1st Job after college Salary Negotiation/ TRAVEL or WORK after college
Backgroud:
I just got an offer from one of the BIG 4 accounting firms after interning this summer. I have one semester left of school, (this fall). I received an offer for the following August, but recently HR called me to tell me that I have a choice to start as soon as i finish my semester.
Question 1: Do I have leverage to negotiate my offer? Perhaps a boost in salary and a signing bonus or is this to BOLD. It seems like they need people, but at the same time i don't want to get my offer revoked. I thought that since they had requested that I start earlier(my choice) I definitely can use this for leverage.
Question 2: Shoud I work as soon as my semester ends and start saving money or follow my original plan to travel and pass some parts of CPA? I originally planned to travel and perhaps pass some CPA requirements, but now i realize that i would probably have to take a 10k loan and don't want to start my career with an unnecessary loan.
Thanks in advance. I really appreciate your input.
MAX
The Big 4 collude like crazy to set starting salaries and their hiring process is very standardized, especially for audit. I'd be shocked if you squeezed any blood from that stone.
Im not an Accounting guy but i would think getting a paycheck every month vs. taking out a loan; Positive cash flow wins. Be grateful you have a job and start working your way up.
congrats
How much leverage do you think you have with a Big 4 company and 10% unemployment? The reality is that unless you are a rock star you have very little. Is it worth a couple extra thousand to risk losing your offer? If it's a job you want accept their off and start in January. Is spending that time traveling worth the $40K+ you will lose by starting in August with a 10k loan?
Max,
If you do try and negotiate, which is totally up to you, make sure you ask about vacation time and sick days for your first year.
No question, start early.
Regards.
Agree...start early. Get a jump on the rest of the group that will start 6-8 months down the road.
I think your job is pretty secure even if you were to start in August. I'd seriously consider your original plan to travel and study up for the CPA. Working at the Big 4 is absolutely miserable and the last thing you'll want to do is study while you're working.
As for negotiations, don't even bother. You'll get some canned line about how all undergrad hires are standardized and then you'll just feel foolish.
Thank you all for your advice! Thank you for the congrats!
I feel much more comfortable. I was researching how to negotiate an offer all week and some of the things you mentioned I totally agree with. (I agree that it isn't worth losing my offer for a couple of extra K.) Q3 Is there a way to ask if HR can offer me any incentives to start earlier? I think i will be sacrificing my CPA bonus which they offer for those who complete it in 1 year, b/c i know it will be extremely difficult to do while working. I was thinking perhaps a signing bonus. Q4 WHAT ABOUT GETTING CERTIFIED (CPA) BEFORE STARTING UP?? I AM NOT SO SURE I'D BE ABLE TO HANDLE STUDYING FOR CPA WHILE WORKING. Q5 MY TRUE PASSION IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND I AM THINKING THAT I WILL GO FOR MY MBA AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF WORK EXPERIENCE. DO YOU THINK BIG 4 EXPERIENCE WILL HELP ME IN MY GOAL OF SUCCESSFULLY STARTING UP POSITIVE CASH FLOW BUSINESSES. Q6 @ CompBanker AND ALL: You're the only one who still HOLDS travel to be a VIABLE option. WHAT ABOUT TAKING THE LOAN? IS THAT A BAD FINANCIAL DECISION. I know that it's definitely an expense, but I THINK TRAVELING IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN MYSELF. THOUGHTS?
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