hi everyone here, this is not about layoffs. Actually I've got a job offer few days ago for an Engineering entry level position based in Houston. I really like Chevron from the technical point and the role offered is exciting, but compensation seems very very low compared to peers (according to Glassdoor website). This will be my first permanent job ever after grad school, so I wonder if I should try to negotiate something higher, I don't know. My friend told that if I accept this salary it will be forever this low and very difficult to get a raise later. I would really appreciate any advise. I don't want to sound too greedy knowing out there many people would accept a job for less money.
26 replies (most recent on top)
Yes, don't make the mistake of confusing that with the "degreed professional position" which is basically getting paid just to show up and take up space. We're talking about someone being hired to actually get work done.
My mistake, apologies offered. I mistook ‘ Engineering entry level position’ for a degreed professional position. You’ll still get valuable early-career experience starting with a larger company. Otherwise, see the other comments about evaluating total compensation, not just pay.
@6rso, I don't know what your life as an engineer has anything to do with anything. I am an HSE specialist and a white guy. Any tips?
Take the Chevron offer, take the training and experience, then decide in 5-10 years if you can translate your skills into the ‘perfect’ job, whether at Chevron or elsewhere. You’ll also know in that time frame if Chevron values you or not. Yes, I have worked for other companies. Working for the same company for more than 20 years will stagnate your technical career (unless ‘management’ is your career goal), switching companies will keep you sharp and growing as an engineer. Don’t count on working for one company your entire career, that’s an old Boomer notion. Keep your 401k’s well-funded and you’ll be fine.
You need to look at the overall compensation package and compare to other offers. Usually, the salary bit will be lower but other elements of compensation makes up for the lower portion. Chevron is a good company, if you want to stay in the O&G business ... I just retired from there. Ignore Glassdoor.
There’s no problem negotiating if one does it tactfully and respectfully. I say this from personal experience as an interviewee and as a job owner.
It is helpful if one proffers a reasonable explanation for why he or she desires more money.
This is just business. Chevron is great at squeezing more from its own vendors and suppliers.
If you get an initial offer, this means the job owner is already invested in the idea of hiring you.
The only caveat is if one were to be unlucky enough to get a jealous and petty job owner.
@2tzp - I'll take "Things That Didn't Actually Happen" for $1000, Alex.
What nonsense. New hires negotiate on salary all the time. HR couldn’t care less - they just pass the request to the job owner who gets to decide. I’m always impressed when new hires have the guts to ask. If I have room I bump them up a bit.
I have notified a colleague in Chevron HR College Recruiting team that a graduate engineering student college hire candidate is soliciting advice on layoff.com to try to get more money out of Chevron's offer. They have been instructed to pull the offer if anyone who was recently extended an offer tries to negotiate.
“ My friend told that if I accept this salary it will be forever this low and very difficult to get a raise later “
This is complete nonsense. As long as you do a good job you will see your salary rise quite rapidly in your early years at Chevron.
Don't listen to the guy below. Your perceived value doesn't matter, your a college hire (inexperienced hire) and not an experienced hire. And also if you trust your summer mentor (pressuming you did in fact intern), then it's okay to share your offer cause they will tell you straight up that is the standard offer of if there were additional things you could have asked for. At the end of the day, if you don't like the terms of there final offer, don't take the offer.
Congratulations.
If you got an offer out of grad school, that likely means you came in for internship, did the right things, likes bu somebody and that smb decided to extend you and offer. Chevron will not burn you unless you do something really crazy/stupid.
Check with your college recruiter, team buddy from internship or somebody else with whom you were able to establish some rapport, and they may help. Do not share your offer with them, but seek advise about asking for more, depending on your role, your perceives value etc they may help
Another thing to keep in mind is your culture fit and total compensation. Think about these items when you compare your offer with any offer from peers.
I agree with Soup Na-i. Additional information is needed.
Also, glassdoor numbers are BS, skewed, and always off for some reason. Everybody knows that. Go to reddit and ask people for their real numbers.
BS is 19, MS is 20, PhD is 21 by default for new grad engineer roles in horizons, no exceptions no matter the school or any prior work experience since you got a new grad offer via college hire.
PSG isn't a big deal so much as where did you fall in the PSG. Hence we need more offer details or your out of luck in term of people here helping you. If your just trying to understand if they will pull the offer if you ask for more, the answer is No. Chevron nor does any company do that, unless you do it in a jerky/leveragey way like give ultimatums or say such and such company offered me this, so match it or else. Only big tech does that for new grads. If you do they will say take it or leave it aka No Soup for you!
Here are your options:
- Accept the offer.
- Counteroffer and know that you may be denied. If you counteroffer, I have found that if Chevron does not accept your counteroffer, they typically do not rescind their original offer.
Please understand that Chevron is in major cost savings mode and therefore are trying to pay the minimal salaries. What is probably more important is to know what your PSG (Pay Salary Grade) will be. This information will really help you understand how you will be able to initially grow salary wise in your first 2-3 years.
Sounds like the First Replier needs a chill pill to take care of their hatefulness and unwillingness to help someone who is looking for help / guidance to start their career. Really!!
You ahould ask for more but there is very unlikly to get something meaningful higher. If i were you i would accept the job offer that pays higher and then move after few years to the company you like.
Not all of us are disgruntled. Some of us come here as a sanity check to see if we're over reacting to stressors or being singled out.
First Replier, please stop being a jacka$$!!
Person asking the question, please provide additional information so that we can help you give you some guidance. But as others has said, be very careful about the details you provide.
What function? Wells? Facilities?
Can you list what your offer is (round to the nearest 5k, not exact numbers)? We can give you a better idea if your getting lowballed or what level of movement you can target depending if your a MS grad or PhD? Don't say what job title either.
Base salary for entry level isn't really negotiable. Maybe you get 1k more at best, LOL. You can try to negotiate relocation, usually they will give you a small bump 2-5k range as a consolation prize so its not like you didn't get anything. If your going to list a competitor say another super major (imply BP, Exxon, or Shell without directly saying the company), since those are the only analogs they will consider. But be clear that you really want to go with the Chevron offer, and you would appreciate any momentum to make things fiscally easier on your end since your young and broke (just say it even if your loaded). TBH, Chevron isn't trying to compete with some of the larger companies that pay more. Hope it helps.
In my opinion you should definitely ask. I have never accepted a job offer without asking for more. There are ways to do this respectfully.... just google. I did this as a graduate and as an experienced hire with success. There is no reason for them to rescind their offer because you ask them to consider this.
thanks for the answer @gga+1aIyv3fb
I know I am accepting the offer in the end, just wanted ask the experienced ones (hopefully not too emotional like you). what's the worse could happen if someone tries to negotiate higher salary? could they decline the initial offer?
Why would you post this on the layoffs.com? Are you thinking that a favorable opinion will exist from those who got the shaft or is that the info that you want to hear, the bad stuff, to help you make the decision that you already want to make? You can find people who will reinforce what you feel anywhere but that doesn't mean it's helpful advice. Go get another offer is all you can do. If it's not any better, or no other offers, then what you see is what you got. And don't believe the peers especially if they are a different locales, slightly different positions, maybe different credentials, perhaps just lying. No one is required to tell the truth here, glassdoor, or anywhere else online at an anonymous site. The bulk of the people on this site are anti-Chevron disgruntled employees or former employees. Not exactly a non-biased selection. However, the competitors are no better, as far as employment, just different, many a lot more cut-throat.