Graduate Salaries

[Viscosity]

I'm in the middle of job applications and the issue of salary expectations has come to the fore.

I'm a recent graduate in my mid twenties with high grades in both my BComm and Msc Economics. I have some work experience, just 6 month stints with a MNC and a government body.

Very few of my classmates have jobs at this stage so I can't ask them for advice. Whats the going rate for an entry level job in the financial/insurances sector or with someone like Google/Paypal/Yahoo?

As you can see, I've applied for a number of different areas. I just don't want to settle for too little or price myself out of the running. I've checked some salary surveys but I'm sure the graduate jobs market has changed drastically since then.

[BroomBurner]

€25,000? That was the grad pay when I started, but that was in a separate field and a different financial situation.

Maybe €23,000 - €27,000 depending on your work experience/area of expertise.

On the other hand, just say nothing and wait for them to put an offer on the table, then raise it a couple of grand until you get somewhere in the middle.

[Sleepy]

TBH? In this climate take whatever you're offered and be glad you were lucky enough to get a job.

If they ask what your expectations are say 25-30k but that you're prepared to negotiate depending on other benefits etc. If you feel you're being low-balled and haven't much room to negotiate but like everything else about the job accept on the basis that your salary will be reviewed in 6 months time.

[cronos]

I started on 30k last september and moved to 33k by the end of that year. That was a full time job. Have pension and bonus on top of that. I have a friend who started in IBM last month after finishing her masters in cryptography on 35k.

I would say you should be looking for 30k its fairly standard. The ibm pay my friend got was more than she was expecting.

[AARRRGH]

I would think your current starting salary expectation should be 21k - 23k. Consider anything over this a bonus.

The bubble is well and truly burst I'm afraid, so your priority should be to simply get a job.

[kaimera]

30k is way above starting grad salaries imo.

I know people that finished with me and 2 years later aren't on 30k even after a few pay-rises.

It's not an employee market at the moment.

[Raskolnikov]

Originally Posted by AARRRGH

I would think your current starting salary expectation should be 21k - 23k. Consider anything over this a bonus.

For some with a good MSc and work experience, that sort of money is ridiculous.

I would be thinking high 20's/low 30's would be a realistic salary to aim for.

[gdael]

Originally Posted by Raskolnikov

For some with a good MSc and work experience, that sort of money is ridiculous.

I would be thinking high 20's/low 30's would be a realistic salary to aim for.

Agreed. Our company is looking at starting to take grads again. €25k seems to be the lowest they expect to get grads down to.

[keane2097]

Originally Posted by kaimera

30k is way above starting grad salaries imo.

I know people that finished with me and 2 years later aren't on 30k even after a few pay-rises.

It's not an employee market at the moment.

Depends whether you're talking gross or net.

I'm starting a job in January on 30K gross as a graduate...

[AARRRGH]

Originally Posted by Raskolnikov

For some with a good MSc and work experience, that sort of money is ridiculous.

I would be thinking high 20's/low 30's would be a realistic salary to aim for.

Originally Posted by gdael

Agreed. Our company is looking at starting to take grads again. €25k seems to be the lowest they expect to get grads down to.

I would be a bit more bearish than the average person, but any graduate who expects high 20's/low 30's is living in the past.

Pop into the "Irish Economy" forum to see how screwed Ireland is. We are returning to a (at best) 90's economy.

[thebman]

I would say 25-27K at most but its very hard to say. Try to put the question back to them if you can but they'll probably push the issue.

I got 23K when I graduated only a couple of years ago. Work experience if attained on course isn't going to count like after graduation experience for obvious reasons.

Most salary surveys on job sites are completely out of date ATM. I think wage expectations are in limbo ATM. It has become an employers market overnight. Consider wages to be in free fall and don't push your luck too much as it will come across as taking the p***.

Personally with two years working after graduating and a years work experience as part of course I'd be looking for 27-30K. I've been told that this is underselling myself but I don't want to go too low or too high and I think this is a reasonable salary given my living expenses as rent has come down for me so I could easily live on this salary comfortably.

[qwytre]

Originally Posted by Raskolnikov

For some with a good MSc and work experience, that sort of money is ridiculous.

I would be thinking high 20's/low 30's would be a realistic salary to aim for.

In 2001 I started on 300 pounds a week and I had a masters, about 19k euro a year. Granted the jobs market was as bad in 2001 as it is now for graduates.

[damnyanks]

Depends on hte industry , followed by the employer.

[Crash]

Surprisingly, there are still companies paying around this level. Depends very much from employer to employer - its varying wildly as different companies adjust.

[johndaman66]

I think its one question you will struggle to get an honest answer on. Some people will no doubt give an honest answer but many will give you a figure of what they think they should be on or just pluck a figure from the sky.

I work in the financial sector outside the captial. Graduated over six years ago with a bachelors degree. Worked for four years in one company and than went into another at the exam same pay level and very comparable benefits package. Pay has went up very little since I started in present company and am currently on 32k. Was offered a promotion without any payrise recently. After much consideration I turned it down.