Turning Down a Job Offer

[InTheSlot]

If this is your first job and it's related to what you want to do in the future and/or permanently, I say you take it. 45 hours a week isn't that bad, although I thought anything over 40 you get paid overtime for, usually time and a half. The reason(s) I think you take it are for one, it's a pretty good starting salary, and two, you could use the experience if it's your first job and in a relevant field.


If you really decide you don't want it, I think you just politely say you're exploring options elsewhere. Or, you could just be up front with them and say the salary isn't quite what you were looking for, or perhaps not enough benefits. Who knwos, if you are qualified for it, they might give you more of what you want.

[Looger]

engineering always starts small.

knock their socks off and make that 3-month review a raise.

[Otto-matic]

Take em to salary arbitration!

But I think you should ask to be at the range of 40k. But I would stick to your guns and find what is best suited for you. Money which is important or Job satisfaction aswell. If you like the way this company is going then ask for the raise and say you like where this is headed and want a peice of the pie.

[cheung31]

maybe bring up those numbers from APEGGA's site. but hopefully they don't think you're some stupid annoying and picky rookie.

[kermitology]

Well here's my latest train of thought.

I'm planning on taking them up on an offer of a tour of the building and I want to talk to some current employees about their job satisfaction. I also want to talk to them and see how close I can get to 40k. In addition find out what the 3 month salary review could put me at if I perform well.

The job they are offering me would give me a lot of technical experience in different fields from power electronics to power controls to software and web development and project management. I'd get to do a lot of hands on work rather than sitting behind a computer debugging code all day.

If I like the offices and the people really seem to enjoy their jobs then less money may not be as much of an issue.

I really appreciate everyones input.

[V]

kermit, I hope you PMed Cheese. I'm sure he's got a very good idea of how things work in our industry.

36,000 seems pretty low to me. I started in late 2001 with Stantec (consulting firm) who are notorious for underpaying, and they gave me 40 grand to start. I wasn't thrilled with that, but I was coming off 6 months unemployment, and woulda jumped at anything.

Within the first year I had made enough of an impact for the company that I was able to demand a 15% raise. I got it too, since we were so busy, I was a good enough employee, and they woulda taken some serious hits on some projects if I had left. I'm now at 55k, and about to get my stamp, so I'm expecting to hit 60k by the end of the year.

Long story short, my advice is to take the job, bide your time and make yourself as needed as possible. When the time comes to demand a significant raise, you'll be able to do it.

I assume that since you're working at a video store, you're in more or less the same position I was in when I took my first job with Stantec. While there are plenty of jobs available right now, it's difficult in your position to know where they are. It's also hard to know who to give the resumes to. Send them to the company's HR department and they all but dissapear. Funny thing is, now that I've been working for four years I know enough people in the industry that I could jump to pretty much any company of my choice. You just gotta get into the door and get your name out there.

[cheung31]

good idea kermitology, and great input dominic

[ernie]

1) naming a company you think is lowballing you on a public forum...especially a popular local one is a bad idea and not a way to make any sort of good professional impression.

2) the average salary may be "X" but that means some are going to be above and some below.

3) it's seems a smaller company. Small companies usually pay less than larger ones (atleast in my industry). However, the work environment may be better suited for an individual just starting out. You will receive much more recognition when things go well as you will most likely have much more responsibility than you may in a larger company. That could bode well a few years down the road compared to your peers when you are looking for another better job. You may be in line for larger bonuses than you otherwise would in a large firm where your contribution isn't as noticeable. There is a good chance that stock option incentives for a small company on the rise can pay off handsomely. Basically the future rewards could very well greatly outweigh the current underpayment.

4) what are your other job prospects? I'm guessing you finished up in April correct? It's September. How long before the next offer comes around? It gets to a point where waiting around for a job begins to affect your chances of finding a decent job. In my industry being 6 months from graduation without a job in the industry can set you back a few years career wise. It can haunt you. So beware of that. Is taking a lower than expected paying job now and gaining valuable experience better than working at Blockbuster or McDonalds? If you have nothing else in the pipeline (ie. no interview callbacks etc) I would think the choice should be obvious.

5) No company I've ever worked for expects you to accept the offer without some haggling. However, be forewarned that unless you have long term expereience or specific experience being aggressive and a hard ass can be a dangerous game. There is always someone else who can do the job and will do it cheaper.

6) don't worry about extra hours and overtime and start calculating an hourly rate. There is a reason you are on salary. When you are just starting out the best piece of advice I can give is make yourself indisposable. Be willing to work extra hours to get the job done earlier. It won't be long at all before that pays off as the next time there is a promotion the guy who gets tapped is not going to be the guy who clocks out at 5:00 pm sharp. It's going to be the guy that stuck around doing extra work and gave up some weekends etc. That guy will also be the one that gets a great reference when you are competing with him for a job a few years later.

My advice is that if you don't have any other good prospects in the pipeline right now you should take the job (depending of course on how you think the boss will be to work for etc etc). Basically, don't necessarily let the money or lack thereof scare you off. Money is important but there are several other things that are more important at this stage for you (namely experience and great references). Remember the real money comes with proven performance and pertinent experience over time. Don't put yoursefl into a position where you are trying to play catch up with your graduation year.

[TGIG88]

What makes you think you are worth more that $40K ? Maybe you deserve to work in a video store.

[Pagal4321]

WDF?
This thread is THREE YEARS OLD. Why are you bumping this?

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by fotze

I bet its because he eventually got paid > $40k. That's what makes him think that.

Yeah pretty much. What the hell brought this up?

[Barnes]

Ha ha

I thought someone hacked my account and was posting as me but alas it was me...

3 years ago....

[KevanGuy]

Maybe someone was a little bored at work, searched McMillan-McGee Corp. and found this thread. I guess we will never know.