Choosing Between Higher Pay and Learning Opportunities in HR: What Would You Do at 29?

Dear All,

Please guide me on whether I should join a company that provides me with knowledge but less money or one that offers more money but limited learning opportunities in HR. I am 29 years old, so at this stage, what should be the ideal decision for me? Please guide me.

Regards,
Vishal.

Hi,

Let me be very upfront with you, whether you like it or not. You need to make your own decision taking into account the pros and cons. If I were in your place, I would settle for a company with less money and more knowledge as, in the long run, this is going to help me. I believe that knowledge is power. Lastly, I feel your age has nothing to do with this. I hope I have solved your query.

Regards,
Karuuna

Hi,

I feel you go for knowledge, not money. I faced the same problem when I was looking for a job. Now, I am successful in the HR area. Be confident.

Wishing you all success.

Regards,
Raghav

Hi Vishal,

Please guide me whether I should go into that company which provides me knowledge and less money or one which provides me more money and limited scope of learning in HR. I am 29 years old, so at this stage, what should be the ideal decision for me? Please guide me.

I very well understand your dilemma in making a choice between money and knowledge.

I fully agree with the views of Karuuna and Raghav. Even I faced a similar situation in different circumstances and opted for an opportunity that provided for learning new skills, and I have no regrets as it has given me much more than what I could ask for.

Having said that, what is more important, money and knowledge are more or less redundant or obvious as there are three factors which should assist you in making the final decision, viz:

People, Product, and Reputation.

People

Before you make a choice - profile and discreetly inquire about the key decision-makers who decide the culture/work ethics of the organization. Whether you like it or not, your future prospects and sense of work satisfaction will be determined by them.

Don't base your decision strictly on the job interview as THEY want you to have on board. 😀

The product

Understand and review the product and services offered by the company, and if you are an MBA graduate, do a SWOT analysis.

Ask questions like - What did it look like a year ago? Two? Five? How has it evolved to meet the needs of the customer? Has the product/services changed on a continuous curve, or has it made some leaps that significantly changed the way its customers benefit from it?

Money may be very good, but if the survival of the company in the competitive scenario is suspect, then you may have to face the pink slip!

Reputation

It matters a lot. Just think what happened to the employees who worked with Enron, Trade India, etc. - flight by night operators.

Lastly, your age: You are just 29 years old and have the next 31 years to develop your professional career!

When you've got the information you need, you'll be able to put the compensation, the benefits, and all the other relevant issues into perspective when evaluating your options.

Best wishes,

Rajat Joshi

Thank you, Karuuna, Raghav, and Rajat, for your valuable opinions. I feel proud to be a part of Citehr, where I can connect with prospective friends without bias in their minds.

Definitely go for the option that can provide you with more knowledge at a lower cost. Acquiring good experience can help you tackle any challenges at work and prepare you for advancement to a higher position. Can you purchase knowledge with the money you have? As the proverb states, you can buy books but not knowledge.

If you seek short-term gains, you may lose out in the long term. It is always better to consider long-term career prospects when selecting a job or accepting an offer.

Thank you,
RAM

[Link: http://nicheitjobs.googlepages.com]

I agree with all the suggestions of our colleagues. To add a little bit to what's already said; when it comes to money, "How much is enough?" is a good indicator. After about 2 decades of industrial experience, I can tell you, irrespective of your pay package, you will always look for growth in emoluments - most of the time, your expenses tend to match your income. The same cannot be said about knowledge/skills. So, I'd say opt for 'Learning now, money later'. Regards, VAMSI