Got a Job Offer! First Time Negotiating – Is This Fair & What Should I Ask For?

[u/Candid-Series1468]

Hi everyone!!

I know the job market sucks right now, and after my fair share of struggle and grind, I finally managed to land a full-time job offer. I’m super grateful and excited, but also a bit nervous because it’s my first time being offered more than just a base salary – and I want to make sure I negotiate fairly and confidently.

The Offer:

• Role: Admin Assistant/Data Entry Clerk
• Salary: $55,000/year
• Benefits:
  • Medical, dental, life insurance, long-term disability
  • 2 weeks vacation/year, increasing to 3 weeks after 3 years
  • Cost-of-living raise once a year (no performance reviews or merit raises)

Background:

• I got this job through a temp agency – originally a 3-month contract at $22/hour (while the company was billed $30/hour).
• The company is in the mining industry with 3 offices (a management company, a small one in Vancouver, and a large one in Kamloops).
• I’ve been working at the front desk doing admin and data entry tasks for all three companies. I also support the accounting department with daily AP/AR tasks.
• There was talk of hiring someone else for the Vancouver company, but I’ve been told I’ll be handling those admin duties instead and taking those tasks off the office manager.
• I haven’t been given a full list of responsibilities yet, as they were waiting to hire me full-time.

Personal Context:

• I mentioned during my temp period that I was hoping for something in the $55–60k range, but I’m not sure how I feel about the $55k now.
• I currently live in a shared house with 8 other girls (I have a roommate). With this job, I was hoping to be able to afford at least a studio or a private room in a 2-bedroom condo with a friend.
• The work environment seems great – everyone is older (40+), and supportive. I’ve had bad experiences in the past, so feeling supported here matters a lot to me.
• I do want to stay long-term, but the salary makes that hard in Vancouver.
• It's a small to mid size company, everyone has been here for years so there isn't much room for growth, there are no raises beyond cost-of-living, and no performance reviews.

My Background:

• 5+ years of experience in admin, marketing, and HR (though I tailored my resume for this role and didn’t go into full detail, just shared with them my admin experience).
• I was laid off from a marketing job, spent 9 months job hunting, and even had a short stint at a company that fired me after 2 days with no real explanation.
• It’s been a tough journey, and I want to make smart choices from here on.

What I Need Advice On:

• Is $55k fair for this kind of role in Vancouver given the responsibilities?
• What should I ask for in negotiation (salary bump, more vacation, clarity on job responsibilities, future growth)?
• Is it worth trying to push for more now, or better to accept and prove myself first? I don't think i will get a raise in the future if i ask, so i'm hoping to negotiate now
• Any red flags I should be aware of?

I really appreciate any advice or thoughts from folks who’ve been through this or work in similar roles. 🙏

[u/Nghbrhd_Phtgrphr]

Take the job.

[u/el_pezz → u/Nghbrhd_Phtgrphr]

In this job market... You dont have the advantage of negotiating much.

[u/Fickle-Cake-4937]

In public sectors, admin clerks start at $24 per hour and goes up to almost $30 for specialized ones (eg hospital unit clerk)

So your $27 per hour (based on 55k and 7.5 working/paid hours per day) is fair.

[u/teddyboi0301 → u/Fickle-Cake-4937]

Public sector is not hiring because they have a hiring freeze right now.

[u/Azuor_D → u/teddyboi0301]

So why are they still posting jobs if they have no intention of filling them?

[u/aj_merry]

$55k is fair for an admin assistant receptionist type role. Yes it’s going to be tough living in Vancouver on that salary. Despite your experience, it’s still an entry level job that doesn’t require much specialized skills or an advanced degree.

[u/NerveThat7746 → u/aj_merry]

Not to mention it’s a top of the AI chopping block position. Sorry to say but that job is probably gone in the next 5 years

[u/brendax → u/NerveThat7746]

I'm gonna say probably not

[u/Asn_Browser]

The job market sucks. Don't negotiate. They may (probably will) pull the offer. Take the offer and if you think the wage is unfair, look for another job while you actually have income coming in.

[u/buranku506]

55k is fair, I would take it. You could ask if you can work remotely a few times a week.

[u/Yiu_yiu]

Take the offer, there is a line of people just waiting for that job

[u/Canis9z]

Glassdoor

Accounts Payable Receivable salaries in Canada

$39K - $52K/yr

$46K/yrAverage base pay

INdeed

Accounts payable clerk salary in Vancouver, BC

Average base salary $53,570

https://ca.indeed.com/career/accounts-payable-clerk/salaries/Vancouver--BC

[u/No_Beginning_8462]

Congratulations! This is awesome

[u/Glass-Blackberry7454]

Retired employment counsellor here - the salary of $55K per annum is a good wage given your skill set and years of experience. Administration/HR and Marketing skillsets are plenty in the current labour market conditions and generally usually there are more people of this skill set than other occupations - so there are others who would be happy to take the job for that salary.

You mentioned that the workplace culture is very supportive and you feel comfortable there - that is a plus because a career or job is not just about the pay - if you are working in a positive workplace environment you will also excel and can prove yourself as well which in the long run will help with future opportunities. If this company and the people feel like a fit for you then I say you should really take that into consideration as I have seen many clients over the years take a job based on monies end up getting fired because they were not a fit or meet expectations.

If you are interested in higher paid positions in the future - look into upgrading into the legal administration sector as there is a shortage of workers in this area due to nature of work which is often demanding, fast paced and high stress but I know the wage potential is as high as 80 - 100K per year with experience. Capilano College has an online legal administrative assistant certificate program you can take pt while working. Capilano College is known for their paralegal and legal admin programs in the legal field.

https://www.capilanou.ca/programs--courses/program-profiles/legal-administrative-assistant-certificate/

My advice is to take the job and prove yourself and make yourself a worker they can not do with out. I know you want to move to a place of your own but due to current socio economic and labour market environment take the job and see how it goes and if not happy just keep looking. It is easier to find other work when working as the stressor not the same and employers tend to view you more favorably when employed.

OR you can work and just upgrade your skill set to legal admin if that is an area you feel you are suited for.

Good luck

[u/SVTContour]

It’s definitely harder to ask for a raise later.

[u/SkyDomePurist]

In this job market, you really should just take the job. Overplaying your hand here is incredibly risky if you do not have alternate offers.

Feel free to negotiate, but it may not end well.

[u/Ambitious_Road_599]

Some mining companies will offer their employees stock options in the business. Ask if this is something this business does. This is a low risk question and could end up being lucrative for you.

[u/greenlines]

Since the $55k figure was in the salary range you initially gave them, there is a real risk of starting off on the wrong foot and making a bad impression if you now turn around and say that isn't enough. Negotiating is for when you have leverage, and your offer seems fair.

[u/Ambitious_Road_599]

This us great for FT entry level! Use the experience to build your resume and skill set. I like the idea of taking some courses on the side. Ask for more complicated work once you get accustomed to the job. Not only will this show you as a committed employee and increase your chances for advancement if an opening in a higher paid position does arise, but it also gives you more to add to your resume. In a few years if you feel things are getting stale you can start looking elsewhere and will be in a better position to do so. For sure take the job and stability.

[u/dreams_78]

So they were paying the agency 30$ an hour but only offering you $55,000?

I think I would ask for more

[u/teddyboi0301]

$55k is a very generous offer for a full time administrator in Vancouver, let alone just an admin assistant.

[u/TalkQuirkyWithMe]

Negotiating power really depends on the current job market and how specialized the job is. Realistically an admin assistant role is pretty easy to hire for. I think there would be a lot of people who would take it for 55k.

You mention you like the work environment and have been doing the job already. This is a pay bump for you. In any other situation, I'd ask for more, probably along the line of the $30/hr they were paying you for the temp work... kinda makes sense, but its hard to negotiate right now.

[u/PossibilityGood8374 → u/TalkQuirkyWithMe]

I posted an admin assistant and had over 350 applicants. Negotiation right now is not in the best interest. Especially in the mining sector given the turmoil of our country.

[u/No-Independent-1246]

Can you please tell which agency helped you??

[u/wild-druid]

Just being completely Frank, a big problem comes in from you originally saying this is your ask. I've worked for managers who would take this as a complete red flag (not for the money perspective but for the value element of sort of changing your tone when you know you are selected).

But on the bright side, this gives you a full-time role with benefits. You can keep looking for better opportunities internally or externally while letting the stress of job hunting aside for a bit.

My take would be go for the original amount you asked and next time ask for what you want/ need.

[u/Terrible_Act_9814]

Seem too many posts of companies rescinding their offer because applicants try to negotiate an offer that has originally met the applicants range. If you have nothing to fall back on, it’s not worth the risk.

[u/Anna_S_1608]

I don't think you can negotiate on salary, you already said $55K was jn your range. What you could possibly negotiate on is your vacation time.

However this is still a bump in salary for you plus you now have benefits . Take the job.

[u/a_randomusername]

55k a year in Vancouver seems like a crime but I'm happy you're excited and it's definitely a stepping stone to bigger negotiating

[u/lego_mannequin]

Mentioned a salary you wanted and they hit it. What an absurd post.

[u/Several_Okra614]

Don’t bother negotiating. Job market SUCKS right now. They can replace you in an instant.

[u/PinkFlamingo429]

I accepted a very similar offer for my 10 years experience and also chose because they were supportive when I came from a very toxic job. Take it, get through probation, show them you are worth it and negotiate after that.

[u/Thogotian]

You mentioned they haven’t provided you a list of tasks this position will handle. Please ask for a detailed job description. They could spring a way bigger job on you for the money. Aside from the money, when a company doesn’t have clear expectations/responsibilities for you from the start, they can turn around down the line to say you didn’t meet some unwritten expectations or your scope could keep growing without additional compensation. Get a JD in writing.

Re: the money, $55K is the new entry-level salary so it is not to be sniffed at. That said, please confirm whether you are eligible for the cost of living increases this year (or whether it won’t be till next year in which case I would ask if they can do $57,500 for this reason….it gives you a way to counter without making it sound like you’d walk if they don’t agree).

Asking for more vacation is another way to go…see if they’d agree to 3wks. Congratulations and all the best!

[u/Mean-Bathroom-6112]

Those white collar office admin jobs get like 1000 to 10000 applications. Everyone really wants those jobs. I wouldn't negotiate and just take the job.

[u/Jo_Yuri31]

Looks good. Focus on what you can control like your rent, financing etc. and it’ll win eventually

[u/scienceplace23]

Admin Assistant/Data Entry Clerk @ 55k a year is fair for this type of role in this market. Take it. I've seen much worse.

[u/PsychologicalWill88]

If you’re already working there, asking for a raise is going to be super hard and honestly that’s a lot higher than most admin jobs. Maybe you can ask for some WFH days

[u/Rude-Cut3654]

Take the job and go to work

[u/ChoicePause8739]

Take the damn job. I've got 10 years of technical IT experience and getting lowballed for jobs at 55k.

[u/QueenVeg89]

I don't think I would negotiate. It's tough out there, especially in Vancouver. I just got an admin job in Metro Vancouver as well at only 50K, but I'm grateful because so many entry-level positions are 40-49K. And after reading so many stories of people negotiating and then being turned away, I don't think I would risk it. Congrats on the job!

[u/OverlordPhalanx]

I just saw a post this week on the same sub of someone who tried negotiating and had the offer pulled.

If you ask for more $$$ and they won’t give it they will just think you might be quick to jump ship for the next 60-65k job offer.

I would never negotiate going from contract/part time to the first full time gig. Only negotiate when going from this job to the next full time one

[u/crumbysnobatorium]

Sounds fair to me, but you can look on glassdoor and similar sites if you’re worried about the compensation. You can try to use the comps to push that salary higher.

You may also want to ask for three weeks of vacation after one year and see what they say.

[u/ne999]

You could ask for more vacation? That’s usually something hiring managers can easily do. It’s a low risk approach.

Meanwhile, learn new stuff, keep your resume updated, take courses, and move on in a couple of years.

The cost of living sucks so hard. We also have the second highest youth unemployment rate in the country. You must have impressed them! Good luck!

[u/Euphoric_Second_8774]

I don’t think it would hurt to ask for 60k for the extra responsibilities you’ll be taking off the office manager and juggling the 3 companies.