Choosing where to start my career! 2

[Mechanicalvyn]

After half a year out of school, I land a couple positions. Which position sounds good?

Both are small companies, the first position is offering the low end of entry level wage in CA, but I will learn a wide set of skills and work with clients from different industries. I would be supervising myself for the most part.

The other is with a new small company; they offer salary and stock options. I be working on location helping develop systems that use the growing RFID technology

I dont have that much experience with RFID so I dont want to be stuck doing something boring or unfullfilling. That is, unless the pay makes it worthwhile.

How much of a pay difference would make you switch positions? Thanks in advance

 

[Beggar]

I strongly advise you *NOT* to start your career in a position where you would be "supervising yourself for the most part."

You don't yet know how much you don't know, but I know. As a newbie, you know very, very little. You need to learn, ideally under the tutelage of several experienced engineers.

In the first position, how will "you learn a wide set of skills" if you're on your own?

Being on your own will deny you that opportunity and you're virtually certain to make some substantial mistakes - ones that could end up costing you big time.

I've been in that situation and it is not good at all..

The fact that company A is trying to fill the slot with a newbie, and paying low-end market wages, means that they're either (a) struggling, or (b) short-sighted penny-pinchers.

I'd avoid them for either reason.

Go with #2 (which, by the way, is a growth field).

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[Mechanicalvyn]

Thanks for the opinion, Beggar (interesting handle). I should rephrase, I after I complete CAD training I will be sent to work for clients. In that way I would be unsupervised, but I will be given the tools and resources that will help me mesh well with the clients I work with and maintain contacts.

Also, I will be paid for every hour I work so it would come out to be considerably more than my offered wage.

 

[Heckler]

But you wouldn''t want to start your career being micromanaged either. I started my post BS career with a boss who micromanaged me. I hated it and ended up leaving after 12 months. I wasn't your typical student. I had 4 years of military service and worked as an engineering student assistant while going to school. So I had wide range of exposure to industry before starting my career.

I would go with job #2....RFID will be a challenge and the money is always a good thing. Best of luck.

 

[Ashereng]

The other is with a new small company; they offer salary and stock options. I be working on location helping develop systems that use the growing RFID technology

Nuff said. I'd go with #2.


How many engineers in this forum have stock options offered to them, excluding the self employed and owners?

If the salary in the mean time is competitive (and you seem to say that it is not on the low side), I definitely would go with #2.

Let's be practical here:
- this is your first job (chances are you will learn lots regardless of where you go)
- RFID is as good a field as any (I'm not electronic or mechanical, but it seems to be good)
- stock options (very rare)
- not low end salary (that's always good)
- you don't know if you will like RFID (so what, give it a try and if you don't like it, you can always move on)
- how much money to do something you don't like (gee, I guess that depends on you)

 

[Mechanicalvyn]

Thanks for all the insight, guys. To give you guys an update, I've just finished the RFID interview and got the position. Afterwards, I gave otion #1 a call and heres the rundown:

#1 Salary (and more than I was first told, now were in the mid range) but paid for every hour worked, 3% 401k, half expense paid healthcare. Pro-E CAD training provided
- 60 hrs a week, more autonomous work environment

#2(RFID) turned out to be less salary (5k less) but full benefits, possible pre-IPO stock options(someone clue me in on this)
-team environment, I'd have to catch up with AutoCAD

that 60 hrs a week struck me harshly, so #2 is looking better by the hour.

Do not be tense, just be ready, not thinking but not dreaming, not being set but being flexible. It is being "wholly" and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for whatever may come - Bruce Lee

 

[Ashereng]

Pre IPO stock options means that you have an option to buy private shares in the company. When a company makes an IPO, the stocks are made available to the general public. The pre-IPO shares, in an ideal case, would be optioned at a much lower price, for example, $1/share. After the IPO, when the public frenze whips up the interest, the shares may be worth let say $10/share. If you have an option to purchase 1000 shares at $1/share, after the vesting period is over, you can exercise your option - and then turn around and sell it on the market at $10/share (for a profit of $9000 dollars).

By the way, if it is "possbile" pre IPO shares, it isn't work anything. You either have it or you don't. Promises are worth $0.


60 hours a week as an initial expectation is a lot. Usually, they tell you 40hr/wk and you end up doing 50hr/wk. If they are starting at 60hr/wk, it could go up to 70-80/wk.


On a slightly different tack, here is another thought that young guys don't always think of.

I just got news that a colleague of mine died 2 days ago while skiing. He is my age, maybe about 45, in good health, good job, very sucessful.

What I am trying to say is, try to get a good balance in your life. All work is not the way to go. Spend time with your friends and family. If you are working 60+ hours, you won't have much of a life, just work. It may not be worth it.

 

[Beggar]

60+ hours, right up front?

Yikes.

Add that to the other drawbacks....

Roll the dice with the ISO (incentive stock options) - if it's pre-IPO, you've got a a *chance* to make some serious cash on the deal.

You can also get stiffed even if the company succeeds but never goes public. If it's bought out, there's nothing that says that they have to buy every share, especially the option pool.

--------------------
How much do YOU owe?

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

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[Mechanicalvyn]

I believe it is pre-IPO, and I'm pretty sure they will go public so I'm not worried.

I also realized Heckler's advice about RFID being a challenge, people shouldn't back down from a challenge just because they have to step into the realm of the unknown.

Seeing this is a new stage in my life I should take the risk of riding a possibly booming industry even though I dont know everything about it or its safety.

Do not be tense, just be ready, not thinking but not dreaming, not being set but being flexible. It is being "wholly" and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for whatever may come - Bruce Lee

 

[HVAC68]

Check this link. Interesting points.

http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/mar/03jobs.htm

HVAC68

 

[Mechanicalvyn]

nice link. Good lookin' out.

Do not be tense, just be ready, not thinking but not dreaming, not being set but being flexible. It is being "wholly" and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for whatever may come - Bruce Lee