Advice needed on job pay

MercilessKiller

Hey there.

I jsut got offered a job with Lynx Networks. Its more of an experience building role with network engineers out on the field and due to this I'd be paid minimal..

I'd be getting paid less than £30 a day for a 6 to 8 hour day basically....

Now, i'm in my first year of uni doing network computing, so network engineering experience is SO priceless for me right now, I'm thinking I should take it. The money covers petrol and will pay off the overdraft till my loan comes through..

BUT... if the job is demanding, i'll be doing a lot of work for literally nothing...

I've said yes but dont start till last week of June so *could* change my mind.

Can anyone advise if this is the right OR wrong thing to do. I don't want people who agree to not post as I want to average out peoples opinions.. im too young and naiive to know on my own

Thank you

rharper83

The way I'd look at it is like this....
1) It's experience - that'll be fantastic on a CV, AND give you plenty to talk about during job interviews etc etc.
2) It's money, which is always needed as a student!!
3) What else will you be doing during the summer? Sure, you could work at your local supermarket, and earn more... But would you have more fun there? If you're interested in this kind of stuff, then I think not!

If it was me, I'd go for it
Hope that helps.

olly300

Most IT jobs advertised ask for 2 years experience, and with a push some employers will look at those with one. So I would take the job and get the experience. When you leave uni you will be able to get a job quicker than those on your course who have had no experience and normally at a higher salarly.

MercilessKiller

olly300 wrote:

Most IT jobs advertised ask for 2 years experience, and with a push some employers will look at those with one. So I would take the job and get the experience. When you leave uni you will be able to get a job quicker than those on your course who have had no experience and normally at a higher salarly.

My course includes a year of work experience (3rd year) so will that mean that once out of uni I'll have my 2 years experience, my networking degree and a full CCNA? That should be good for a first job right?

Also will be studying for a CCNP but know they're rather hard so no expectations just yet...

Sumostar

Experience is invaluable. The pay is a separate issue, unless you are being paid less than minimum wage (this depends on your age) .

MercilessKiller

Well I am been paid less than minimum wage. Am 18, and i'll be getting on average £2.50 an hour for a full 8 hour day.

What they've said is "we'll give you £x no matter how many hours you work that day" but minimum hours is 5...

Chalky87

I didn't think they could do that...minimum wage for an 18 year old is £4.25, correct me if I'm wrong, it seems a little unfair that they're going to pay you £2.50 to say the least.

Obviouslly it will be a good experience for you and hopefully mean better job prospects in the future, but if I were you I'd be looking to ask them why they paying just £2.50/hour to an 18 year old.

Make sure you do your research first on min. wage though before asking, so they don't come up with anything you're not sure about.

lellie

no it's a work experience placement - in those cases they pay "expenses" which is enough to cover getting there and back, but you work for free essentially..

MercilessKiller

lellie wrote:

no it's a work experience placement - in those cases they pay "expenses" which is enough to cover getting there and back, but you work for free essentially..

Ye they used the excuse its an experience placement..

However they said if I "work hard" and seem like I know my stuff etc, then they'll increase the expenses pay.

I don't know the difference between doing an experience job and a normal job.. I mean a normal job IS experience and I'm assuming I'll have similar responsibilities...

I can try and argue but i don't want to argue my way out of the job

David_Brent

Go for it! The experience working will look good on your CV and help you in finding a job after your studies, and at the end of the day if the job is too demanding you can always quit!

kar

lol they are doing you a favour mate take the experience. some places would expect you to cover your own expenses. You will find it a hell of a lot easier to get a good placement if you already have some experience and therefore increase your chances of getting a job at the end.