Help!! Job search for MS in Chemistry

[KarenAylwood]

OK. So I'll be graduating at the end of February with a Masters in Chemistry (long story as to why I'm not graduating in December- advisor had family medical problems).

This is my first "real job" and I'm terrified. I've been job searching and working on my resume and there isn't much offered where I live. However, I did find one job that sounds promising.

They are looking for a BS, MS or PhD in Chemistry with 0-5 years experience (score!) and the salary range is $45,000 to $100,000. When you send your resume you are supposed to include a "brief description of your job search along with job and salary preference."

Salary preference?? Ok so that's a huge range and I don't know where I fit. I went right from my BS in Chemistry to my MS and my only applicable experience is working in a research academic lab for two summers and 5 semesters. I've searched for average salaries for Masters but they are so high ($74K) and obviously not for those with little to no job experience. But I feel like I'd be selling myself short if I said $45K as that's the lowest salary listed. Heck, I was expecting to earn no more than $40K when I graduated!! I'm not sure if I have the right expectations.

Does anyone have any advice? Knowledge to share?? HELP???

PLEASE!!! TIA!!!!

 

[golfgal]

Put salary negotiable. I hate it when they ask for salary expectations on a job application.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Thanks for the reply, golfgal. I realized this place is a "staffing company" so they would be getting me hired, not hiring me. I'm thinking of putting 45-55K now. Or 50-60K. Not sure yet. I don't want to sell myself short.

Does anyone else have anything to add?? I was hoping someone may have dealt with this industry before. I'll try bumping this for the morning crowd.

Please let me know if you or anyone you know has any advice!! I fixed up and finished my resume last night and sent it to my advisor to see what he thought. I'm crossing my fingers!! Hopefully I will be able to reply by tomorrow at the latest!!

Another positive- this guy I'd be going through graduated w/ both a BS and a M.Ed from my same college! Woohoo!

 

[RitaZ.]

Your school must have a career planning department or something like it. Maybe they can help you to give you an idea on the salary amount or the best thing to write down regarding salary. Good luck to you!

 

[golfgal]

I just think that no matter how much you put on an application you are going to price yourself out of a job. Maybe a job only pays $40,000 but the benefits are good and they have a profit sharing program or something that could potentially bump your salary into the $80,000 range. Maybe it is just a really good place to work at $50,000 and the $80,000 job is awful. There are lot of things to consider other then salary for a job.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Just wondering if you belong to any professional societies etc. If they have a website etc, you can research your area, degree etc. for guidlines. Good luck.

 

[almacdonald]

I just went through a similar thing (graduated in June with a BSc in Geology.) I hate when they ask salary questions as if searching for a first real job isn't hard enough! I've read in books that you can sometimes turn it around and ask how much they have budgeted for the position, but i had that backfire big time on me. I would definitely not put the lower salary range, just because you don't want to look like a pushover. I'd say maybe ask for something in like the $55,000 to $65,000 range but stick in some comment about how you don't have a final number since so much can hinge on benefits and holidays etc. They, lab experience is practical hands on kinda stuff that lotsa people don't have, and a MSc, come on, you're a shoe-in! Good luck!!!

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I would just like to say Good Luck! I just went through the whole job-search thing this summer. I completely understand the feeling.

I too was caught off guard by that question. For most jobs I said it was negotiable. One though practically forced me to answer and I said $45,000-$50,000. They didn't like those numbers one bit. To me, it all depends on what the job is, what the benefits are, what the vacation is, etc.

I looked up online about the starting salary for my major. I was told it was about $55,000, which was way off from any hiring jobs near me. You could look up online about the national average for a starting salary, but take it with a grain of salt. Look around on monster.com and careerbuilder.com. You don't have a post a resume but maybe they can give you ideas as to what nearby companies are paying. Just don't settle for a job you know you won't like. I was offered a job right out of college, but it wasn't what I wanted and it paid horribly. So I waited 4.5 months and found an excellent job.

Ok sorry for the long post but this is a small world. I also went to a staffing place and the guy that was helping me graduated from the same college as me, different major though. Weird.

 

[hiwaygal]

Here's a thought...

First, find out the average salary (today's value) of someone with 5 years of experience. Then add about 15-20% (cause you are a good worker! )...that should give you an idea of where you want to be in about 5 years. Work backwards from that (figure a minimum 3-4% raise for each year) to get a rough guess of the kind of salary you *should* earn today.

Hope that makes sense.

Basically when it comes to the salary question, I figure out what I want to be making in 5 years and then decide what to *ask* for.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone!! I got my resume back from my advisor this afternoon and he said it looked good and that he attached some suggestions... well he forgot to actually attach the suggestions to the email so I'm waiting on that.

He said to put 50-55K. I'm thinking of putting 50-60K or 55-65K. I'm not as worried about it now that I know the place is a staffing company, so they are going to be trying to negotiate the best offer for me anyway. Once I interview with the guy, I think he can give me a better idea of what to expect and what to ask for. I like your idea though almacdonald, and I think I might go with your suggestion to put in about benefits too. Thanks!

luvmarypoppins~ no, I don't belong to any professional societies. I have been asked multiple times and have thought over the idea of joining the ACS (American Chemical Society) as my BS is ACS certified, but I just don't have the money to join right now. I will once I get a job though!

There are VERY FEW jobs available in my area, and it looks as though this staffing company controls most of the chemist jobs around here as well. As soon as I get my resume back I'll be sending it to them. I'm going to put 50-60K as I read the starting pay for an MS in chemistry is around 63K.

I wish I wasn't working on my thesis defense at the same time! Thanks for all the well-wishes and goodlucks. This is stressful!!!!!!!!!

 

[Puffy2]

they can ask whatever they want - stick with "negotiable" . If asked about it, tell them that it really depends on the job package - relocation assistance, benefits, opportunities for advancement - many factors. Include that you are open to all offers. If they press for a figure, tell them again, "I'm open to all offers however the university's career planning dept. quotes a blank to blank range.