain just has been going nonstop.

REG - 74, Retook 6/10/16, scored a 72 (Hate this exam)
BEC - 69, 79, 8/1/15
AUD - 83, 4/4/15
FAR - 77, 2/27/16

[Jodie]

Do not feel so down yourself, OnmywaytoCPA, no one ask you to stay on the new job forever. After the Pandemic fading away, you can start looking for another one in the future. but at least right now, you don't have to risk being in the office, being outside with lots of people. and you save on transportation cost by working from home.

[Recked]

You committed to it, so I would probably keep your word.
But for future reference, always try to negotiate salary, they will always try to offer you less with room to go up if needed.
Sometimes getting your foot in the door is the hardest step. Now you need to work hard, prove your worth to the firm, and aggressively pursue raises. I assume your 6 month review will be right after tax season when the firm should be flush with cash, so make sure you ask about a 6 month review. A nice way to say you want a bonus or raise. If there is no 6 month review be sure to ask about a yearly review.
If they offer a small raise or no raise, be sure to come prepared with documentation to show your value to the firm. Here is what I billed out, here is how much you paid me, here is how much money you made off of my work.
Your value is not in filling the role/seat, your value comes directly from your billable hours and the work you can perform. Chase the money, make the money. Stay on the grind and you will become a valuable asset to the firm that they can't afford to lose.

[AGI]

Look, no wife = no life. You wanna life = get a new job. Else your wife will say goodbye (or complain 1 million times).

You got 5% from this new job, no commute, save your lunch money, wife's wonderful cooking, extra 2 hours on the bed (instead of the car / train), heather life, and now officially a part-time daycare worker (if applied).

You know how many people in US now wants to be able to work from home? Nice sofa / desk / chair. Plenty of food. Don't have to dress (and wear a mask)? And they got to figure out how to work their job out and remote learning for the kids? Plus in danger of getting COVID and die (or their love ones die).

Be happy. The biggest life, health, and retirement insurance you bought yourself is STAY HOME.

New York - NYC
Passed CPA Exam (11/2014)
In search for a position in NYC that will fulfills the license requirement.

[Mike]

I think your feeling is common for people early in their career but if you accepted the role it’s important to follow through. Your in a career where dependability and trust are vital. If you told them how much you wanted to make and they gave it to you, then you lowballed yourself. No one is going to give you what you didn’t ask for unless they have a super rigid pay structure.

Try not to dwell on it, these are the kinda things that eat away at people. You made a mistake in not asking for more and now you have to live with it for a year. Now just don’t sell yourself short again when it comes time to negotiate your raise.

[OnmywaytoCPA]

Thanks for all of the comments. I appreciate everyone's advice. @JFKGY, you really hit the nail on the head. Before I accepted this position, I was really dissatisfied with my current position even though it paid a decent salary. I have around 16 years of experience and I kept telling myself for the last 12 months that the next position I get, I want a 20% increase in salary given my experience level. By the time this offer actually came, I didn't ask for that 20% increase because I had read reviews on Glassdoor about the company and their pay structure, and thought that if asked for too much, they would go with another candidate especially since there are a lot of people unemployed due to COVID-19. And I didn't want to pass it up because it is my dream job. Over the last few weeks, I guess I let a negative thought hit my mind and I let it fester and I started to feel like maybe I didn't fight hard enough to get more money but as all of you have stated and as my wife has been trying to tell me for the last few weeks, you got the job you wanted at a decent salary and you are up for a performance review on July 1st to determine if get a raise, so at this point, I need to stop thinking negatively and start being grateful that I got the job and that I'm leaving my current employer.

REG - 74, Retook 6/10/16, scored a 72 (Hate this exam)
BEC - 69, 79, 8/1/15
AUD - 83, 4/4/15
FAR - 77, 2/27/16

[AGI]

@OnmywaytoCPA
If you go through my post history you will see how much I complained about my failure life. I thought I have every excuse to complain until my sister who is front line responder gave up her three weeks vacation in May to battle covid and slept in the hotel with no refrigerator or kitchen.

If you still feel being down, just remember you will have many more chances during and after COVID, because a lot of people reaching retirement age or other reasons left the place, all you need to do is stay alive.

You should also think about your pensions. Remember, your wife gets a share if you guys have been married for “awhile” regardless of marriage status. You should also make sure you babysit the kid that might be the best bet as your retirement security.

If you have enough money to get yourself a nice place, food, and stay-home entrainment that's good enough. Afterall, all you are doing is bed-sofa-kitchen-bathroom. Stay home life is very simple. I'm sure you will enjoy waking up 2 min before meetings, pajamas all day, and cats tail Zoom meeting.

New York - NYC
Passed CPA Exam (11/2014)
In search for a position in NYC that will fulfills the license requirement.

[Author]

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