A question about graduate pay and **** taking

[Pit Pony]

So my son got a 1st Masters in Chemistry from York.
4 years ago.
He worked in Cancer drug discovery, and after 2 years took voluntary redundancy and did teacher training at Birmingham.
So during his NQT year he decided that he hated being a chemistry teacher.
So he's changing direction again. He applied and has been successful with one of the big accountancy firms. You know the one that begins with P, and gets fined occasionally and fks up the Oscars. Job is a trainee in the Assurance function (auditing?)
Leads to ACA chartered status.
Now is it just me or is £22k a year a proper pistake?
I know there is the dangling of carrot, and all that, but to me it just says we actually are going to treat you like st.
I've tried to be encouraging, but if he was me, I'd be looking elsewhere.
I live in the here and now and not the future and occasional regret it.

[Pit Pony]

Integroo said:

I would agree it is low if he is living and working in central London, but in the regions as a trainee it is what one might expect. I started as a trainee solicitor in Scotland on £17k. It will jump up quickly once he qualifies, and by a large amount if he qualifies and moves to London.

Birmingham

[Pit Pony]

To clarify, my son, was only a little surprised and looking at the bigger picture.

It's his father who is a cynical bd (me) who just thinks "cannon fodder" and sees the cynical dangling of carrots.

[Pit Pony]

Badda said:

Jasandjules said:

He has a choice does he not? If it is not enough money then he can refuse to sign the contract and find a job that pays him more.

Problem solved.

What made you think that this hadn’t occurred to him?

I've suggested that with a start date some months away, he doesn't stop looking. Whether he takes my advice is to be seen.
I'm just not convinced that he couldn't use it to renegotiate a better rate.

[Pit Pony]

Badda said:

Pothole said:

Badda said:

Jasandjules said:

He has a choice does he not? If it is not enough money then he can refuse to sign the contract and find a job that pays him more.

Problem solved.

What made you think that this hadn’t occurred to him?

The fact that the thread exists brought me to that conclusion.

Sounds like you’ve not read it then and are just keen to make smart arse opinions.

No no. Please dont get into a cat fight.

He's happy, it's his over protective dad who wanted to check his own cynicism.

I NOW accept that long term is the best way to view it. and will be able to be be encouraging with out feeling that I'm lying a little.

[Pit Pony]

Pothole said:

Hmmm, how does one "make" an opinion? If he got a Masters 4 years ago, isn't he gonna be about 30? Why is his Dad even involved?

26 last week.
Lives with his fiancee, another science graduate. Planning thier wedding for next year.

Dad is asking the question because Dad was surprised at how low the starting salary is.

[Pit Pony]

Olivera said:

When I graduated ~20 years ago big auditing and consultancy firms were offering starting salaries at the time in the region of £20k.

I would suggest that something is awry in the labour market if it hasn't increased much since then.

The HMRC have a "inflation" checker. I put in my graduate salary of 10680 quid at Lucas Industries as a manufacturing systems engineer (T4T) and it comes to £26,600 now.

[Pit Pony]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

A Desmond from Coventry Polytechnic in Production Engineering with manufacturing systems and year in industry, accreditted by IProdE (now part of IET)
Given my own woeful A level grades which was just enough to start a HND, my kids are clearly harder working and cleverer.
I think the main difference between accountancy and engineering, is that becoming chartered in Engineering has very little impact in your pay.
To be fair, now I run a LTD company, i feel that becoming an accountant would have been a better career.

[Pit Pony]

POORCARDEALER said:

Strange how graduates often end up in careers nothing like their degrees....relation of mine has a PHD in genetics and works in computing

Yeah. Don't get it myself. Nephew has a degree in community drama and is an estate agent.
Sister has a PHD in Soil Science and works in exam quality assurance.
Daughter has an MPharm and sells drugs. (To be fair most of her customers get their methadone free)