TS what is the main reason you want to leave the current co?
If current problem not too bad better not anyhow hop around, current economy not good and jobs are getting hard to find.
Also you already work 4 years so unless really cannot take it no need to restart & join something which is more for fresh grad or 1-2 years work exp.
HR recruiters words take with a pinch of salt, they need to close the offer to meet internal kpi and will say anything as long as you sign.

Actually, I am pretty happy with my current job, it is very flexible (can work from home sometimes). It's just that I am looking for opportunities to grow, and progression seems to be pretty slow here. But colleagues and bosses are great so I am having a little bit of a dilemma (it's hard to get a boost in income without doing some form of job-hopping, no?)
My role is currently more of network presales/architect role...

i might be wrong, but u seem to be doing quite well, isnt it? just 4 yrs of work and u're in a presales/architect role. i believe the tenders u're working on are at least $1-10m in value? just stick ard, win more tenders, and you can easily jump to a bigger company with a higher title and pay. but u have to have more yrs of exp in this field (at least 5 years).

job-hopping is okay, but only to a higher role or relevant role with higher pay. why risk everything to join a fresh grad programme in certis cisco? just for a 20% pay increase(and i'm still doubting they will pay that much)? come on, that's really short-sighted.. do you really need that 20% increment now? or is it just to boost your ego? 4.7k is quite decent for just 4 yrs of exp, imho

Hm.. nowadays there are plenty of fresh grads already getting 4k plus, so I don't think I'm doing great to be honest, haha.
But what you said does make a lot of sense too. The talent programme is supposed to bring me to VP level by around 35 (with job rotations throughout and close correspondence with senior management), but there's always the risk of over promising by the HR. End of the day, I am just looking for opportunities to accelerate my career and if it comes with decent/more than decent pay, all the better.

I'm scheduled for an interview soon and i'm intending to go in with an open mind, but with so many caveats put up by you guys and from those I know, I suppose I will have to think a lot more carefully. Really appreciate all the advice so far.

i'm just curious why are they keen in u? paying close to 6k for someone to be part of a fresh grad prog is crazy and risky.. i think for ur interview, can ask them more about this prog. how many ppl are they taking in? what are the kind of candidates they want? why shortlist u when u have more exp and demand a higher pay? how long has this prog been running? if long time alr, where are the previous trainees now? if only recently, why is there a need for this prog? what kind of leaders do they hope to emerge from this? what kind of trainings are expected?

They are taking in only 2 candidates to prepare them for eventual C level jobs (or at least up to VP level). This programme is pretty new I think.. they told me of one person in this programme who went overseas to help develop one of the overseas offices, and came back after that to lead a department. I don't know how true that is but that's what I heard from HR.
Not sure why they are interested in me but they did say they would have to consider me differently from other fresh grads as I'm coming in with significant experience.
Training wise, not much discussed but there is frequent job rotation and mentorship from senior management.

Accounts Manager
 

Hi, does anyone have any idea on the expected salary of Accounts Manager for Certis Cisco? How is the environment like?

Thanks in advance!

Probably 8k+. Crappy bureaucratic old school environment with high turnover among younger staff.

8k+? you sure?

How much does APO earn? Progression path?