This is for the professionals..

[unknown_epiphany]

Hello all,

I am a brand spanking new member and I have a question for all of you.
I am currently working at a home improvement store ( one of the chains and my color is not orange) and I just recently applied to a graphic design business. Their whole aim is to make advertisements for their auto sales division.

I know this is a silly request and they asked me what my salary requirements are. The thing is, I do not know how to properly word this sentence into my cover letter. I would expect to be paid between * dollars an hour. This has been stated as their base pay, but i do not know how to word it.

Thanks again for all of your help and I really like what this forum is all about.

PS I already emailed them earlier when I applied with my salary is negotiable. So that will not work.

[Danger_Mouse]

Are you brand spanking new to the graphic design industry?

I have in the past flatly stated it at the end of my cover letter, but never until you are basically offered the job. Something like this....

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely;
Joe Blow
Graphic Designer
(contact info)

Salary Expectations: $*/hr (although I would put in annually not hourly)


If the cover letter is a direct response regarding the salary expectations maybe something along the lines of ....

Per your request, an acceptable salary range for this position, based on the job description and taking into account my own experience is $* per hour ( I would state this as an annual salary rather than hourly). My requirement is flexible and negotiable, depending on such factors as additional benefits, faster salary reviews, and increased advancement opportunities.

It's not like freelance work where you are quoting someone on a job. I got the above sample from a resume writing link through google. Google "sample cover letter with salary expectations" and tons of stuff will pop up. Use one to suite your own personality and situation.

Hope that helps out a bit.

[unknown_epiphany]

Danger Mouse thanks for that answer. That is exactly what i needed to see. I am pretty spanking new to graphic design. I only have like a year experience and received a associates degree in it. Do you have a website where i can view your art?

[Danger_Mouse]

You are going to laugh, but I don't have a website. I just recently bought my first computer ever for that very reason. Why is that funny? Because I have been in the industry for ten years and never owned a computer. Its like a Construction worker without his hammer. I just keep using work hammers. heh heh.

I plan on in the next year creating a website with new illustrations, designs etc.

I sent my portfolio via PDF in the past. If you want to see a piece I did go to the SHOWCASE threads in this forum.

One called VECTOR TRACING is a sample of my work in illustrator. Another thread in the same location titled WEBSITE LOGO (both very recent).

Goodluck on the salary thing!

[cjoe]

when discussing pricing, don't use real figures, use x or *

[unknown_epiphany]

Sorry my mistake.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

I found "...according to your company scale" works, and increases the chances of them taking a glance at your CV.

Also, it's rather cheap to include payment expectations in your cover letter. That should be discussed in the interview. Just my 20 cents.

[Danger_Mouse]

It may be cheap or what have you but they did request that from him.

when discussing pricing, don't use real figures, use x or *

How does this help? I mean they have requested a number from him. It will just lead them back to asking again, maybe more irritated. Maybe I am not getting what you mean by that.

[captain spanky]

i think he meant just on the site... we don't talk aboot money here :D it depresses people ;)

[Danger_Mouse]

ah yes, didn't read it that way. Makes sense now.

[morea]

there are some legal issues in the US with members of a profession discuss pricing together, and since this is a US based board, we have to be careful.

[captain spanky]

really? wow.. thats, well, pretty crazy really..
i'm starting to think that the amount of issues with the law in the US, is sending the country backward!

[Danger_Mouse]

Really? Seems ridiculous, I wonder if it's the same for Canada.

So.....let me get this straight....if I am making XXX dollars per year....am I in the porn industry?

[morea]

I don't know. What sort of music do you have on at the office? Does t sound like this?

"chicka chicka BOW bow"

[Danger_Mouse]

(listens intently)

I hear the chicka chicka....no bowr bowr. Dam!