First hire in a new international market – Living costs covered, but only 25% hike vs my 75% ask. Fair deal?
Hey everyone, I need some practical advice on an international role that looks solid on paper but still feels like a big decision.
I’m a Tech Sales Engineer based in India. A company wants me to relocate to another country and be the first person on the ground to build their business from scratch.
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The Compensation Situation
I asked for a 75% hike on my current salary
They are offering a 25% hike
I’m willing to settle around 50% if the overall structure is fair
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What They Are Covering
Visa
International travel
Initial relocation/setup
Accommodation (rent covered)
Basic daily living expenses covered
Health insurance (spouse/kids covered; I’m unmarried)
Parents can be added, but at my own cost
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What This Means Practically
Since:
Rent is covered
Daily expenses are covered
👉 My salary becomes mostly:
Savings
Investments
Personal financial growth
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The Role (High Ownership)
Build pipeline from zero
Do demos + client meetings
Close deals in a completely new market
No existing customers or support system
This is essentially a founding sales role / market builder position.
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My Concerns
- Salary vs Responsibility
Even though living costs are covered:
👉 I’m still:
Taking relocation risk
Building a market from scratch
Handling high ownership
Is 25% hike too low for this level?
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- Is 50–75% a Fair Ask?
Given:
International move
Zero-base market
High responsibility
👉 Is 50–75% hike reasonable, even with expenses covered?
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- Long-Term Impact
Even if expenses are covered now:
👉 Base salary affects:
Future hikes
Market value
Negotiation power later
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- Risk vs Reward
Initial months = low or no commissions
Success depends on building everything from scratch
👉 Is the current offer balanced?
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The Core Question
Is this: 👉 A strong international growth opportunity
OR
👉 A role with high responsibility but relatively low base compensation?
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TL;DR
First hire in a new country to build business from scratch
Company covers rent + basic living expenses
I asked for 75% hike, they offered 25%
I’m willing to settle at 50%
Role is high-risk, high-responsibility
👉 Is 25% fair since expenses are covered, or should I push harder?