hector13 said:

<< I think I posted this in one of the other employement threads, but it was so long ago, I don't remember...


Anyway, graduated with a BS in engineering from a very good school (not ivy league, but a great engineering school). Went straight to work in finance on wall st. Salary first couple years was like:

1st year: $70k
2nd year: $90k
3rd year: $120k >>

that's pretty high for first year, considering how most wall street offers are the same across the board (or is this with bonus?). wanna share more details, maybe over PM?

grimani said:

<< hector13 said:

<< I think I posted this in one of the other employement threads, but it was so long ago, I don't remember...


Anyway, graduated with a BS in engineering from a very good school (not ivy league, but a great engineering school). Went straight to work in finance on wall st. Salary first couple years was like:

1st year: $70k
2nd year: $90k
3rd year: $120k >>

that's pretty high for first year, considering how most wall street offers are the same across the board (or is this with bonus?). wanna share more details, maybe over PM? >>

this is with cash bonus (not including stock options, signing bonus, and any restricted stock -- which I didn't get my first year, I don't think). As for salary, my firm is known for paying near the bottom end on the street as people are willing to work here for the "reputation". For contrast, a friend of mine got a job in finance at the same time as I did, she pulled in 105k her first year (granted this was in ibanking so the hours were a bit worse).

Generally, the less well known the firm, the higher the pay will be.

hector13 said:

<< this is with cash bonus (not including stock options, signing bonus, and any restricted stock -- which I didn't get my first year, I don't think). As for salary, my firm is known for paying near the bottom end on the street as people are willing to work here for the "reputation". For contrast, a friend of mine got a job in finance at the same time as I did, she pulled in 105k her first year (granted this was in ibanking so the hours were a bit worse).

Generally, the less well known the firm, the higher the pay will be. >>

agreed, the major ibanks are sweat shops...especially for undergrads. how long ago was this? it doesn't seem like they've adjusted for inflation at all..in fact, you must have performed pretty well and landed one of the larger cash bonuses.

sorry but an assload of money .. well .. has a way of making a lot of crappy things better.

MarketVViz said:

<< daeagle said:

<< I am college student trying to figure out what I want to do. How did you get into finance with an engineering degree?

>>

My advice is to not get distracted by salaries you see. Obviously making a lot is a bonus, but doing something you enjoy or something you are passionate about is much more fulfilling, and more often than not will probably lead to future higher pay than you would receive doing something you hate.

I'm in the same boat as many others here -- I make a ton of money but my job is boring to me and I feel like I'm not reaching my full potential as far as my contribution to the human race (sorry if that's too deep for you). As soon as I have enough to retire or when I get downsized, I'll be looking to do something I that I actually enjoy (like full time specuation), or something that I can truly be passionate about (like missions work or writing my own software or chasing after terrorists ).

CS BS degree from state school. First job was $46k and quickly moved higher from there:
Year 1 46k
Year 2 55k
Year 3 100k
...
Year x 1XXk >>

Besides the obvious advantage of working from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, I really do think being a prosecutor or a legal aid lawyer would be more fun than being an associate at a big firm. You have real cases and real responsibility, instead of just spending 80 hours a week on document review. Not that I find criminal law so terrible fascinating. If I were independently wealthy, I think I'd try to work in the appeals bureau of the attorney general's office. And then get a nice appointment to the Second Circuit after a while.

thepragmatist said: >>

You think prosecution and legal aid are fun? It's clear that you are a second year in a law factory. >>

Graduated in May 2003 with a degree in electrical and computer engineering. Worked for free for 3 monthes, got hired only getting 42k with no benefits. The company went from 180k of total income last year to probably 4 million this year so now I'm making 55k, full benefits, 3 weeks vacation + 2 weeks personal time paid per year and there's an awesome employee stock purchase plan. I was the 5th employee, we're at 11 now probably 20 by the end of the year.

LilithQ said:

<< Graduated 2001 B.S. in Engineering, Minor CS from University of Colorado - Boulder. 1st (and current) job: Product testing @ large company, $54k, typical benefits, avg. 40 hours/week. Raise ~$10k after 1.5 years.

I had just okay grades, but lots of quality internships and a networking connection. >>

I graduated from Boulder too...just okay grades and a quality internship. Where are you working at?

Graduated from a private liberal arts school in 1995 with a degree in Politics. I of course knew that would be worthless so I attended law school and graduated in 1999. First job was at at a boutique employment law firm in 2001 with a salary of $80,000 plus a substantial end of the year bonus. I have recently left "the man" to start my own firm.

SniperRyan said:

<< First off:

Currently working on BS in Finance at a top-25 business school. I know just about everything an MIS graduate knows because of HS and Technical school (CCNA and A+ certs included). I also currently do work for a 501C-3 org. that does consulting for area non-profits.

Please, for the love of decency tell me there's something waiting for me!

Also, I came from an HS in Boulder, Colorado, so 'Hi' to all those folks who know what 'Illegal Pete's' is >>

Illegal petes beats the sh it out of chipotle I've been there so many times wasted at 2 in the morning it's not even funny...

ChampagneDan said:

<< Besides the obvious advantage of working from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, I really do think being a prosecutor or a legal aid lawyer would be more fun than being an associate at a big firm. You have real cases and real responsibility, instead of just spending 80 hours a week on document review. Not that I find criminal law so terrible fascinating. If I were independently wealthy, I think I'd try to work in the appeals bureau of the attorney general's office. And then get a nice appointment to the Second Circuit after a while. >>

1) Many a prosecuter works long hours (with no extra pay)
2) Legal-aid lawyers get idiot-level cases, which many of the clients could have handled themselves (if they hadn't been so busy watching Jerry Springer.)
3) If you were independently wealthy, I'd hope that you would spend your time performing tasks far more noble than lawyering (such as racing exotic cars, and boinking hot women).