Melbourne-bound PR girl

Hi there! I'm very lucky to have just been offered a job in a PR Agency in Melbourne, however I have some concerns reagarding the salary. I've been offered $80,000 (before superannuation, tax etc) for an Account Director position. Some friends of mine living and working in PR in Melbourne have advised that this is on the low side and that Acc Directors tend to earn between 90,000-120,000.
I understand that, despite having great UK experience, I'm new to the Oz media and marketplace therefore I can't expect the same starting salary as my Oz counterparts, however I don't want to be out of pocket in Melbourne - I want to be able to afford the lifestyle I'm moving out for.
My current salary in the UK is £36,000 and when applying the 2.5 rule, it works out at $90,000 in Aus. I tried to negotiate with my potential employer on this basis, but she declined.
So my question is this: is $80,000 a reasonable salary for a single girl living in Melbourne - and will it afford me a good lifestyle? What would my take-home pay be on this salary? Or shall I hold out for another position that would offer a better salary? This is the first Oz job I've been offered so I'm not sure what to do!
Many thanks in advance for your help.... x

abi31

Will you get any commissions/bonuses on top of the $80k basic?

Melbourne-bound PR girl

Hey- no, I won't. And in fact my salaryis only $73k after superannuation....

Hebe

You could live on it for sure. However I asked my hubbie and he agrees that this is on the low side. Account director just managing accounts about $100k to $120 and a Snr AD managing acc and bringing in new business about $150k.

He says in this field of work being new to Melbourne shouldn't make any difference to the salary. However jobs at the moment can be difficult to come by!

abi31

I would normally be very wary about telling people whether their Aus salary is 'sufficient' or 'a lot' or whatever cos it's so dependent on what they are capable of living on and what they want to get out of the trip to Oz.

However, that being said... $73k is not a lot if you are used to living on £36k in the UK.

It will be even less if you're single/no kids and you're hoping to be based quite centrally and go out a lot socialising etc.

To help you see why - NAE in UK is around £30k; NAE in Oz is $75k and it would seem that many costs are broadly comparable to that ratio, give or take.

Also, I don't think you mentioned what type of visa you're on but if it's 457 you'll need to bear the large private health insurance costs into account.

But if it's not 457 you would be in a good position (better than most) securing a job before you go - and as you said you may have to start at the bottom to gain the necessary local experience - so if this is the case can you sub your cost of living for say 12 months out of savings and then be looking for one of those $90-120k jobs once you have that experience? (Aussies are very hot on having local experience and qualifications)

Hebe

My OH says that local experience doesn't count as much in this industry. They regularly headhunt from o/s for Ad jobs and in fact UK experience is quite sought after.

Bermudashorts

You seem to have done your homework and know your worth, don't be fobbed off by this local experience chestnut or let anyone tell you that you should work for less than people around you doing same job.

The rule of thumb you mention is not a precise 2.5 figure but more of a range, I think that the salary you have been offered will make you feel a little worse off financially, but not materially so.

But you have tried to negotiate and they won't budge, perhaps the company are just low payers, it happens. So you need to decide if you are willing to compromise for sake of a visa. Whilst your visa will restrict you, if there are no other job opportunities on the horizon at the moment, perhaps you go for this one and then once here something better comes up through contacts?

Chortlepuss

Sounds like a very low salary for Melbourne - You'll survive but you won't be flush. You will probably have to manage your expectations re: standard of rental property, and you won't be going out much. Travelling will probably be out of scope on that salary too (unless you're happy in a tent/backpackers)
If they are sponsoring you for a permanent visa, or you're coming over on PR, then it will be great to have any job lined up. If you're coming over on 457, you will be tied to that employer, and they'll have you over a barrel unless you can secure sponsorship from someone else. Could you get a career break from your current employer?

Beoz

Personally I'd decline, based on your research your position is worth more elsewhere, but then again I have a passport so I can come and go as I please. Perhaps you may be willing to sacrifice a below par salary for the chance to live and work in Oz. I know my employers try the "you get to live in Oz" card when bringing in foreigners, especially with people from Asia.

They tried it with me on a below par salary. I just declined the job offer and before I knew it they came back with something that was acceptable. It's a bit like a game of blackjack.

Melbourne-bound PR girl

Hi all. Thank you so much for your comments and feed-back; I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out with my quandary!
I have declined the job offer. It was a tough decision to make but I want my move to Oz to be a career decision as well as a lifestyle decision, and there's no point moving to Melbourne if I can't afford the lifestyle!
I will continue to pursue a career in Melbourne so hopefully I will report back with some good news soon.
Take care for now everyone! x

spuddyo

Sometimes it's worth taking a lower offer to get a foot in the door. Once you're in, you can start looking for a something better, or prove to them that you are worth more and work towards a pay rise. I guess it all depends how many offers are on the table.

MsGiraffe

Hi there,

I am in the PR industry too although at an officer level. It would be interesting to hear from others what the best agencies are to approach in the PR industry and at which level opportunities start to arise (how many years' industry experience, positions for which they recruit for abroad, etc.). Also, are CIPR qualifications broadly sought after in the Australian job marketplace? Thank you!
To the original poster: I think I would have taken the position offered, unless you have strong reasons to stay in the UK a while longer. At least you would have had a foot in the door of your chosen industry. Hopefully you will find something suitable soon!

LeeWillo

I was offered a job from the UK which was 50% less than the job I got offered two months later, and the new job had a much better relocation package. Stick it out, if you keep trying and persist you will get the market rate. Good luck.