Career Option Crossroad - Salary or Experience more valued at career start?

Hello, I am currently a senior at a strong west coast university and have a career decision to make upon my graduation this year.

Option 1: Business manager of uncle's small but growing service company. Salary would be 60k to start - would go up later. Still live at home for little while. No expenses. Would lose opportunity if I do not take.

Option 2: Work at a small, alright reputation, PE/investments firm as an analyst. Salary would be 45k. Commute would be just over an hour each way (if still live at home - if not, then rent expense would be added). More stress, longer hours than option 1.

Option 3: Other - Find a different & higher salary entry level position?

Note: I plan to pursue MBA within 6 years out of school and from then would seek a more elite job.

Therefore, at a starting age, is salary/stress or experience/networking more valued?

Thoughts? Thanks

2 Comments
 

The PE job sounds better, but that salary is a bit low. Its hard for me to understand some companies that can't afford to pay their employees a competitive rate.

First, I would take your $60K offer to the PE firm and try to leverage it. If that doesn't work at all, outline a plan for the future in terms of compensation with the PE firm. Maybe they pay their analysts jack, but if you make it a few years, you're golden.

While you're doing this, keep applying to positions to have as many options available as possible.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
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