Salary negotiation for new graduate in this economy

[edro]

Your starting salary can set the stage for your entire career wage increase curve, especially if you stay at the same company.

 

[Saga]

Your starting salary can set the stage for your entire career wage increase curve, especially if you stay at the same company.

A series of 15-20% wages over the past 5 years for me would beg to differ. Maybe in most fields, but certainly not all.

 

[ivan2]

my friend (MS in mechanical engineering) had work in 2 companies since the recession and both had been layoffs, the last one as recent as this year. I will say take the job first, and then look else where.

 

[overst33r]

Job market is pretty good around here, yes.

OP, $35k is an INSULT for a BS in any sort of Engineering. I started at $58k in Texas, had another offer from Raytheon for $62k. My degree is EE but you should still be in that area (I'm under the average starting salary).

That being said, what is your GPA? A lot of companies aren't hiring anyone under 3.0 or even 3.5 in which case take whatever job you can get.

btw I had zero engineering experience when I graduated (no internships or co-ops), 3.6 GPA.

3.4 GPA. It's not the best, but I've got more relevant work experience than the majority of my class.

What about taking the job while you continue to search for another?

Seems like a good idea. If you feel guilty about bailing on them once you get a better job, you can always give them the chance to match your new offer. If they don't, their loss for not offering a competitive salary.

Yeah that's my plan.

my friend (MS in mechanical engineering) had work in 2 companies since the recession and both had been layoffs, the last one as recent as this year. I will say take the job first, and then look else where.

Thanks Famous, will do.

 

[soccerballtux]

You really don't need to feel bad about leaving when they're giving a salary like that.

 

[vshah]

i graduated late 2008, so my experience may be "outdated" a bit, but for me it was a straight 60k for every job i was offered. the jobs were in washington dc, new york, and columbus though.

 

[Bignate603]

You really don't need to feel bad about leaving when they're giving a salary like that.

Exactly.

I got a job in 2008 right when the economy tanked. It was standard to get offers somewhere in the range of $55k to $65k, but many of my friends didn't get offers. I had a 3.9 GPA and some good internships, my friends with lower GPAs and less experience were struggling to even get interviews Hiring had dropped off but if you could get a job the salaries hadn't dropped yet.

Just a FYI, I work for Honeywell and they've been discussing reopening hiring for some new grads. If you're interested I'd watch their website for the next two months and apply at everything that that interests you.

 

[overst33r]

Exactly.

I got a job in 2008 right when the economy tanked. It was standard to get offers somewhere in the range of $55k to $65k, but many of my friends didn't get offers. I had a 3.9 GPA and some good internships, my friends with lower GPAs and less experience were struggling to even get interviews Hiring had dropped off but if you could get a job the salaries hadn't dropped yet.

Just a FYI, I work for Honeywell and they've been discussing reopening hiring for some new grads. If you're interested I'd watch their website for the next two months and apply at everything that that interests you.

Thanks. Honeywell is one of the companies I've been looking and will be applying to as soon as I get my resume/CL critiqued at the career center. They actually have a plant in Clearwater, FL which is about 40 mins from me.

 

[dmw16]

That is a very low salary compared to the national average. However, I think location has a ton to do with it. Cost of living is lower in Florida than a lot of other parts of the country. But the real issue is that Florida is in the shitter economically speaking. If you are mobile you'd probably be best off applying to jobs in other regions.

 

[ciba]

You really don't need to feel bad about leaving when they're giving a salary like that.

This. If an employer is unwilling to pay adequately, no loyalty is owed. Consider your friend's experience: The take-it or leave-it offer.

Now, I wasn't there, but I suspect that was a negotiating ploy and he got screwed. Do some research on negotiation. Prepare for the discussion. Remember, there's a significant cost to training a new employee. Ask that they compensate you some of that cost they'll save.

Hiring you at $35k would be like hiring a new employee at $25 k the first year (or less). If they're talking to you, they're willing to negotiate.

 

[Gibson486]

That is a very low salary compared to the national average. However, I think location has a ton to do with it. Cost of living is lower in Florida than a lot of other parts of the country. But the real issue is that Florida is in the shitter economically speaking. If you are mobile you'd probably be best off applying to jobs in other regions.

yup. finding a job in FL now is kind of like finding a straight person in Province Town.

 

[Paladin3]

It isn't the best ethics on my part, but times are hard.

Stop with the moral angst. Any company offering a take-it-or-leave-it $35k has to know people are going to jump ship as soon as a better offer comes along, unless they ramp up their starting salaries at a very, very substantial rate.