What type of Job Offer to Accept during this economy?

[AAAgent]

so i recently started applying to jobs like crazy. I plan on working for 2-3 years and building up some income to expand my business and possibly continue onto graduate school. I also want to move out but currently entry level positions are all offering 30-35k which would be possibly the bare minimum for survival. I've rejected 1 offer already and it seems like i am in the running for 2 more and still have interviews lined up.

What type of salary do you think i should accept or hold out for as a business major.
I was thinking anything inbetween 35-40k would be alright but my friend tells me i shouldn't except less than 45k since that is entry level salary and it would only take me longer to move up in pay if i started lower.

 

[CaptainJ]

Go into the property market, it's the perfect time when house prices are low

 

[mpimpin]

what's the major? and what type of jobs are you applying for? If it's some sort of management then it might be hard to get the 45k with just an undergrad and no experience right now. If you have a valuable internship under your belt and/or experience maybe you could get more then the 35K.

 

[mpimpin]

if your in the US what part of the country?

 

[Unbridled_Phoenix]

Go read the Sales thread.

Regardless of how much education you get, you will always be an employee. And as such, you'll have nothing in terms of a tax shelter. Why would anyone borrow all the money to get through medical school to get a high-paying wage job only to give half of it back to the government every year?

Besides those with strong convictions for the medical field, obviously.

A job in sales is perfect. Of course, I am biased, but don't say I didn't let ya know.

Find a sales position offered from a company you believe in, or selling a product in high demand.

There is nothing tougher, or more rewarding, than getting into sales and DECIDING that you are going to be the best at your craft. A great salesman is always making money, and as a "contractor", he has leeway in his tax filings.

Also, there is NO faster (or better) path to the executive suite of a company than Sales. Doesn't matter what your product is, who could possibly know the product, the business, and the competition better than the salesman? No one.

 

[NO_BODY]

I've worked for less. Economy is ****ty, and it's only going to get worst, dollar is going to fall, all is going to end in world war in which two plus billion will die. Just my 2 cents. What you do is suck it up and work for 35k, at least for the first six months or a year, gain experience. Of course if you have a valuable internship, look for better things, as you can afford that, if NOT, then you have no choice. What I advice you do is research every company you get offers from, and find the best, in terms of a rep. So that later down the road, 1 year from now or six months, you have that on your resume, and they could offer you 60k for that experience or something like that. The more history you have the more valuable you are, this is true for every industry, be it sales or IT, or whatever.

I don't recommend you start renting your place. I know it's good and all, but you will be wasting your money on rent, instead of a house lone. Instead of paying rent I suggest you live with your parents, and save the money you earn. In fact invest it into gold.

Let me tell you about my approach, I'm moving to Russia. That's my home, and also that's the biggest country followed by China and India to stand up to the un-American exploits of United States. If these two go to war I'll be on the Russian side, a government that doesn't lie to its people is always better. Just my 2 cents. If you decide to move to Russia, you'd need money, housing is expensive, much more expensive than in United States. Two bed room apartment that cost in the States 100,000, will run you 150,000 in Russia.

I suggest you think hard about saving money and arranging some sort of escape from this country. If not as a primary objective, something secondary, or thirdly, so that you have options to move if things get very VERY tough. I'm talking about hunger, martial law, civil war, draft.

 

[AAAgent]

staff accountant - 6 month paid internship
Event manager - 2 years
Consulting business - just started in august of 09

Graduated with a BS in business administration concentrating in legal studies.

I do have accounting experience and management experience and those are the fields i am looking into for positions. i am getting interviews and offers but so far all the offers are less than what i think is sufficient to live off of.

I decided to go into legal studies/business law since i wanted to be an entrepreneur which i am but i still need to build some income to get my business moving faster. probably work for a year or two and work on my business part time.

I am located in the philadelphia area. My gpa isn't good but i do present myself well and have a nice resume which gets me interviews but i also don't have a chance with the bigger companies that require 3.0 gpa's or better.

um.. this is my home and i'm not escaping it.

 

[Sisyphus7]

LOL with a generic degree and <3.0 gpa you are lucky to be getting the offers you are in this economy.
I have a BS in Electrical Engineering with a 3.5 and 4 years working at a national laboratory and it's been a crap shoot for me in this economy. I'd say take a job and look for a better one while you are in that job.

 

[ENIGMA16]

LOL with a generic degree and <3.0 gpa you are lucky to be getting the offers you are in this economy.
I have a BS in Electrical Engineering with a 3.5 and 4 years working at a national laboratory and it's been a crap shoot for me in this economy. I'd say take a job and look for a better one while you are in that job.

Yeah I have a BS in Civil Engineering and I've been applying since I graduated in May and haven't gotten a singe interview. It SUCKS.

 

[mpimpin]

Take one of your offers and live as cheaply as possible. I like that you have some experience and that's probably what is getting you what your being offered.

 

[AAAgent]

one reason why i am getting interviews is because i am applying to 20+ jobs on average per day and am currently at over 400 applications. My resumes is really good looks wise with a whole lot of fancy bs that i can get away with.

One thing that i have changed on my interviews that has been landing me offers is that i bring previous works that i have done. I bring my business brochure that i created for my clients to show my potential employers what i can do/have done. Bring powerpoint presentations, and just be really personable with them. All my interviewers love my lifestyle consulting business and they thinks its unique.

I think bringing in work and work that is unique is probably what is getting their attention. At some second interviews i even prepare a rough presentation for the position i am interviewing for.

example: website coordinator
i created a brief PPT on how to make the website better and did a 3 minute presentation.

I have only been doing these for the management interviews i have been getting. I only had 1 or 2 accounting interviews and i have no clue as to what i can bring to add value besides a resume and my people skills.

I am making do with my sh!t degree in legal studies which doesn't focus on any of the jobs i am applying for and with a 2.33 gpa i am still getting interviews. You guys graduated in May and still haven't gotten one interview, that just means you're not trying hard enough.

I began job searching in october and as of today have had 15+ interviews and 2 job offers. I will probably have a job by the end of the year...hopefully it will be one that pays enough....

gl guys and let me know what u think of how i prepare for my interviews.

 

[mpimpin]

Very proactive way to tackle those interviews!

 

[AAAgent]

haha yeah desperate times requires desperate measures but back to the topic, most of you guys think i should just accept whatever i can get. I am not sure if i will continue working for myself in the future or not so the first position i accept does have a major impact of where i will be going with my future as well so im not really sure if i should just accept any half decent offer i get.

 

[synergy1]

actually a high GPA can keep you out of jobs too; companies on tight budgets don't feel like shelling out what a 3.7 Masters candidate is asking for when the same work can be performed by an undergraduate with a 2.7.

 

[AAAgent]

im trying to get a part time job as a prep chef or possibly train to be a main chef at a hibachi. my best friend was a hibachi chef until he passed away. its pretty neat and the pay is decent for a part time job.

any idea's for landing an accounting position. i have more management skills but there are far more accounting positions and i have an internship in accounting.

 

[saber]

I think you have a great degree and with that business training there are a lot of options.

One thing is for sure though...you probably need to get some in-field experience for the type of business you want to pursue. then work your way up their ladder or start your own thing. IMO yes, this is probably the best most can get with any degree straight outta college. Not because they are incapable but because their is a very low exchange velocity in the job market



Im curious, would you feel capable of starting and running a business with the training you received in college?

 

[AAAgent]

i have started my own business, but now i need some finances to get things moving.

as for your question about is a college degree sufficient enough to start your own business that depends on the situation. I grew up with my dad as an entrepreneur business man. he owned a wholesale seafood distribution chain and at the age of 20 was making 100grand in profit and 1million in sales. then he opened his own club and now does real estate/commericial property. by shadowing him i learned alot and also working at the club and managing employees, seeing his mistakes, and my life experiences have taught me a lot about people and managing. for me i don't think college experience alone will make you a capable manager/business owner. you do need experience in one way or another. college was very helpful. i became more intelligent, learned how to organize more efficiently, met great intelligent people who i shadowed there and learned from as well, and the classes taught me a lot. i think a combination of life experiences and school have helped me create my business which is generating profit. i am looking for a fulltime job so i fund my business to generate more profit at a faster rate as well as keep my options open.

 

[Unbridled_Phoenix]

My business is in commercial finance. I may be able to help you:yes:

 

[AAAgent]

anyone here have any experience negotiating salaries? i was just given an open ended offer. basically they asked if i would accept the position and i said depending on the salary. The interviewer asked how much the other positions i was interviewing for was offering and i said $20+ per hour and around 40k. He told me he most likely could not due $20p/h range but the position is around $15 an hour and he could most likely bump that up. I don't think i will accept lower than $17 an hour but since it is a position that requires specific language speaking skills which i have i believe i can bargain a little.

They are looking for someone who can speak mandarin or cantonese and i can speak both fluently. There current manager is leaving the first week of december so they want someone to fill the position asap. How would you negotiate without seeming like an ******* or trying to milk them.

The position is not flexible with hours and the hours are pretty bad.

5:30am show up (30 mins away so i would have to be up daily at around 4am ish)

requires holiday working and possibly weekend

and if its hourly and $17+ i might be okay with working holidays and overtime but if it's salary and im working 50+ hours a week for 17 an hour which equals around $35k i don't think that job is worth the pay.

suggestions?

 

[blinkwatt101]

Man....this is why I don't want to finish college...

Only 1 of all of my friends have made any significant type of money after finishing school. Regardless of major,exp,gpa your lucky to get anything over $30k at the moment. I have friends that went to CAL POLY,Sac State,Berkeley,ASU,SDSU,you name it....nothing for no one except for 1.

Get a State job. Everything there is done by default.

Thanks golly money has almost 0 value to me,as long as my bills are paid. I'm looking to become a teacher and my happiness and fulfillment everyday will be all the pay I need.