Entry level pay for Research Executive?

[7days7nights]

Does anyone know what's the industry average for an entry level position as a research executive in a market research firm? I've just got an offer of around 2.4k and find that amount hard to swallow after receiving offers of around 3.7k from the public service =/

The research executive job seems more interesting though. I'm a fresh grad with the equivalent of a first class honours.

i think it should be around that level...

however, i heard the increments are really good if u stay long enough...

[7days7nights]

man that's tough to accept. I've gotten an offer from the Public service division of about 3.7k (with a summa cum laude) too. the difference just seems too vast! but the market research job seems really interesting though

well, i guess if u read the civil service thread,u see alot of unhappy public servants lamenting about how they're stuck there even though they dun like their job...

perhaps, it would be a case of intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation?

anyway, there's no harm giving the job u're interested in a shot for a few months, if u dun like it, u can always go back to the public service?
with first class honours, i think they'll always be keen to hire you...

at least, you won't live with a lifetime of regret (assuming u're stuck in the public svc after a few yrs), and always think of "how would life be if i chose this XYZ job when i first graduated?"

[7days7nights]

that's very wise advice! you do make an excellent point that I should at least give it a shot.

on another note, could someone share what the average salary for an entry level position in the market research industry is like? I just want to make sure that I'm getting a reasonable offer =)

anyone else out there with insights regarding the starting pay in the market research industry?

Originally Posted by 7days7nights

Does anyone know what's the industry average for an entry level position as a research executive in a market research firm? I've just got an offer of around 2.4k and find that amount hard to swallow after receiving offers of around 3.7k from the public service =/

The research executive job seems more interesting though. I'm a fresh grad with the equivalent of a first class honours.

Ultimately this is a decision that will have a long term impact. I sense you already made up your mind to join public service and you just want confirmation from others. But others cannot help you, everyone got their views and priorities in life and there is no right / wrong answer.

At the end of the day, a career in the public service on a non-scholarship level will have roughly the following income bracket [3k+ for freshie to 12k ceiling], starting good, ending not bad, but no chance of really making big $$$

Private sector income bracket [2k+ for freshie and no ceiling], starting mediocre, ending unknown but got chance of really making big $$$

A lot of people always think they will take the best of both world and start public then switch to private half way, but find out the hard way that it is very difficult. Generally anyone who in the public service >5 years will be labelled as too bureaucratic to survive in corporate jungle, so any switch will result in big pay cut.

This is from $$$ POV, I won't go into other stuff like passion, interest, culture etc. cause these factors are very personal and nobody can really comment with precision.

[7days7nights]

yes I find it to be a very important decision with regards to my first job as well.

honestly, I'm still very much undecided on where to start my first career. the public sector does pay very well, but i wonder if the skills and knowledge i pick up there are transferable and about my long term marketability. and i also find the opportunities available in the private sector to be vastly more interesting and impactful, where i can see how i add value.

Thanks for your advice and insight Zero!

Follow the money. Heart can deceive you but money go into the pocket can still spend.

Originally Posted by 7days7nights

yes I find it to be a very important decision with regards to my first job as well.

honestly, I'm still very much undecided on where to start my first career. the public sector does pay very well, but i wonder if the skills and knowledge i pick up there are transferable and about my long term marketability. and i also find the opportunities available in the private sector to be vastly more interesting and impactful, where i can see how i add value.

Thanks for your advice and insight Zero!

My suggestion to you is this: If you want to enter public sector, then do it with the view of staying put there till retirement age. Do not go in there thinking about marketability, skills transfer to private sector or career progression into corporate MNC roles, you are just setting up yourself for disappointment in the next decade.

If you are not willing to accept the fact that you will not likely leave public boards, then don't bother to go in fresh in the first place. You may hear occasional success stories of mid career bureaucrats making switch to corporate world, but this is very few and far between. You can read for yourself here & other online boards of many current public sector workers desperately trying to get out of their jobs in their mid 30s without luck. This is reality.