Career choice & salary dilemma

[Fearoftheunknown]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Well the guy is out of job for 2 years already, even if the company is small and pay not good what else can he do, wait around at home for another 2 years?

I think dragging the unemployment will just make the situation even worse. How will he ever get a job in the future after being unemployed for 3 years since leaving school?

First of all, I am a female. Secondly while I did not secure any perm jobs during the 2 years, however I was not idle waiting at home. I did earn money during "wilderness" period, which I will elaborate more below.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

May I ask what u have been doing for 2 years after u graduated in 2012? U mentioned u have 9 months HR experience. Was that ur first job?

I graduated on Aug 20120. After graduation I was working as a FT private tutor for a year. After that I was offered a contract job to work in HR for half a year. Subsequently my contract was extended and renewed for another 2 months. You can say that the HR job is my first official job after graduation, though some companies do not look at it that way cos it pays per hour basis. Looking at the timeline, I was only out of job for the last 4-5 months?!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

that is not even dip pay... a full time admin with ite cert can earn that amount. the reason y u r being offered the position is probably bcos no dip holder wan it either as it does not mafike sense for a coy to hire a deg grad knowing that he has much higher chance of finding better offer elsewhere in the near future.

I believed I was the company's first choice for candidate, even though I was overqualified for the position I was interviewing for. Some users here mentioned that diploma holder's pay is not as low as what I am being offered, but I thought $1.5 is standard pay for business admin students? I know that those in science/engineering/finance was offered more.

To digress, I was working as an assistant secretary after poly in 2009, and guess what? I was only being paid $1150. The justification given by my previous boss was I did not have experience despite a poly graduate *roll eyes*. It's only administrative work what, need so much experience to get higher pay meh?! I realised I don't have much luck when it comes to salary negotiation. Always get shot down by shitty reasons like this.

[Fearoftheunknown]

Originally Posted by SOD

Oh dear, I was under the impression you were a fresh grad who has been looking for a job for 4-5 months.

Since you already graduated in 2012, then I strongly recommend you take up the job. Don't waste time on senselss hypothetical discussion on what pay should be like. At least you have some sort of employment to show in the future. A diploma pay looks better in CV than being blank sheet unemployed for a few years right?

Take up the job and gain some experience first. After that, try and seek help in CV or interview. I suspect something wrong, usually shouldn't be so long cannot get a job as the job market is still quite benign now.

I actually worked for the past 2 yrs, just that it's on contract basis and as a private tutor. Both are nothing much I know. I was only actively looking for jobs starting this yr only.

Anyway, I have decided to accept the job offer despite the low pay. I think the main aim for me right now is to gain the necessary marketing experience that is needed to boost my portfolio. If there's any one stage in my life I have to pay my dues and start low, I rather now when I am still young and inexperienced, then in my 30s & 40s.

Originally Posted by Fearoftheunknown

I actually worked for the past 2 yrs, just that it's on contract basis and as a private tutor. Both are nothing much I know. I was only actively looking for jobs starting this yr only.

Anyway, I have decided to accept the job offer despite the low pay. I think the main aim for me right now is to gain the necessary marketing experience that is needed to boost my portfolio. If there's any one stage in my life I have to pay my dues and start low, I rather now when I am still young and inexperienced, then in my 30s & 40s.

Good for you.

Unfortunately from a CV perspective, giving tuition and working on hourly piecemeal basis is as good as no job, so in that sense I think your taking up the job would be a "best of worst" scenario start to your career.

Good luck and all the best.