09-07-2004 20:46									#91
	Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by Park Avenue It's quite clear it's an insurance but people are just after an argument

Trolling again eh? You're the economist (supposedly), you know how it works...the only one trying to cause an argument over a clear cut fact is you!

	09-07-2004 20:49									#92
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No I'm quite willing to settle on the fact.

	09-07-2004 20:51									#93
	Re: Re: Interview on Thursday ! Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by Tingkai A recent British study found the average salary for a university graduate in 2003 was £12,659. You really need to lower your sights to something more realistic.

Average means zip. No study looks at every single graduate or every single job, weightings for area, or indeed foreign graduates who start working in the UK.

Aim as high as you can. Go where the cash is. Take a less well paid job, fair enough... but DON'T STOP APPLYING FOR BETTER ONES!

	09-07-2004 20:57									#94
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Well I sure as hell wouldn't take a job that badly paid, and I'm not even a graduate that expects a well-paid job.

	09-07-2004 21:02									#95
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I expect that average includes people who did English degrees.

	09-07-2004 23:15									#96
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I've been there Gibsie, my first ever job (research technician, University of Hull) paid £10.5k, then PhD student, average £7.5k (tax free), then QC analyst (£12.2)...after 4 years I was very, very disappointed with what I have achieved, but things have picked up recently, about £28k, but I do have a lot of experience.

I would consider these figures to be pretty accurate regarding that amount. Bear in mind that in other areas of the country, the pay is less than London, then there are people who can't find work going into temp positions. The government figure is false, it only really assesses the companies that participated in the milkround - this survey, I think some of the banks including student/graduate lenders, found a different figure and from my personal experience, reflects the truth.

I think it highlights a problem many of us are aware of: there are too many graduates for the demand. There are so many unis nowadays that it is easy to get a degree - they have been devalued.

	09-07-2004 23:20									#97
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

"There are so many unis nowadays that it is easy to get a degree"

That's like saying "it's easy to get a house". It's the level of the degree, the subject of the degree, and the place you did it at which are all relevant.

Admittedly my uni was solid and middling (though Prince Charles and Neil Hamilton went there!), a degree in Economics is a very good choice, and a the 2:1 I got is as good as employers expect.

Getting a third in music science from Salford can't be something in demand though!

	09-07-2004 23:25									#98
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Well I did do a year at £10.5, but I think I should be able to do a little better than £14 in my first job. Otherwise I might as well work in a shop...

	09-07-2004 23:29									#99
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Well this is the thing you have to think of. When I was at Reckitts I was under the same stress I am under now. However when you think you are barely a pound or so over what a burgerflipper gets, you wonder 'is it worth the hassle?'. It kept me going, the main value was in leverage...getting a better job.

	09-07-2004 23:31									#100
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Building up your experience..always useful and if you look at the expected benefits from that experience, the real long-term difference between a £15k job and a £25k job is probably minimal.

	09-07-2004 23:35									#101
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Well the last job paid crap but gave me a greater than double pay rise...

	09-07-2004 23:41									#102
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It actually depresses me more to think about the higher paid jobs. If you're on £50,000 a year, then you probably only take home about £30,000 of that. Bloody taxation

	09-07-2004 23:43									#103
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Gibsie

Taxation of labour income is one of the biggest crimes our society tolerates.

	10-07-2004 01:37									#104
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I knew I'd turn into Berserker as soon as I got into the position where I'd have to actually pay taxes

	10-07-2004 01:39									#105
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Alcohol is the answer!

	10-07-2004 01:44									#106
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Oh no, I'm not limiting myself to booze. That would be unberserkerly!

	10-07-2004 14:00									#107
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quote: Originally posted by Whaleboy Alcohol is the answer!

What's the question?

	10-07-2004 15:30									#108
	Got spare money?

How did the interview go?

	10-07-2004 15:45									#109
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

"How did the interview go?"

Quite well I thought, though I might have stumbled and waffled on a couple of questions.

I think I did really well at one point wrt how I'd deal with a pressure situation.

He asked me, if I had two clients, and it was a Friday, and they both wanted something done, what would I do.

i) I stated I would try to assess which one was more urgent and try to deal with that one first.

ii) He came back and said they are both urgent. What would I do. I said I'd work especially hard and put in an extra hour or two if necessary.

iii) He came back and said there's no way I would be able to get both their demands done even if I worked extra. So I said I would then talk to my boss and ask if any colleagues could assist me for a few hours dealing with the two firms' demands.

iv) He said the boss is away. What would I do? At this point I confidently smiled and said "these are difficult questions" and said I would phone the firms and assess whether indeed the work was urgent.

v) He came back and said yes, the work is urgent for both firms, what would I do. I basically said I'd have to pick the firm who is the most valued or high-value customer and deal with their demands first and offer the "less important" firm/customer an apology, an explanation of what went wrong, and that they could speak to my boss when he returns.

Seemed to be a real good answer I thought at the time. Could tell they were impressed anyway..

	14-07-2004 20:10									#110
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So how goes the war/ jobhunt? Got any scathing rejections yet?

I just found a job that asks simply for a 2:1 in my chosen field, a year of (industrial) placement, which I have, and it pays £30,000+. I didn't think microbiologists got that kind of pay ever, let alone right off the mark

	14-07-2004 20:19									#111
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quote: Originally posted by Park Avenue Seemed to be a real good answer I thought at the time. Could tell they were impressed anyway..

Yep. I think you did well. It's one of those "no right answer" questions.

	14-07-2004 20:52									#112
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A lot better than blow off work early because it's Friday, and I generally screen all my calls near the end of the week.

	14-07-2004 21:37									#113
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Or "Friday afternoon? You divert calls to the pub?"

	15-07-2004 22:47									#114
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The thought did cross my mind.."what, an extra hour or two on a Friday, no way", but never mind, second interview on Wednesday..incorporation a mathematical assessment

	15-07-2004 23:04									#115
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Getting a second interview means you're in the driver's seat, PA.

Way to go!

	15-07-2004 23:51									#116
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Both interviews I've been for have invited me back