
The engineer thought for a moment and said, “One-hundred fifty thousand a year, but that number is negotiable depending on the benefits offered.”
The HR specialist said, “Well how would you feel about a package that offers six weeks of vacation your very first year, 15 paid holidays, complete medical coverage including dental and vision, and a retirement fund that will match up to 50 percent of your salary—and a company car for you every two years, you get to pick the make and model, how about a red BMW?”
The engineer’s eyes were wide with excitement, “Wow,” he said, “Are you kidding?”
The HR specialist said, “Yes, I am. But you started it.”
One of the challenges of the modern generation is dealing with “expectations.” Young people coming out of colleges and universities these days carry unrealistic expectations into their careers, their marriages and new families. There is a tendency to want to start out at the point their parents took decades to achieve. Sometimes it works and sometimes it leads to disappointment and cynicism.
© 2007, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 5 (2007).