Turning Down a Job Offer

[kermitology]

So I have gotten a job offer from a small Electrical Engineering company for $36,500 a year with discretionary bonuses after 12 months and a salary review after 3 months. The expectation is that I would work 45 hours per week, which basically boils down to $16/hr. I didn't plan on taking anything below 40,000. Anyone think I'm out of whack?

What would you settle for? And how would you politely turn down the offer?

[Phanuthier]

Which company?

[kermitology]

McMillan-McGee Corp.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 11:37 AM
I didn't plan on taking anything below 40,000. Anyone think I'm out of whack?

For your first job.. yup, I think you are. Although with those hours 40 grand is less then what it seems but I don't know what you're expecting.

[kermitology]

Originally posted by MrMastodonFarm+Aug 30 2005, 11:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MrMastodonFarm @ Aug 30 2005, 11:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 11:37 AM
I didn't plan on taking anything below 40,000. Anyone think I'm out of whack?

For your first job.. yup, I think you are. Although with those hours 40 grand is less then what it seems but I don't know what you're expecting. [/b][/quote]
All of my friends who have graduated at the same time as me are making over 40,000. The typical range for Electricals from what I've researched is between 40,000-45,000

[Eagle Eye]

Are there a lot of opportunities? Seems a little low, but I don't really know what an electrical engineer would make.

Some times you may have to take a little less wage just to gain the experience and then after a few years you should have little trouble making the money that you feel is appropriate.

[Phanuthier]

Originally posted by kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 05:38 PM
McMillan-McGee Corp.

Haha, I got a summer job offer there. I wonder if your gonna be doing the project I was gonna be doing?

Small world.

How did you get an offer from McMillan-McGee?

[Regulator75]

Have you tried to negotiate the salary? Many companies will play ball, if they want you that bad. It's worth a shot...

Make up a story about how you have 5 kids to feed and can't work for any less than 40K a year.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally posted by kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 05:37 PM
So I have gotten a job offer from a small Electrical Engineering company for $36,500 a year with discretionary bonuses after 12 months and a salary review after 3 months. The expectation is that I would work 45 hours per week, which basically boils down to $16/hr. I didn't plan on taking anything below 40,000. Anyone think I'm out of whack?

What would you settle for? And how would you politely turn down the offer?

Congratulations on the job offer Kermit. Were you in the CO-OP program during university? (ie. do you have any work experience?) If you do, I think you're fine. I agree with your plan to not accept any job offering less than $40,000 also. The high-tech sector seems to be picking up now, and a few colleagues of mine have told me that it won't be hard to find work as an Electrical Engineer soon.

As for turning down the offer, I'd send off a quick letter to the person in charge of things down there thanking him/her for his/her time, but you would have to decline the offer. I'd also mention the main reason being the salary. Maybe they'll give you what you want?

[Calgary Flames]

How much work experience do you have in the field? If you have none, i'd say that's a pretty good offer..

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 11:41 AM
All of my friends who have graduated at the same time as me are making over 40,000. The typical range for Electricals from what I've researched is between 40,000-45,000

Fair enough, my first job was just below that.. but I'm not a fancy pants engineer. lol

[Cheese]

Originally posted by kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 01:37 PM
So I have gotten a job offer from a small Electrical Engineering company for $36,500 a year with discretionary bonuses after 12 months and a salary review after 3 months. The expectation is that I would work 45 hours per week, which basically boils down to $16/hr. I didn't plan on taking anything below 40,000. Anyone think I'm out of whack?

What would you settle for? And how would you politely turn down the offer?

PM me kermit.....

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by MrMastodonFarm+Aug 30 2005, 11:47 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MrMastodonFarm @ Aug 30 2005, 11:47 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 11:41 AM
All of my friends who have graduated at the same time as me are making over 40,000. The typical range for Electricals from what I've researched is between 40,000-45,000

Fair enough, my first job was just below that.. but I'm not a fancy pants engineer. lol [/b][/quote]
"What would you say YOU do here?" - Bob I'm curious, what do you do??

[kermitology]

Originally posted by Phanuthier+Aug 30 2005, 11:42 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Phanuthier @ Aug 30 2005, 11:42 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-kermitology@Aug 30 2005, 05:38 PM
McMillan-McGee Corp.

Haha, I got a summer job offer there. I wonder if your gonna be doing the project I was gonna be doing?

Small world.

How did you get an offer from McMillan-McGee? [/b][/quote]
The president rented a DVD from me and noticed my ring.

I spent 15 months working on a couple of software utilities for Internet data management, and I've got a bunch of experience in signal processing from the same job and 4th year. (PS.. Zoo kids.. take Biomedical Signal Analysis.. It's hard, but you learn a tonne and it's practical!)

[Phanuthier]

Originally posted by kermitology+Aug 30 2005, 05:50 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (kermitology @ Aug 30 2005, 05:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Haha, I got a summer job offer there. I wonder if your gonna be doing the project I was gonna be doing?

Small world.

How did you get an offer from McMillan-McGee?

The president rented a DVD from me and noticed my ring.

I spent 15 months working on a couple of software utilities for Internet data management, and I've got a bunch of experience in signal processing from the same job and 4th year. (PS.. Zoo kids.. take Biomedical Signal Analysis.. It's hard, but you learn a tonne and it's practical!) [/b][/quote]
Bruce McGee?

Wage... I don't think he'd give you any more. Its a small company (as you saw at your interview, probably) thats just starting up.

I didn't take the job, because I didn't think I could do what he was asking in the time he was asking. If you can do it, great, I think you should take it. Bruce McGee is doing some pretty cool stuff that could really open some doors for you in the environmental sector of electrical engineering. Pay isn't everything right now, and M-M has alot of potential IMO - if you help vault them into success, you could find yourself being a big fish for M-M.

My 2 cents anyways.

[Rutuu]

Stick to your guns...ask for a raise. My intership company low balled me and I asked for more...it wasn't a big deal at all and they brought me up to industry standard.

If you do take the job though, make sure to start looking for another one RIGHT away, it's always easier to find a new job once you have a job already.

...and congrats on the offer buddy.

[Calgary Flames]

I'd ask for $40k why the hell not? He hasn't hired you yet... Go into it with no expectations and tell the guy during the interview, say "Look I understand you're running a small business, but I see the potential of this company and i'd definetely want to be part of it for a modest raise to $40k. I believe this rate of pay is a competitive one, I want to be part of "say company name" but I'm going to need that raise in pay to do so, is this a possibility?"

If the guy declines? I'm sure you'll fine more work.

[Barnes]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames+Aug 30 2005, 10:48 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Calgary Flames @ Aug 30 2005, 10:48 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Fair enough, my first job was just below that.. but I'm not a fancy pants engineer. lol

"What would you say YOU do here?" - Bob I'm curious, what do you do?? [/b][/quote]
I already told you. listen. I take the customer specs to the software engineers. I'm a people person goddammit.

See if you can negotiate the job offer. You have evry right to counter offer. If your willing to reject the offer anyway, why not give it a try.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by Barnes+Aug 30 2005, 12:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Barnes @ Aug 30 2005, 12:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

"What would you say YOU do here?" - Bob I'm curious, what do you do??

I already told you. listen. I take the customer specs to the software engineers. I'm a people person goddammit. [/b][/quote]
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!?! God I love Office Space.

[kermitology]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 30 2005, 12:15 PM
That's definately low. I started at $39,000 in 1998.

Depends on how desparate you are. They say it's much easier to find a job when you have one.

You know what you really want to do deep down, so listen to that.

Well I really like what the company does and how I'd get a lot of experience in different fields.. However.. The money should be right and I'm just not comfortable with the offered salary. If they move to 39-40k then I'm sold, otherwise I'd feel like I'm selling myself short