Work Culture, brand name or Pay Cheque: What should matter more to Early Career Professionals?

Salary, corporate brand and work culture often push individuals towards accepting or rejecting job offers. But how should early career professionals, especially someone just starting out, choose the best company possible while starting their careers?

Let’s closely weigh the three factors — work culture, pay and brand image — against each other while answering this question.

What matters on your resume more
Anshuman Das, CEO and Co-Founder of talent solutions provider Careernet, says brand name and high pay are valuable aspects but they serve different purposes. While a brand name brings credibility and signifies that an individual has met certain standards and gained valuable experience, high pay serves as a value indicator of the professional and helps them negotiate higher compensation later.

Accepting low pay = delay in growth opportunities?
In Das’s opinion, settling for low pay in the initial years of your career can have short-term as well as long-term implications — such as financial strain, delayed savings, lower baseline for future negotiations, and job dissatisfaction some years down the line. But employees can mitigate the long-term effects of this decision by following certain strategies around skill development, mentorship opportunities, improving financial iteracy, and actively exploring avenues for career advancement. “While an initial low pay poses challenges, it doesn’t delay growth opportunities. One’s career path is dynamic and can be influenced by efforts, skills and determination,” says Das.

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