I’m 26 and I work in the film/TV industry at a mid-sized management firm (for my Bojack fans out there, I have something really similar to Princess Caroline’s job). I’ve been at this current company of mine for about 10 months now. This is my first job back in the industry post-COVID. I was at my first job out of college for about a year and a half before they folded mid-pandemic. I love my direct bosses and all but the HR at my company is fucked beyond repair. Around 4 months in I realized how grossly underpaid I was in comparison to others with my same title at competing firms. I’m at least $25k underpaid as it stands. When I got this job last slring I was getting desperate to get back in the industry, but I was also really excited for the opportunity as I love working with my direct superiors and their clients. Plus I was coming off a part-time minimum wage gig I got just to survive the pandemic, so I guess the salary didn’t shock me as much as it does now. It sucks because I love everything about this job outside of my pay, and while I’m passionate about what I do I can’t justify how little I’m making here. I tried asking for a COL adjustment as my rent has skyrocketed but I was given the “you should be grateful to have a job in this industry after all we’ve been through the past two years” song and dance by HR. My superiors agree that I should at LEAST get an adjustment that covers my new rent, but HR holds the final say and they won’t budge. I’m barely making it through the month with what I’m earning now and it feels so pathetic when my friends doing the exact same thing as me at other companies can afford to live alone and eat 3x a day (I know I’m asking for a lot here )
I’m just making this to vent I suppose. This industry is so dummy small that I worry jumping ship after 10 months is an awful look. I worry I’ll get the “why are you leaving this company so soon?” question in future interviews and I don’t have a professional way of saying I’m grossly underpaid. I know the more I think about it the more I’m leaning towards fucking off and going to a competitor, but I’m also really comfortable with my work outside of the pay and feel like my opportunities for growth are much limited elsewhere (it’s been hinted I’m on track for a promotion by end of year, allegedly). If any of you have experience in the labor hell that is the entertainment industry and can offer any advice / words of affirmation I would really appreciate it. Or just yell at me until I grow some balls and start sending my resume out. Dealer’s choice!