So I got a job offer...

[96Firebird]

I am graduating this month with my BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. I have around $42,000 ($22,000 federal, $20,000 private) in student loans that I need to start paying off in August because I went down to part-time for the spring quarter due to running out of classes to take. I have been searching for jobs in the Rochester, NY area because I want to stay in the area until I can save up a little money to move someplace better. I have applied to a ton online, but haven't really had any luck. I have 2 6-month co-ops under my belt, plus work part-time at a company converting their 2D drawings into 3D parts and assemblies. I make $20/hr there. My girlfriend's uncle got me an interview at the place where he works, went in on a Friday and they called me the Tuesday following to offer me a job. I asked to start at $50k, which is average for the area ($55k is average for the US). They came back with an offer of $42k , with a "re-evaluation" after 6 months.

Now of course, my family is telling me to take it since it is an offer and I might not get another for a while. I am thinking this is waaay too low, even with a re-evaluation. I am waiting for an offer from the place I work for now, but that company only has 4 employees and I don't see much room to move up. The other company has around 30 employees, and was just bought out by another company in a different country. They say they are expected to grow larger than the parent company, which has 500 employees. So I guess it would be a good time to get in there, but I don't know if I can settle for that little pay. Do I counter-offer, and if so, how much? The career services lady at my college said she would hate to see me take anything less than $48k, and I didn't study for 5 years to get a starting salary equal to what some liberal arts degree could have got me. Any advice?

UPDATE: Post #111

Got a call from them yesterday, after a couple hours of phone tag he finally got to tell me they will accept my counter-offer and start me at $48k. Feels good to know I'll have a job after I graduate, and I will be getting paid what I think I deserve. Can't wait to start paying off my student loans and maybe buy a couple of things I've always wanted buy knew I shouldn't buy... I start the day after Memorial Day! :thumbsup:

 

[Slacker]

42k in Rochester is like 500k in real money, take it.

 

[Xed]

Take it and keep looking. It's not like you can't quit. 42k > 0

 

[herm0016]

there are a ton of college educated people working at McD right now. Take it and keep looking. a piece of paper from a college does not entitle you to a great salary, Prove your worth to the company and then they will probably give you a raise or move you up.

 

[Mo0o]

I would take it and work your ass off and hope for a good reevaluation while looking for better opportunities elsewhere. I think given the job market as it is, you want to take what you can and impress them on the job

 

[96Firebird]

there are a ton of college educated people working at McD right now. Take it and keep looking. a piece of paper from a college does not entitle you to a great salary, Prove your worth to the company and then they will probably give you a raise or move you up.

I would gladly give them references, if they had asked for any. They even had me sit in front of a computer and do some stuff in SolidWorks, and said they were very impressed with how much I knew. Like I said, I have done some co-ops that went very well, its not like I am fresh out of college with no experience.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Take it and keep looking. It's not like you can't quit. 42k > 0

This. If you're being given an evaluation after 6 months, it's not as if you owe them any loyalty.

 

[nanette1985]

Congrats on the job offer. Welcome to the work world. Nobody said it was gonna be easy

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I didn't study for 5 years to get a starting salary equal to what some liberal arts degree could have got me. Any advice?

First, congratulations. Second, lose the sense of entitlement. Third, take the job and keep looking.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If you're "applied a ton" and not had any luck you'd have to be stupid to turn down any offer.

 

[enis083]

First, congratulations. Second, lose the sense of entitlement. Third, take the job and keep looking.

:thumbsup:

 

[TechAZ]

I know their offer seems low, and it is, but take it. Maybe the reason you're not getting a lot of offers is due to experience. Even though the pay is low at this prospective business, the experience will be worth the short-term disappointment.

 

[96Firebird]

Thanks for the congrats, definitely an exciting time.

So nobody thinks I should counter-offer? I hope the company that I am working for now can come back with something that I can use as leverage, in case a counter-offer fails.

 

[slayer202]

try to find a newly graduated liberal arts major making 42k...take that shit and keep applying to other jobs...

 

[Bignate603]

I know their offer seems low, and it is, but take it. Maybe the reason you're not getting a lot of offers is due to experience. Even though the pay is low at this prospective business, the experience will be worth the short-term disappointment.

I don't know, when I graduated the job market was just starting to fall apart. Most decent people with mechanical engineering degrees were still getting offers >$50k though. However, most were willing to move which makes a big difference. Also, they said they asked him to do some stuff on Solidworks for them. For most industries being a CAD jockey pays less than other engineering roles which may be why the pay is lower.

Thanks for the congrats, definitely an exciting time.

So nobody thinks I should counter-offer? I hope the company that I am working for now can come back with something that I can use as leverage, in case a counter-offer fails.

I'd definitely at least ask for something more, they probably won't be surprised or offended if you come back asking for a reasonable increase but may not be able to do anything about it. It would be best if you could get your current company to give you an offer first though before you go back. I wouldn't go in demanding something, just put the ball in their court and see if they'll bump it up some. If they don't, you didn't burn any bridges and can still accept the job. As long as you're reasonable about it and ask diplomatically there's no harm in trying.

 

[deanx0r]

Zero experience out of college? You didnt take on any internship or attend any job fairs on your campus? Take the offer, this is a golden opportunity in this economical climate. The only way you will be able to amass experience and higher wages out of college as an engineers is through job hopping. You're even more lucky if it's a fulltime position offering benefits. Most new graduates have to go through a bunch of internships or contractor jobs before they can land a somehow stable position.

Take the offer.

 

[Powermoloch]

Better than zero that's for sure :thumbsup:

 

[Sid59]

out of curiosity, what's your preferred 3D CAD program?

 

[Corporate Thug]

Take it and keep looking. It's not like you can't quit. 42k > 0

this.

 

[yllus]

If you can get the reevaluation scheduled in writing, go for it.

Also, good for you for spending some time to deliberate on a low offer. I've read a study that stated that your starting pay when joining the workforce has a significant influence on your compensation for the rest of your career, so this isn't something to be taken lightly.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I would gladly give them references, if they had asked for any. They even had me sit in front of a computer and do some stuff in SolidWorks, and said they were very impressed with how much I knew. Like I said, I have done some co-ops that went very well, its not like I am fresh out of college with no experience.

You ARE fresh out of college and you DON'T have any experience! Experience is measured in years and projects accomplished from beginning to end NOT, in the number of "co-ops" you've done. Take the job and continue to look.

 

[sunzt]

Is this a big or small company? Do they offer tuition reimbursement for a masters? If so then yes take it and get your masters.

You counter with a higher salary, but probably nothing over 48k. 6 months go by quick and you may get a good bump after.

 

[Imp]

Don't take it. Keep applying everywhere, there's bound to be something. The economy is improving, and that means more jobs. You have NOTHING to worry about with all the people who gave up on finding jobs returning to the market. About 50 mech engineers per school, multiply that by the number of engineering schools in your country, then double or triple that to account for all those that didn't find jobs the year before, then add in some overqualified people with experience, and.......

Just take it. Counter-offer if you really feel like you should. You owe that corporate entity NOTHING, and can keep looking, then drop it like a rock once you find something.

 

[KentState]

Money > no money

 

[boomhower]

Take the job and the experience. It's located where you want to be and available now. It's the experience that's killing you. Take the job and hope in six months they give you a raise to put you at where you want to be. If not, stick it out for a year and keep looking. Turning it down would be stupid in this job market.