Starting Pay?

[yourmom]

I'm getting close to my graduation date and have a few options on the table. I'm trying to get a feeling for what I am worth and how much to sacrifice financially to do somthing I love (or think I love because I'm comfortable). Any advice is greatly appreciated, and I do realize how much this varies but I just want as much advice and as many opinions as I can get.

[Timbalaned]

struggling with the exact same issue, will follow other responses intently

[Beta]

Being a new grad, I had to deal with that mess too. Ugh.

Depends on the field you're going into, the company size, your experience as it relates, etc etc.

[bste_lax]

All depends on what line of work you are looking at.

[onpoint]

Go with what you love, without a doubt. My one year in mortgage banking felt like a lot longer than my last two working in lacrosse. You will have plenty of time to pursue a career, but it's pretty hard to get BACK into what you love after you already have a bunch of debt and responsibilities. Take advantage of your years right out of college. There's no rush!

[Adam G]

Go with what you love, without a doubt. My one year in mortgage banking felt like a lot longer than my last two working in lacrosse. You will have plenty of time to pursue a career, but it's pretty hard to get BACK into what you love after you already have a bunch of debt and responsibilities. Take advantage of your years right out of college. There's no rush!

Very well said.

For me, after a three month vacation of doing nothing but visiting friends, checking out the States and hanging out over the best part of the summer after I graduated, I took a job that I thought would position me best in a couple years.

All in all, it's up to what you like to do. I've got friends who said screw work and moved to do what they want for a year or so before using their degrees. For now I'm happy with my decision because I work at a place that is big enough to have options not only when I started, but options within the company and the field as I gain experience.

[Sonny]

No offense, but most new college grads have ZERO real world experience.

[Adam G]

No offense, but most new college grads have ZERO real world experience.

Most? I don't know about most. Time management, networking, commitment, and leadership are all experiences that I had honed in school. I know that the competition for internships, rising tuition costs, students who are working real jobs while in school, and time extensive extracurricular activities (read: lacrosse) are all activities that offer legitimate experience while in college.

This all said by a kid who graduated just over a year ago, but it's my observation.

[Sonny]

Please don't take this the wrong way... but someone flipping burgers, tending bar, and delivering pizzas doesn't equate to real (white collar) work experience.

This coming from someone who did blue collar work to pay for most his undergraduate collegiate expenses.

[Adam G]

Please don't take this the wrong way... but someone flipping burgers, tending bar, and delivering pizzas doesn't equate to real (white collar) work experience.

This coming from someone who did blue collar work to pay for most his undergraduate collegiate expenses.

I understand completely, which is why I said "students who are working real jobs while in school". Not that those aren't great options to pay the bills, but I agree that they don't offer nearly the kind of experience as office work or internships would grant.

[Campbell]

No offense, but most new college grads have ZERO real world experience.

Most? I don't know about most. Time management, networking, commitment, and leadership are all experiences that I had honed in school. I know that the competition for internships, rising tuition costs, students who are working real jobs while in school, and time extensive extracurricular activities (read: lacrosse) are all activities that offer legitimate experience while in college.

This all said by a kid who graduated just over a year ago, but it's my observation.

college will certainly prepare you, and the diversity of your experiences in college will go even further. But I would agree with Sonny to some degree.

As to the original post... it all depends on your field, starting salaries vary considerably between the different occupations.

[laxative]

Most of the kids I'm graduating with have been getting offers from high 40's to mid 50's. These are for business majors. I would imagine it would be somewhat less if you're not business or engineering.

Find something you love to do and you'll find a way to make money at it.

[yourmom]

So far I'm loving all the advice. I was trying to keep this broad so that multiple people could take away things from this thread. As far as the Experience goes...

Work experience

[ 3/23/2000 to Present ] Best Buy Co., Inc. Minneapolis, MN
Department Supervisor

-Started as part time sales associate and promoted to Supervisory position. Managed a sales department and up to 5 workers averaging 5 million dollars in sales revenue a year.

-During Supervisor improved a department from a 400 plus ranking out of over 700 stores to a ranking of better than 50. Exceeded department goals for both Revenue and Margin significantly within the first month. Over a 7 year employment earned “Employee of the Quarter” over 6 times.

-Handled direct customer Sales, training of individuals, created business plans, schedules, conducted reviews, interviews, and worked within budgets for both labor and sales. Helped to institute new sales processes, ideas, and ethics among associates.

-Worked on a View Point committee that handled employee suggestions, questions, concerns, moral, and overall communication gateway from lower level employees to store management.

-Responsible for sales in numerous departments. Not only offered products, but solutions to accompany those products to provide the customers the complete solution and experience they deserve when shopping at Best Buy.

[ 6/1/05 to 7/29/05] United Parcel Service of America, Inc. Earth City, MO
Account Executive

-Was granted an internship with UPS as an Account Executive.

-During the course of the internship personally earned accounts that generate over 2 million dollars annually in just 2 months.

-Personally responsible for retaining and maintaining past accounts that amassed up to $10,000 annually each.

My main problem right now is deciding on if I want to go even higher up the management chain at Best Buy and stay in retail, or If I want to go with UPS as a Corporate Account Executive or some other places I've applied to. I'm also putting my resume out to whoever will look at it just so I have more options. It's just a tough time to make decisions this big.

[bste_lax]

Most of the kids I'm graduating with have been getting offers from high 40's to mid 50's. These are for business majors. I would imagine it would be somewhat less if you're not business or engineering.

Find something you love to do and you'll find a way to make money at it.

I would also point out that location does play some factor. The amount of money I was offered for my current job in LA was a lot more than some other jobs I was looking at in Cedar Rapids/Des Moines.

[laxative]

I would also point out that location does play some factor. The amount of money I was offered for my current job in LA was a lot more than some other jobs I was looking at in Cedar Rapids/Des Moines.

Seriously! 55 g's doesn't sound as nice when you're dropping $1250/mo. on rent and $7 a beer!