Advice please: New Desk Compensation
Seeking Advice: New Desk Compensation
Hi everyone, I’m looking for your insights on a situation I’m currently navigating.
I’ve been given the opportunity to establish a new cold desk in Life Sciences starting in October after I expressed my interest in this area.
Since joining this recruitment agency in April, which focuses on Healthcare, I’ve billed over £33k from five deals, three of which were just last month. I’m currently averaging an additional £1,000 per month in commission, and I anticipate further improvement. I also bring about two years of recruitment experience to the table.
However, transitioning to a new desk means stepping away from this reliable commission stream, and I understand it may take six months—or longer—to close my first deal, with a consistent profit likely taking 12 to 18 months. This change presents a significant risk as I’ll be starting from the ground up in a new sector.
A sales manager I know suggested that I negotiate for an additional £1,000/month for the first six months to help offset the commission I’ll be relinquishing while I establish the new desk.
My questions are:
- Is this a reasonable request to make?
- If not, what alternatives could I consider?
- Am I justified in seeking compensation for this transition, or should I embrace the change at my current rate?
Thanks in advance for your valuable advice!