21 applying for his first job - bit of advice needed from the older people

hcb42

Crikey. I thought there was a recession on, or perhaps I havent been looking at graduate salaries too closely lately. I would have thought low £20s was nearer the mark

Ultimately you have to follow your heart though, especially given they are such diverse choices. Rather you than me making that decision!

Pocketsaver

I know! I thought £24K immediate start was impressive! That's why I am having difficulty with the decision, as this would be the civvy job I would normally go for otherwise. I wouldn't expect this kind of pay in the army for over 6 years I'd imagine!

Thinking about it, to not go with the army would be something I would regret for the rest of my life. Heck, I have even said I would rather go in and start as a Private than do something other than the army. Probably going to have to go for the army, as I genuinely feel like I have cheated on the army (who have given me a lot of non-financial support and backing). ha, I remember being in the middle of a platoon harbour with my head torch at 4am studying for a 4,000 word essay -which I still got a 2.1 in -(already carrying 40kg of kit before throwing my books/ articles into my bergan), after coming off a platoon attack, and awake for 50 hours. ahh, the beasting I got for that the next day! still went away with a smile though. And that was only for about £40 a day, I'd be over the moon with £70 a day to a similar job.

Wyndham

Pocketsaver wrote: »

Sorry, I was thinking of the jobs whilst I was typing the original post, and as a result, it doesn't really make much sense.

And you're studying for an MA? I just hope your essays make more sense

Personally, I now know that money isn't everything, and happiness is priceless. They'll want lots of hard work for the higher paying job, and that will have an effect on your spare time, your stress levels and your social life. Though it also sounds like the other job will as well.....

Magnolia

My view on this is you have already answered your own question. You wax so lyrical about your time with the terriers. I would guess if you tossed a coin with the army as heads and the other job as tails you would be hoping for heads as the coin fell.

Looking even further into the future - think about your pension. Not sure about now but higher ranks in the forces retired on final salary pensions. And you get the lifestyle you have already adapted to and love.

Give the coin a toss and see what happens

simonSE15

hmmm, get sent to afghanistan/iraq or a nice kushy desk job?

tough one

[Deleted User]

Aldi pays graduates 40k
Accenture pays grads 31k
I know my firm pays 24k+ for graduates

It's perfectly possible to get a high graduate starting salary.. its just tough to get those jobs

Pocketsaver

Magnolia wrote: »

You wax so lyrical about your time with the terriers. I would guess if you tossed a coin with the army as heads and the other job as tails you would be hoping for heads as the coin fell.

Looking even further into the future - think about your pension. Not sure about now but higher ranks in the forces retired on final salary pensions. And you get the lifestyle you have already adapted to and love.

Give the coin a toss and see what happens

You were right about the coin toss.

Never thought about pension before, but I'd have to survive 22 years to get the great pensions!

Wyndham wrote: »

And you're studying for an MA? I just hope your essays make more sense

Terrible isn't it! I've had to pass on my essays to so many people to make sure I don't do that kind of thing, because to me it all makes sense, as it's how I unravel things in my head.

Cheers for the help. Sometimes it makes your head clearer to talk to people you don't know to reach an answer you already had.

hcb42

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Aldi pays graduates 40k
Accenture pays grads 31k
I know my firm pays 24k+ for graduates

It's perfectly possible to get a high graduate starting salary.. its just tough to get those jobs

So low £20s as i said was near the mark then. Aldi have always paid way above the market, and I know Accenture as well , but they are NOT the norm!

ManicMum

Aldi pays graduates £40k? To do what? Blimey, wish I could go back 20 years and start again.

Why not do the newspaper thing and if you don't like it, join the army. Surely the army will still be an option in 5 years time?

bristol_pilot

Aldi pays grads £40k, plus executive car, as trainee supermarket managers. No experience required, but I belive it is very hard work.

Grad starting salaries of £25k+ are normal, £40k+ in London. These are proper grad jobs. Of course there are many graduates who have to accept far less and are doing jobs that would have been done by school leavers years ago (prior to the ridiculous expansion of higher education).

I am about twice the OP's age. I take the opposite view to Wyndham. At 21, my main priority was getting interesting work, job satisfaction and developing new skills. As I have got older, money has become more of a priority as I realised just how much you need to earn to get a house and afford a decent lifestyle. Being young and poor(ish) is OK, it loses its appeal as you get older. I don't regret my choice of subject at uni, just wish I'd made the move into management earlier. I now see earning money as my main reason for working, although I still enjoy it too.