Should I decline a job offer because my parent doesn't approve of the salary?

[Bethany22]

My parent seems to be the only one I talk to who thinks that I should wait as long as possible for a job that uses my degrees, whereby I would also get paid more. Everyone else thinks it's better to take a lesser paying job while keep applying for my dream job. Why would my parent be so confident that postponing work experience is the best strategy? I hate job interviews, and I hate the vulnerable feeling of not having a job. What should I do? Wait like my parent wants, or take the lesser paying job that I've been offered? Any advice on how to get the highest salary amount offered at this company?

[Charlesbrandonf]

I think both have pros and cons.


Sometimes waiting gives us great opportunities sometimes trying now than later put us in a great path. And you’ll have some experience behind your back. Degrees are nothing is my experience. How good you’re with the skills matter.


Time is precious, time valuable. If you strongly believe and know what you want to do it’s your goal to try to hit it. Opportunities will not come to our door unless we are lucky and step on Fox tail.




Do the math, talk to your parents. Don’t decline the job if it’s related to your degree. Don’t decline the job if it’s something interests you. Don’t decline it, if you need to make your own money, and the job is not so stressful.


But whatever you do, don’t regret it.

[RealMarek]

Times have changed. There is a glut of college graduates and even those with STEM degrees often face job insecurity. Our elites are so focused on short-term personal gain that they will damage whole domestic industries through capricious regulations and trade policy without regard for the people who worked to get credentials to support those industries. We’re in a stagflationary economy. You need work, so take a job. It’s also easier to find a job if you have a job because HR people love to throw away resumes with “gaps.”

[mattdzz]

I'm an HR consultant; so, let me weigh in on this.

Take a job, now.

Your lack of experience, unless you have an engineering degree is going to preempt you from getting anything remotely relating to your degree (especially if you only have an undergrad degree). Try to get a job in a company that does what you studied, even if the job itself isn't involved in that (example: taking an admin job at NASA, if you studied Aerospace Engineering). Or get a job that includes aspects of what you future dream job would include (taking an admin job if you studied HR/ accounting).

If you'd like more detailed advice, feel free to DM me with your major, job titles you're interested in, salary you're hoping for, etc?

[Agagagagaga]

So you’re the guys who do the hiring and firing instead of the boss.

It’s a wonder anything ever got done before Human Resources.

In my mother’s time if you wanted a job you walked into a business and asked if they were hiring. Now you get told to go to their website, create a user profile and password, and spend three hours filling out an application and your employment history even though you uploaded a resume—all in the hopes of an interview that you may never even get a call about. Oh and if you do get an interview don’t expect them to call you back anytime soon to let you know if you got the job. It’s not like you need work. Oh and lest we forget, the salary won’t be posted on the website. So you may have spent all your time jumping through hoops for a job that pays jack fucking squat.

But someone has a good job though!

People like you.

🙄🤮

[mattdzz]

@Agagagagaga Your dumbass does know there are a myriad of federal regulations that the "boss" isn't knowledgeable enough about to make the best decisions, without HR's expertise, right? Fairness in hiring, spelled out in Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, is best practiced by trained HR people- lawsuits can result if this isn't followed, which are incredibly expensive.
A standard process is the only way fairness can be achieved; so, yea, a lot of companies rely on their own Applicant Tracking System.
Regarding your resume, which 9/10 is poorly written, confusing, and doesn't actually relate to the job you're applying to- why wouldn't companies require "translation" of this into a format we can easily compare to others?
Lastly, anybody who goes through an interview should be contacted regarding the results, and I always advise my recruiters to do this.
Have you considered that maybe you were such an ass in the interview that they don't want to reach out to you again?

[Bethany22]

Really helpful, thanks!

[Bethany22]

@Agagagagaga I know right? It's so annoying how when I've already gone to the trouble of writing up a resume specifically for that company, they make you fill in your whole resume in their system again! But @mattdzz has a point, it's to make it standard and fair.

[Anonymous]

Bethany,

Does job provide you with what you are looking for? Is it challenging and more importantly is it or could it be fulfilling? I suspect, that your parents are more concerned with your rationale to entertain. Feels like there may be other reasons on the table that your parents are concerned with. Perhaps there a guy involved as part of your rationale?

In any case, you need to do what's best for you. Parents can always and they will say I told you so. But I guarantee you that you miss 100% of the shots you never take. Just make sure your rationale is solid. I had someone ask me years ago, are you running away from something or running to something? Truthfully answer that question and you will see the light.

Keep smiling

KIK

[jennifer_bloom]

I find most parents overvalue the credentials of their child in comparison to others. My cousin went to an ordinary school and his dad tells Chinese immigrants it’s the best in Canada. I had an honours bachelors and my aunt said my honours was not real.

[Quigly]

Your parents grew up in a different time. They had better choices and could be more selective than your generation. They have no clue how bad things have gotten for the generation behind them.

It's true, If you don't use your skills, you will lose your skills.

If you find a job doing what you actually went to school for, Consider yourself lucky. Many people never manage that goal at any pay. So, if you do find that job for a lower pay, then I would take it, Gain on the job experience and begin increasing your salary with experience.

The only way many can achieve this is by applying nationally for the job and be willing to move to another city.

If this is not an option, try to find a job related, something that can enhance the education and experience that you have.

[DJB72]

Never take a job for the money. It's rarely worth it.

I worked one day a week doing estate maintenance and management. The pay was peanuts but I loved every minute and I learned skills I still use almost 30 years later.

I took a job selling insurance that earned over £3000 a week and quit after three months because it was soul destroying.

These days I work for myself. I don't enjoy doing the accounts but the strategic planning is great fun and I help people turn their lives round.

Find something you love doing. Until then find something that pays the bills.

Screw what your parents think if it's a job you really want.

[glennos89]

Follow your own dream and let absolutely nobody influence your choices in order to reach your goals and dreams. With all respect but...

F*ck other peoples opinions about it and make those choices yourself. If you can accept a lower salary but like the job just go for it then 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[melanieeeB]

You should listen to yourself, yeah it's nice to have input but you have to decide at the end. You are going to work there, you should be okay with it or happy or like get along I don't know

Still you can take that job just as an override thing and quit when you find a new one... if YOU want that

[mermaidcancermoon]

Take the lower paying job for 6 months to a year. The added experience is what most companies are looking for unfortunately. So jumping out the gate into a high paying salary is a rare feat. Not impossible, just rare.

[Jdjfjcjj]

Any work experience is better than none. Accepting a job does not stop you from still applying for a job that matches your degree. If you wait to long to find such a job, I imagine you'd have to clarify what exactly you did during that time not working.

[AviatorTom]

You can, and should, listen to your parents advice, but the decision is ultimately yours to make. Most people start at an entry level job and work their way up., sometimes in the same company, sometimes moving to another company. Best of luck making your decision, whatever it is.

[Bricealan]

Mick Jagar and the STONES answered your question: "You can't always get what you want, you can't always get what you want, you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you might get what you need"!
I turned down a GREAT opportunity, with the State, because the salary was lower than I wanted, and LATER took a job with the same agency, for the same $$$$$ AND the job I was offered, was much better than the one I accepted. ?

[ArrowheadSW]

My opinion is to go for the job that you can get NOW. Best to gain the experience and also to be bringing in a paycheck. And it looks way better to an employer who you are interviewing with to currently have a job.

[nawtee_me]

You are not going to get the highest pay at a job when you are just starting out. You might try a little psychology here. Tell you parents that you may have a job offer in your field but it is out of state and you will have to find an apartment close to where you would be working. If your parent is like mine was when I was your age then you might find your parent back stepping to keep you nearby. If not you did say might have a job... lol

Personally I tell my kids when they are out of work to take what they can and continue to look. I even keep my application on indeed open and get text all of the time. I am not looking to change jobs but if the right one came along I might consider it. If my application is not open then how would I know if that job came up?

[AimeeKyle]

Do what you think is right….. at some point you have to take charge / be accountable for your future. Take advise from many, contemplate pluses and minuses and make a decision.
Note: it is easier to get / negotiate for another job if you already have one.

[Anonymous]

If the money, benefits, and career development in the current offer are reasonable, go get your initial experience there. Then go get something more appropriate.

I can only think that your parents are serious about your career development and want you only to work for very suitable firms.

[Talldutchie]

Always take the job if you like it and have good vibes! Money is never the number one reasont to take or to reject something! It is important you earn somewhat enough to pay the bills, food and to have some money left to do fun stuff! However, if you think you will like the tasks you are going to be given, go for it! Give it a try! You can always quit again..

[RavVid]

Look, once upon a time you got a job at a company and maybe stayed there you whole working life. It is not like that anymore. No loyalty from Employer = No loyalty from employee. Plus actually working is a skill in itself. Few people concentrate on work for every minute. I think take the best job you can and keep on working your way up.

[Sixgunsound]

You’re the one that has to do the job, not your parent. As such, if you believe your lifestyle is compatible with what that job pays, then as long as you are not responsible for a mentally incompetent parent who is dependent on your income, then they shouldn’t be telling you what to do in this matter.

[Lliam]

I'd take the job and keep up the search for a better one. Employers like to see job experience on your resume. It's an indication of your work ethic.

[HaveNoName]

Noooooo. That is such a bad advice unfortunately. It makes hell of a difference to negotiate a salary if you have a job in hand compared to not having anything. I mean if you are going for a professional job, I dont mean you take up the job of a babysitter; but start somewhere. No harm leaving a job if you find a better offer.

Best of luck.