and I still make no more than what someone doing 3 years of shipping and receiving would make.
Your salary is dependant on the company. Some companies don't care about emloyees and love to turn them over.
Also, if you are just starting, I wouldn't be worried. After a year they will probably bump you up to something more reasonable. You also can ask for a raise. If you ask for something you think you should be making and get rejected, look for a new position somewhere else.
Here's some job advice for the recent computer graduate in today's economy.
1. Join the military and get into an intelligence specialty. If you plan on working with computers after you get out, I suggest Navy or Air Force though I know a great sys admin who was a Marine.
2. Get and keep a security clearance. Don't let it lapse. Don't do drugs or, God forbid, marry a non-U.S. citizen. Always pretend that you agree with everything George says and repeat after me: "Hanging is too good for anyone from Franc
Getting a security clearance can be one of the most valuable things you can do for your career, especially if you get a Top Secret clearance. Salaries are 10%-50% higher and and the number of candidates for the jobs is far lower. Also there is absolutely no fear of being outsourced!
This really is true. It was probably the best thing that happened to me. I went to college at a major co-op university (Drexel), mainly for the co-op experience (seriously, you can't beat 1 1/2 years of real work experience as you are handed your diploma).
Anyway, if you can get a clearance then you are very much in demand. It costs around $50-200k for a company to get you a clearance (this is what it costs for the paperwork and background checks, with the costs ranging for the different levels of clearance), and that doesn't even gaurenty that you will even recieve a clearance. So, if you have an oppertunity of working for a place that will get you a clearance, it is in their interest to keep you as happy employee for at least a little while to make up for the huge investment they have already put into you (but take that with a grain of salt as well, since they will be putting up a large investment into you so it can be harder to get hired). But, once you have clearance, you have a VERY BIG TICKET item in negotiations with other companies that also require security clearances.
I've been programming for 3 years (Score:2, Interesting)
Your salary is dependant on the company. Some companies don't care about emloyees and love to turn them over.
Also, if you are just starting, I wouldn't be worried. After a year they will probably bump you up to something more reasonable. You also can ask for a raise. If you ask for something you think you should be making and get rejected, look for a new position somewhere else.
Re:I've been programming for 3 years (Score:5, Interesting)
1. Join the military and get into an intelligence specialty. If you plan on working with computers after you get out, I suggest Navy or Air Force though I know a great sys admin who was a Marine.
2. Get and keep a security clearance. Don't let it lapse. Don't do drugs or, God forbid, marry a non-U.S. citizen. Always pretend that you agree with everything George says and repeat after me: "Hanging is too good for anyone from Franc
Re:Get A Security Clearance (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Get A Security Clearance: Nods in agreement... (Score:2)
Anyway, if you can get a clearance then you are very much in demand. It costs around $50-200k for a company to get you a clearance (this is what it costs for the paperwork and background checks, with the costs ranging for the different levels of clearance), and that doesn't even gaurenty that you will even recieve a clearance. So, if you have an oppertunity of working for a place that will get you a clearance, it is in their interest to keep you as happy employee for at least a little while to make up for the huge investment they have already put into you (but take that with a grain of salt as well, since they will be putting up a large investment into you so it can be harder to get hired). But, once you have clearance, you have a VERY BIG TICKET item in negotiations with other companies that also require security clearances.