Is it all about the money?

A new article in XpertHR, has suggested that the average starting salary for a graduate is £22,550. Whilst it is a substantial amount of money to leverage yourself onto the career ladder, for some it may seem small. But what are the benefits of taking of a job for money versus a job for pleasure?

I remember my first job... it paid £9,000 per year, and it was not that long ago! However, what I gained from that position was experience and my first taste of freedom. This salary also meant that I could negotiate higher for my next position... and so on.

Those of you still looking for that all important career step, that may not be in the secure warmth of a grad scheme role, may wish to evaluate what you really want from your first job.

For me it was experience. Now I think more about overall job satisfaction, and of course salary has something to do with that because: the greater the salary, the greater your quality of life can be outside of work too. A good work-life balance has become so important and research suggests that us GenY’s are not just about the money at work, it is also about the hours we work and the social side of the industry we are in...

Asses your values and drivers; what makes you tick? The moral of this story is merely: do not be put off by small starting salaries because a show of ambition, effectiveness and knowledge can help leverage you further in roles to come.