Top recruiter slams young workers over their unrealistic salary expectations

Daily Mail​

05-06-2025

A top job recruiter has dished out some blunt advice for young Aussie graduates complaining about their lower-than-expected salaries.
Tammie Christofis Ballis, a career coach at Realistic Careers has noticed a rise in university leavers disillusioned with their job offers.
She has heard salary grumbles from those on a $65,000-$100,000 pay packet in their first job straight out of uni.
Ms Ballis acknowledged that the current jobs market is tough but believes graduates need to be cut down to size.
'I get a lot of uni grads that are whinging that their wages are really low,' she said in a recent video shared on TikTok.
'And, if that's you, I want you to understand that you're at the beginning of your career. You haven't got any experience or anything to offer.
'You are on those low wages because you are getting trained for your profession.'
The recruiter offered graduates a different perspective.
'I know it's tough, but you're on the way,' Ms Ballis said.
'You've (got) a job – so many other grads can't get jobs at the moment.
'So you've got your foot in the door, you can start now by learning as much as you can and then going to the next job to get a better pay ... so don't beat yourself up.'
However, some viewers didn't agree with her blunt advice and said it's fair for them to complain after slogging their way through uni.
'They have every single right to do so because it's the truth,' one man said
'Twenty-five years ago, as a grad, my wage was high enough to service a home loan and during uni I was able to save enough for a deposit with my part-time job.
'That is not achievable today.'
Another added: 'But they still need to pay housing food utilities? And wages can't cover the cost of living, that's why they're upset about being underpaid.
'They can't work to survive, let alone live.'
A woman wrote: 'I understand what you're saying but honestly the degree is meant to be the training component.
'It's a kick in the guts you do 4 years then it's another 2 years on top of that until you're 5 years in deep.'
Ms Ballis said not all industries were the same, but feared students had come to expect a 'rich lifestyle' after tertiary education.
'It's not for all industries. Kids get sucked into marketing and the cultural norm of having a high-paying rich life from going to Uni when in reality it's not like that (and) never was.'
Ms Ballis previously told Daily Mail Australia 'when there's a financial crisis there are recruitment freezes.'
'And anyone who leaves, they won't replace and we are seeing this at the moment.'
The he cost of living crisis has made people look for higher-paid positions and second and third jobs to get by, making the employment market even more cut-throat.
'The more entry-level the job, the higher the applications,' she said.
'We normally see about 100 people wanting a job but now it is up to 500 people.'