u/Anxious_Carpenter772

I am a Non-EU candidate, I applied for M2 program in University of Strasbourg directly after bachelors. Now the concerned department responsible for admission says that you have not applied through campus France so your application can not be processed. When the campus France applications were open around 5 months back, to the best of my knowledge there was no indication on program website that this program require apply through campus France first. Also as it is M2 program most of the admissions are handled directly by university so I thought I am eligible for admission and hence applied. Now the program coordinator says your application can not be processed while even after repeated emails. Campus France of my country is jot replying. What is the way forward for me?

I’m a non-CS graduate (2025) working at a tech startup. I was hired as an ML Engineer, but from the start I’ve been handling data work, databases, backend, and now frontend as well. I had no prior web dev experience, so I’ve learned everything on the job. Most tasks come as rough verbal ideas in meetings, and I’m expected to figure out the full implementation myself design, build, and iterate with written requirements provided only around two or three times.

It’s been 6 months, and I’m earning 45k PKR. I was the first hire, and the product is now near completion and it could have been completed around 2 months earlier only if we had more of the employer attention and guidance. The work environment is good like fully remote, relaxed, no after-hours pressure of message or call but we lack guidance at times since the employer is busy. We also use our own laptops, and overall spending is kept very minimal.

My concern is salary. From what I know, entry-level CS grads from my university typically start higher, and given my responsibilities, I feel something around 80k PKR would be more aligned with the market. I also suspect my employer may not be fully aware of local salary standards as he has been working in a different country for quite long and is himself a technical person.

I prefer staying here due to the environment, and I’m hesitant about switching right now due to being non-CS and needing time to prepare for traditional interviews. So asking for a raise seems like the best option.

How can I approach this conversation professionally, justify it well, and handle it if he resists?

#salaryadvice