CNN Smart moves in a tough economy: Get a new job that pays triple...

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ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
It can happen. Sometimes it just takes something to happen to kick you in the ass...

In 2003 both my wife and myself were laid off from our factory jobs of 7 years. Shortly thereafter they sold and moved the factory to Mexico.

We both decided to go to school and get our degrees. In 2005 I had an entry position in IT at what I would say is the low end of the pay scale (but more than I was making doing factory work). Last year I officially made triple what I made in 2005. The wife is also making more than she was in the factory. Needless to say we're sitting better than ever.

Now, the point being, everyone we worked with had the same options we did, and most of them are no better or worse off than they were in 2004. Why? Bad choices.
 

hiromizu

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
3,405
1
0
By posting the obvious CNN makes it sound like well no shit, here's a brilliant strategy..why don't you make more money, and save more money which means you'll have more money to weather the storm and thrive should the storm dissipate?? Brilliant reporting.

And you've got to love Yahoo! finance where in the midst of a recession while half the nation is struggling they post incredibly out of touch reality stories about people making millions and how they should figure out how they should at least save a few thousand dollars a month to plan for a mediocre retirement because social security is broke and that there are uncertainties which can make investing in hedge funds a little haphazard.
 
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rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
this thread needs to merge with the thread that says there's no jobs out there, cause people able to find double/triple what they were before is kinda making me itch for job-hunting in this continued recession. I've been here for 12 years... @$&^#!$!!!! Kinda scared to even interview after this long. Hell I've been sitting at home for the last 5+. A lot of familiarity & security to just drop and leave.

How do you even find out what most jobs pay without sounding like you're just in for the money? Lots of listings don't say. Is it ok to ask up front?
 
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M0oG0oGaiPan

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
7,858
2
0
digitalgamedeals.com
She was probably a student when she was making 24k. Maybe picked up a job as a dev to hit 90k. At first I thought maybe pharm grad but I think it's another 2 years after undergrad.

Jumping between companies is one way to increase salary though.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
this thread needs to merge with the thread that says there's no jobs out there, cause people able to find double/triple what they were before is kinda making me itch for job-hunting in this continued recession. I've been here for 12 years... @$&^#!$!!!! Kinda scared to even interview after this long. Hell I've been sitting at home for the last 5+. A lot of familiarity & security to just drop and leave.

How do you even find out what most jobs pay without sounding like you're just in for the money? Lots of listings don't say. Is it ok to ask up front?
guess it all depends on the industry.

my department has really been struggling to fill mid-level backup admin positions. seems like every resume is either some kind of high-level backup or storage architect who's not going to want to do the grunt work required (and will jump ship as soon as the economy turns around) or has no experience and would need to be trained from the ground up.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,078
136
Theres tons of jobs in my industry. They keep telling me I'm not suited and then send my job to Korea or India.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
LOL...

I wish it was as easy as just getting a job that pays triple. I mean....if she worked as a full time cashier making 24K a year and them moved onto to becoming a nurse, then it really is not a story to write home about. They make it seem like 90K/year jobs are a dime a dozen....
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
this thread needs to merge with the thread that says there's no jobs out there, cause people able to find double/triple what they were before is kinda making me itch for job-hunting in this continued recession. I've been here for 12 years... @$&^#!$!!!! Kinda scared to even interview after this long. Hell I've been sitting at home for the last 5+. A lot of familiarity & security to just drop and leave.

How do you even find out what most jobs pay without sounding like you're just in for the money? Lots of listings don't say. Is it ok to ask up front?

You make triple what you make by switching industries or if you severely undervalued your salary in your first job. You do not just magically get it just by looking for it.

If you want to test the market, just test it. And you NEVER ask what a job will pay before you get an offer. OR you could just send your resume to a head hunter, act like you are searching, and see what open opportunities will pay.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
^ was thinking of doing the headhunter thing as most monster.com listings are posted by them. Was hoping it's ok to ask the salary range up front...

I mean if I'm going to commute 1.5hrs a day one way into Manhattan at $300/mo. for a railroad pass, it better be a significant increase.
 
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Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
^ was thinking of doing the headhunter thing as most monster.com listings are posted by them. Was hoping it's ok to ask the salary range up front...

I mean if I'm going to commute 1.5hrs a day into Manhattan at $300/mo. for a railroad pass, it better be a significant increase.

With a headhunter, just ask what they think they will expect for salary or rate. It is in their best interest to let you know everything up front because the last thing they want is to waste the client's (the employer) time because they could not meet in terms of salary. With a headhunter, they cannot give a rats ass if you are simply motivated by money. All they care about is finding a candidate that will work for that position and be very likely to land the job and make him money.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,790
1,361
126
To be fair, the average person simply increases their standard of living when they make more money. They just piss it all away. Most folks do NOT put it in savings or investments.
the tip was that she tripled her income but didn't increase spending
Bingo. That's exactly what I did. I got a new job that paid way higher, but lived almost exactly the same way, except I bought a new TV and was (a little) less stingy in general. eg. I bought a new computer instead of perpetually upgrading old sh!tboxes. But otherwise, the bulk of the extra money went into savings or to pay down debt.

Others in my situation bought new cars or went on other spending sprees, and then complained they didn't have enough money.