skelooth

I'm confused on what to do.

I currently have an opportunity to get a recommendation from a former MS student at Marist college which could land me a teaching assistantship during my MS program.

On the other hand, my project manager keeps saying to hurry up with school because there is a lot of work for me to do.

Is it 'acceptable' to ask my project manager if they will be making me an offer, and a ballpark of what that offer will be?

The way I'm looking at it, is that anything less than around 45k yr means I would say 'screw that' and go to graduate school, otherwise I would go there and work for a few years.

I don't want to ask if it's not ethical. It's a nice company and I would not mind working there. They have good benefits and a friendly working atmosphere. At the same time I'd like to be able to make some money.

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Midnight_Lifter

Skel,

It's 100% in line to ask about the offer and discuss your goals with graduate school and so on. I'd even share with him your $$$ goals and baselines.

If anything, it shows you are a planner, you know what you can accept (or maybe there are acceptable trade-offs you'd consider, etc.), and so on.
Anyone in the business world should immensely respect that line of thinking.

Just know what you want going in, especially if it's a this-or-that type of situation for you. In other words, if the money is right, you would put your graduate degree on a separate track, possibly building it while you are working, more slowly, over a few years. However, if it's a better situation for you to go on to grad school full time now, and possibly pick up project work here and there -- and assure him it's on a realistic schedule where neither school nor work would slip -- then that's the route you'd take.

One recommendation I might make: If you can research what the going rate for the type of work you are going to do is, get that salary range before having that conversation.
I'd also suggest *not* letting the cat out of the bag that you'd be happy with $45k. What if the FT position they have comes in normally at $55k or more? Then you might get bumped up or you might not...
Also, if you know other companies typically hire for that position at an entry level at $45k 'on probation' for 3 or 6 months, then step them up to $50, then $55... then you could be in a better position.

Let us know if you want help with finding salaries, and you might be able to check with your career office at school...

Just some thoughts. Hit me up if I didn't make any sense...

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skelooth

That makes a lot of sense

Basically my title is "programmer", since I am a new position at the company it is not disciplined. I am part web developer, part systems programmer, part analyst, and part unix administrator. So the title, for all intents and purposes is "programmer" with a BA in computer science with a minor in informatics. I am hoping to graduate with honors, and even if I don't I will be at least above a 3.0 gpa when graduating.

Where can I find some good salary information?

I have friends in the business schools who are getting jobs at 60k yr right out of college but it is closer to NYC where expenses are higher.

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Ikaika

Just talk to your manager about your desire to go to grad school and how you aren't certain if you should apply right now. If you want to work for the company, say so. Express interest in continuing to work for them. Ask whether he thinks you are the type of person they'd be interested in hiring after graduation. I know it is implied but you need him to spell it out.

Absolutely do not discuss money. Do the research on what you should be expecting as a competitive offer but don't tell him that you want 40k or 50k or any amount. It comes off as pretentious since you don't have much experience and I really think it would be a bad idea since they haven't even offered you the job. If you had gotten an offer and it wasn't to your liking that would be one thing, but talking about how much you want from a company that hasn't even offered you anything is not what you want to be doing.

Just google salary calculators and check it out. Check 3 or 4 different ones and just average whatever they spit out at you.

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madman911

Salary.com Job salaries- Performance reviews- Compensation software

That'll give you a ballpark.

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Midnight_Lifter

Yup, salary.com, monster.com. careerbuilder.com, etc. should all have some salary information, and googling salary calculators should get you more than enough added information.
You could even add a search term that would pertain to your role, your job, your geography, etc.

So, in other words, what everyone else said :p



lol

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BigZeke

Apparently if you're an intern they can offer you a full-time position, at least that's how it works on The Hills.

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Drew1200

this is all dead on.

I've asked for raises before, and as a manager now had people ask me for raises/promotions...I think most employers are impressed if someone has their shit together enough to ask for a raise, especially if they can quantify their professional value and the raise is justified.

for what its worth, I know the two programmers we brought in to my group both started at $34/hr, and the younger guy only had a BS and a couple years of working experience... so you should definitely be asking for more money.