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Career choice & salary dilemma

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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 13-08-2014, 12:56 PM
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Default Career choice & salary dilemma

Hi guys,

I have been looking for an entry level marketing job for the past few months but to no avail. I am currently a degree holder with barely any experience in marketing.

Yesterday, I just received a job offer from a company. The position is for marketing communications executive, and they are paying around $1.5 per month. There will be increments after probation, but still it's not alot and will definitely be less than $2k.

The reason they give diploma holder's rate despite the status is because they are actually looking for diploma holders in the first place, and unfortunately they do not have the extra budget to pay me more.

I am sceptical and confused regarding the salary issues. My friend told me that the market rate for degree graduates with no marketing experience command at least 2.2 -2.4k. In fact, my friend herself who has no marketing experience has gotten a job that pays her $2.3k three years ago. Another friend of mine just graduated told me that she wouldn't accept diploma holder's pay because if your first job starting pay is already so low, then your next job salary cannot be that high as most companies rely on previous pay to determine potential pay. She asked me to perhaps consider other career pathways such as HR (I had nine months experience in it) and get degree holder pay. My HR friend who's in her late thirties informed me that there is no such thing as diploma and degree holder pay, as long as you had the experience. She added that salary is not everything.

You know, I am not really sure what to do. I feel that deep down in my heart I should accept the job, cos time is not on my side (many graduations in Aug, meaning more competition), and since I am waiting so long for marketing entry level opportunities, I should just grab the offer because such opportunities don't come knocking on your door often. I also feel like my parents & relatives would tell me to accept the job offer regardless of pay, just to gain experience and build up your portfolio. Yet at the same time, I do think that I am presented with the shorter end of the stick in terms of pay, and I just FEAR that after accepting the job, the reality of a smaller pay check starts to kick in, and I will be the one regretting the wrong decisions made.

I would like to hear your opinions on this and weigh my options.

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  #2 (permalink)  
Old 13-08-2014, 02:13 PM
SOD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fearoftheunknown View Post
Hi guys,

I have been looking for an entry level marketing job for the past few months but to no avail. I am currently a degree holder with barely any experience in marketing.

Yesterday, I just received a job offer from a company. The position is for marketing communications executive, and they are paying around $1.5 per month. There will be increments after probation, but still it's not alot and will definitely be less than $2k.

The reason they give diploma holder's rate despite the status is because they are actually looking for diploma holders in the first place, and unfortunately they do not have the extra budget to pay me more.

I am sceptical and confused regarding the salary issues. My friend told me that the market rate for degree graduates with no marketing experience command at least 2.2 -2.4k. In fact, my friend herself who has no marketing experience has gotten a job that pays her $2.3k three years ago. Another friend of mine just graduated told me that she wouldn't accept diploma holder's pay because if your first job starting pay is already so low, then your next job salary cannot be that high as most companies rely on previous pay to determine potential pay. She asked me to perhaps consider other career pathways such as HR (I had nine months experience in it) and get degree holder pay. My HR friend who's in her late thirties informed me that there is no such thing as diploma and degree holder pay, as long as you had the experience. She added that salary is not everything.

You know, I am not really sure what to do. I feel that deep down in my heart I should accept the job, cos time is not on my side (many graduations in Aug, meaning more competition), and since I am waiting so long for marketing entry level opportunities, I should just grab the offer because such opportunities don't come knocking on your door often. I also feel like my parents & relatives would tell me to accept the job offer regardless of pay, just to gain experience and build up your portfolio. Yet at the same time, I do think that I am presented with the shorter end of the stick in terms of pay, and I just FEAR that after accepting the job, the reality of a smaller pay check starts to kick in, and I will be the one regretting the wrong decisions made.

I would like to hear your opinions on this and weigh my options.
I think all these theoretical talk about how much you should be paid as a degree or diploma is pointless. What you get offered is reality and that for you unfortunately is $1.5k so far into your job search. Postulating on how much you are "supposed" to be paid is pointless and waste of time.

To me whether to accept or not depends on 2 factors:

#1 - How desperate are you? Do you need the money urgently?
#2 - How many interviews do you have so far? Do you need to head down for interviews frequently?

If you are desperate, well you don't really have a choice rite?

If you have been attending interviews frequently then perhaps you should reject as once you take up a full time job it is hard to "disappear" to attend these interviews. You don't want to give up good opportunities because you are stuck in the current job.

However if you haven't been getting much interviews along the way, what's the harm in taking up this job? You can always omit the job you have now and just say you went for a holiday after school if you eventaully go for an interview and worried that it might affect your salary.

At the very least if you still cannot get a job after 6 more months, you have some actual experience and a working salary and I'm sure you will also learn something along the way. The hard part of unemployed is often the pyschological pressure when you everyday sit at home nothing to do just surfing JobsDB and checking handphone for calls. Try to avoid that if possible.

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  #3 (permalink)  
Old 13-08-2014, 02:16 PM
SOD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fearoftheunknown View Post
Hi guys,

I have been looking for an entry level marketing job for the past few months but to no avail. I am currently a degree holder with barely any experience in marketing.

Yesterday, I just received a job offer from a company. The position is for marketing communications executive, and they are paying around $1.5 per month. There will be increments after probation, but still it's not alot and will definitely be less than $2k.

The reason they give diploma holder's rate despite the status is because they are actually looking for diploma holders in the first place, and unfortunately they do not have the extra budget to pay me more.

I am sceptical and confused regarding the salary issues. My friend told me that the market rate for degree graduates with no marketing experience command at least 2.2 -2.4k. In fact, my friend herself who has no marketing experience has gotten a job that pays her $2.3k three years ago. Another friend of mine just graduated told me that she wouldn't accept diploma holder's pay because if your first job starting pay is already so low, then your next job salary cannot be that high as most companies rely on previous pay to determine potential pay. She asked me to perhaps consider other career pathways such as HR (I had nine months experience in it) and get degree holder pay. My HR friend who's in her late thirties informed me that there is no such thing as diploma and degree holder pay, as long as you had the experience. She added that salary is not everything.

You know, I am not really sure what to do. I feel that deep down in my heart I should accept the job, cos time is not on my side (many graduations in Aug, meaning more competition), and since I am waiting so long for marketing entry level opportunities, I should just grab the offer because such opportunities don't come knocking on your door often. I also feel like my parents & relatives would tell me to accept the job offer regardless of pay, just to gain experience and build up your portfolio. Yet at the same time, I do think that I am presented with the shorter end of the stick in terms of pay, and I just FEAR that after accepting the job, the reality of a smaller pay check starts to kick in, and I will be the one regretting the wrong decisions made.

I would like to hear your opinions on this and weigh my options.
I think all these theoretical talk about how much you should be paid as a degree or diploma is pointless. What you get offered is reality and that for you unfortunately is $1.5k so far into your job search. Postulating on how much you are "supposed" to be paid is pointless and waste of time.

To me whether to accept or not depends on 2 factors:

#1 - How desperate are you? Do you need the money urgently?
#2 - How many interviews do you have so far? Do you need to head down for interviews frequently?

If you are desperate, well you don't really have a choice rite?

If you have been attending interviews frequently then perhaps you should reject as once you take up a full time job it is hard to "disappear" to attend these interviews. You don't want to give up good opportunities because you are stuck in the current job.

However if you haven't been getting much interviews along the way, what's the harm in taking up this job? You can always omit the job you have now and just say you went for a holiday after school if you eventaully go for an interview and worried that it might affect your salary.

At the very least if you still cannot get a job after 6 more months, you have some actual experience and a working salary and I'm sure you will also learn something along the way. The hard part of unemployed is often the pyschological pressure when you everyday sit at home nothing to do just surfing JobsDB and checking handphone for calls. Try to avoid that if possible.

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  #4 (permalink)  
Old 13-08-2014, 03:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SOD View Post
I think all these theoretical talk about how much you should be paid as a degree or diploma is pointless. What you get offered is reality and that for you unfortunately is $1.5k so far into your job search. Postulating on how much you are "supposed" to be paid is pointless and waste of time.

To me whether to accept or not depends on 2 factors:

#1 - How desperate are you? Do you need the money urgently?
#2 - How many interviews do you have so far? Do you need to head down for interviews frequently?

If you are desperate, well you don't really have a choice rite?

If you have been attending interviews frequently then perhaps you should reject as once you take up a full time job it is hard to "disappear" to attend these interviews. You don't want to give up good opportunities because you are stuck in the current job.

However if you haven't been getting much interviews along the way, what's the harm in taking up this job? You can always omit the job you have now and just say you went for a holiday after school if you eventaully go for an interview and worried that it might affect your salary.

At the very least if you still cannot get a job after 6 more months, you have some actual experience and a working salary and I'm sure you will also learn something along the way. The hard part of unemployed is often the pyschological pressure when you everyday sit at home nothing to do just surfing JobsDB and checking handphone for calls. Try to avoid that if possible.
I actually been to a quite a no. of interviews, just that I am either not short-listed to the next round, or not selected at all. I am not exactly a fresh grad either, considering that I graduated in 2012, thus cannot omit the job in the resume and tell future employers I went for holiday. I am simply not sure how long I can go on like this, waiting and waiting. Do you think it's best that I accept the job offer despite the less than favourable pay?
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Old 13-08-2014, 05:26 PM
SOD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fearoftheunknown View Post
I actually been to a quite a no. of interviews, just that I am either not short-listed to the next round, or not selected at all. I am not exactly a fresh grad either, considering that I graduated in 2012, thus cannot omit the job in the resume and tell future employers I went for holiday. I am simply not sure how long I can go on like this, waiting and waiting. Do you think it's best that I accept the job offer despite the less than favourable pay?
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.
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Old 13-08-2014, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Fearoftheunknown View Post
I actually been to a quite a no. of interviews, just that I am either not short-listed to the next round, or not selected at all. I am not exactly a fresh grad either, considering that I graduated in 2012, thus cannot omit the job in the resume and tell future employers I went for holiday. I am simply not sure how long I can go on like this, waiting and waiting. Do you think it's best that I accept the job offer despite the less than favourable pay?
from my working experience there is a distinction in GLCs and CS between diploma and degree holder positions. of course these positions are very different, eg a Marketing Exec/AM/Manager (degree) could have bigger responsibilities and staff reporting to him/her while a Marketing Asst/Officer/Exec (dip) will have a reduced job scope and not so much responsibilities. MNCs and SMEs are more willing to accept work experience in lieu of paper qualifications.

are you a local or foreign uni grad? if you have been searching for a job since 2012 then i'll say grab it. if not then hang in there and look for a better paying one.

all the best.
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Old 13-08-2014, 10:57 PM
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your situation is very jialat. Even if you like marketing, I really think you shd reconsider accepting because the job offer is much lower than diploma's starting pay. Fews to consider


1) How about the benefits they provide? sometimes the benefits are impt too , such as allowance, no of vacation leave or claims.

2) What company is this? Got brand or not? Is there potential for this company to grow strong? Do research on this company. I suspect if offering only 1.5k for even dip fresh grad, this company seem small.

3) Are you able to survive if you reject this offer? How about considering other job field? You can always request for internal transfer if you do well in the position. Do not juz focus on marketing.

The reality for accepting the job offer is you will start to complain about your low salary as soon as you start working. You will not stay long and this gonna affect future employers' impression. And surely $1.5k will affect you future career as you can't put much higher expected salary in your job.

Do think properly. If possible, negotiate your salary with them. or at least benefits.
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Old 14-08-2014, 12:01 AM
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your situation is very jialat. Even if you like marketing, I really think you shd reconsider accepting because the job offer is much lower than diploma's starting pay. Fews to consider


1) How about the benefits they provide? sometimes the benefits are impt too , such as allowance, no of vacation leave or claims.

2) What company is this? Got brand or not? Is there potential for this company to grow strong? Do research on this company. I suspect if offering only 1.5k for even dip fresh grad, this company seem small.

3) Are you able to survive if you reject this offer? How about considering other job field? You can always request for internal transfer if you do well in the position. Do not juz focus on marketing.

The reality for accepting the job offer is you will start to complain about your low salary as soon as you start working. You will not stay long and this gonna affect future employers' impression. And surely $1.5k will affect you future career as you can't put much higher expected salary in your job.

Do think properly. If possible, negotiate your salary with them. or at least benefits.
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?

Also nobody will entertain negotiation on benefits, these are just fixed across the company. Company cannot suddenly grant someone a few days extra leave or more MC reimbursement, it doesn't work like that.

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?
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  #9 (permalink)  
Old 14-08-2014, 01:34 AM
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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?

Pay is indeed very low. But if u have no other job offers at the moment, I would suggest u take it. U can survive with $1k take home pay for ur own expenses and it's better gaining some experience than none at all.
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Old 14-08-2014, 02:33 AM
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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 make 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.

work on ur interviewing skills and have other ppl take a look at ur resume to open more door for urself.
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