This post is directed at “fresh from campus” job seekers and may be read as a continuation of our earlier post – Why should I take up a Rs. 10,000 per month job ?
For starters, the thought to skip any supposedly low paying offer make sense if you are mature enough to weigh your own calibre, competencies and the demands of the market. If you able to judge a perceived low paying offer and possibilities for future offers based on your calibre and competence – you can most welcome to wait for the right time and the right offer.
But most people are not really in a position to wait and watch and most people are not in a position to predict their own calibre and their potential especially at the onset of their careers.
Now, making life simpler and your decision simpler, here are some thoughts.
When you work with a long term career in mind, you don’t just work for money. Money is only one consideration that most people see and it is of relatively low relevance when one is starting a career.
When you take up a job the following are the takeaways:
- Money – Salary, Perks, Other Benefits
- Experience – Exposure, Employer Brand
- Learning’s – Technical, Management, People Skills, Best Practices
- Networking Opportunities
As a starter, you need to see that there is an ample balance of the above with a preference in favour of learning’s & experience. While learning is a result of experience it also depends on other factors – such as your own keenness and interest.
Experience, could wither be a simple work experience or could also bring along the tag of having engaged with a top employer brand, reputed work place and exposure to some of the industry best practices. Every factor has its own value, and most of these factors have a better value than “money”. Compensation in such cases is an immediate gratification, while learning and experience is what enables you to build a career. The value of learning , experience, employer brand, networking etc. start getting visible after 2 – 3 years.
Okay, here’s the question – would you go for a job where in you get Rs. 50,000 per month for a year to sit idle or a job that pays you half the amount and gets you to work for more than 60 hour a week. At the end of a year your value and your demand in the job market will depend on what you have done and what you have learnt in last one year.
Of course, these are only some pointers that can help you decide on your first job. What you make out of any offer depends a lot on you, and your ability to learn and identify appropriate opportunities suited to your interest and calibre.
Praveen is the Founder & Principal Consultant of KHEdge, a boutique HR & Business Process Advisory firm. Over last 15 years he has advised & worked with promoters, founders, business leaders, HR leaders in areas of - Business Strategy, HR Strategy, Organisation Design etc.