Absolutely would care to share.
1) Short work days and work week (9-hour day, 5-day week) may not always apply in
DSTA, especially if you deal with software.
2) Not true that your skills will be irrelevant. In each industry, there will always be some skills that are generic and can be ported across to another company.
It is up to the individual to look after his own as well as his company's interests. That is, while you are deciding on/ fulfilling your business objectives, bear in mind you need to develop yourself professionally. There will be ways to do that.
3) I'm afraid it may be the case that your base salary could indeed be <5K after 5 years given you'll be starting at 3.3K.
I am of the opinion that the base is important, but some companies (your second company) look at the total annual compensation. So, the other pay components come into play. And in
DSTA, the other components are decent.
By the way, 3.3K for 2nd lower... Has this been stagnant for close to 2 years? Or even decreased?
In
DSTA, most will not be filthy rich.
But they will not let you starve.