fair offer for recent grad?

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  1. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by leedseagle:
    beans on toast can't cost much...?!
    LOL. In my first job I lived on porridge and spaghetti Bolognaise made with the cheapest frozen mince i could purchased in the supermarket (read - mince with the highest amount of mad cow risk!) - bulked out with grated carrots. The first time I had my (now) husband around for dinner I fed him cauliflower cheese which he has since told me was a huge disapointment on the basis that 1) he hates cauliflower and 2) it had no meat (he's Australian, they love their slabs of meat!).

    Yeah - I guess you can live on anything when you are young

  2. #22

    on a side note, talking of mad cows...

    i went to give blood here the other day but was told that there was - and i quote - "a very high risk that you are contaminated with mad cow disease, i'm sorry sir"

    apparently it's because i lived in england at the time of the bse stuff. they didnt even ask if i was a vegetarian or anything

    shame, i'd have thought a few quick tests would prove one way or the other and brits could donate blood over here...


  3. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by leedseagle:
    on a side note, talking of mad cows...

    i went to give blood here the other day but was told that there was - and i quote - "a very high risk that you are contaminated with mad cow disease, i'm sorry sir"

    apparently it's because i lived in england at the time of the bse stuff. they didnt even ask if i was a vegetarian or anything

    shame, i'd have thought a few quick tests would prove one way or the other and brits could donate blood over here...
    I have been told this previously in both Aus and NZ - not tried here yet so glad I didn't bother. It seems the only place I can donate is the UK!

    No - they cannot test for it - that's the problem... but the "risky period" was nigh on 20 years ago now so surely they should know soon.....

    EDIT - a bit of googling tells me that some "experts" think the incubation period could be as long as 30-40 years, although most appear to think that 10-15 is more reasonable in which case these guidelines should be relaxed, imho.
    Last edited by MovingIn07; 28-04-2009 at 03:41 PM.

  4. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by leedseagle:
    i'd have thought a few quick tests would prove one way or the other...
    There is one way but I don't think you'd go for it. One, you have to be dead. Two, you have to have an autopsy. Three, someone has to dissect your brain. Although One and Two could technically be eliminated...
    Last edited by Claire ex-ax; 28-04-2009 at 03:38 PM.

  5. #25

    you're right, i'll give it a miss i think. i'll just wait until i'm dead to find out!


  6. #26

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    iv found i can do without cable tv too... since my 18 month contract ended and they cut NowTV.

    i just stream using broadband and that pays for an extra couple of meals a month!


  7. #27

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    Boxes and boxes of instant noodles was what i used to eat during my 1st job.

    Usual monthly scenario

    the 1st week after getting paid, it was very grand, go out for a few drinks, eat at fastfood restaurants, by the 2nd week, looks at bank balance, WTF, where did it all go, still have 20 days left, need to ration and survive.


  8. #28

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    Thanks again for all the comments. I feel much better knowing that I received a competitive offer. I talked with HR again and they're going to discuss my visa situation and get back to me. I'll update as things progress.

    Also, the salary is not a problem. I'm frugal by nature and have savings, plus I figure since this is my first job my primary concern is gaining substantive experience.


  9. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by t.ellen:
    Also, the salary is not a problem. I'm frugal by nature and have savings, plus I figure since this is my first job my primary concern is gaining substantive experience.
    From the Guidebook for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong:
    21. An application for a visa/ entry permit to take up employment under the GEP may be favourably considered if:
    ...
    e. the remuneration package including income, accommodation, medical and other fringe benefits is broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level for professionals in the HKSAR.
    (emphasis mine)
    The question is not if you can survive on the offered salary/package - the question is if the package is suitable for a professional in Hong Kong. You may be able to live on instant noodles, but I'm not sure an $11k salary is going to convince Immigration that you are being employed as a graduate/specialist-level professional...

  10. #30

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    True but journalists are low paid the world over, does not make them any less professional. Same is true of teachers in many countries!