reasonable salary for junior back end webdev

qazone

qazone

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So, I finally have a reason for posting.. Today I received an email containing an employment contract for my first job working as a junior back-end web development(c#, sql, asp), confirming the approval of my application and interview, and the salary that they have offered me is R8.5k pm, I really don't want to come out as greedy or anything, but while I may be fine with amount now, maybe I'll end up regretting not saying anything when I actually live on said amount. So I am wondering if you guys could help me out here. Considering the fact that this will be my first job, should I just sign this contract and take this settlement or should I try to negotiate for something better(not implying that the base salary is not good)? Oh and if location matters, the company is situated in Plettenberg Bay
 
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This goes for all first time junior devs out there: if you are offered a salary by a company that you can survive on for the time being - TAKE IT. Especially if you are going to get mainstream experience (c#, java etc). You want to get two years of experience in as fast as possible. After that the world and opportunities for bigger salaries are wide open.

And if you are offered R8500 in Plettenberg Bay of all places, take it. I doubt you'll find anything better (in fact I am surprised you found anything at all there). Work your two years and then move to JHB/CPT.
 
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I wouldn't shovel **** in this day and age for 8.5.
 
8.5k wouldn't even cover my rent, never mind the rest of my living expenses. Don't know how anyone could survive on that.
 
qazone said:
So, I finally have a reason for posting.. Today I received an email containing an employment contract for my first job working as a junior back-end web development(c#, sql, asp), confirming the approval of my application and interview, and the salary that they have offered me is R8.5k pm, I really don't want to come out as greedy or anything, but while I may be fine with amount now, maybe I'll end up regretting not saying anything when I actually live on said amount. So I am wondering if you guys could help me out here. Considering the fact that this will be my first job, should I just sign this contract and take this settlement or should I try to negotiate for something better(not implying that the base salary is not good)? Oh and if location matters, the company is situated in Plettenberg Bay
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Work the 2 years. As Hamster said, your location might also be letting you down a bit. Get experience and move on. If your good, 3-6 months in they might give you a raise( happened to me ;) ) and I was warmly much less than what you've been offered.

Take it to the chin mate, get that experience.
 
Hamster said:
This goes for all first time junior devs out there: if you are offered a salary by a company that you can survive on for the time being - TAKE IT. Especially if you ate going to get mainstream experience (c#, java etc). You want to get two years of experience in as fast as possible. After that the world and opportunities for bigger salaries are wide open.

And if you are offered R8500 in Plettenberg Bay of all places, take it. I doubt you'll find anything better (in fact I am surprised you found anything at all there). Work your two years and then move to JHB/CPT.
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This. I wouldn't pay a dev more than R8k for his first job, and web devs are a dime a dozen. However I'm more than willing to bump it up after 3 months if he shows the right attitude and willingness to learn.

But the fact of the matter is, if I hire you for your first job then you know nothing, contrary to what you think you know, and I'm basically paying you to train you. So if you show that you will be worth the investment I'm more than willing to pay you more.

deweyzeph said:
8.5k wouldn't even cover my rent, never mind the rest of my living expenses. Don't know how anyone could survive on that.
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That's because you don't have to.
 
Sorry. 8.5 is slave wage. Anyone paying those prices are pricks.
 
If you have basic experience a Jnr starting salary is 12,5 and goes to 15k (having said that, I have come across Jnr Java developers getting 25K who could not code themselves out of a wet paper-bag). 8,5K sounds more like an internship salary to me. Perhaps there is more to the offer (external training, certifications etc) and hence the salary being so low to start out with.

@Semaphore: I had candidates without job experience or any skills ask for 25K starting salary - I did find that those candidates eventually managed to find a job at corporates for the lower 20K's - quite a pity as in most recent interviews the IT industry seems to be completely satisfied with mediocre (or below).

Having said that - we have internship and jnr java positions open (as well as Linux) - location is Bryanston.
 
Pho3nix said:
Got R3k; 3 years ago. Got bumped up 3months later and again another 3 months later.
@OP what is your experience and/or qualification?
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Yeah you were taken for a ride. I started on 2.5k 12 years ago.
 
semaphore said:
Yeah you were taken for a ride. I started on 2.5k 12 years ago.
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I know :( Still know of a place taking interns at R1.8k a month in JHB.

Regardless, money is coming in know and the struggle from back then built some character. :p
 
Pho3nix said:
I know :( Still know of a place taking interns at R1.8k a month in JHB.

Regardless, money is coming in know and the struggle from back then built some character. :p
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You'll enter two points earn to little, earn to much that no other company can afford you.
 
@Hamster, @Po3nix

You guy's are right, I'm taking it, plus a performance based raise sounds fair for both parties, not to mention my record of failed attempts at CPU overclocking, so me trying to negotiate would likely not end well.

Thanks
 
semaphore said:
Sorry. 8.5 is slave wage. Anyone paying those prices are pricks.
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You forgot he said it is in Plettenberg Bay. I come from that area and like I said I am surprised he even found a dev job there.
 
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