Got a job interview...HR wants a minimum salary range...

[PingSpike]

I don't know what to ask for. I don't have a lot of real world experience on the telephone end, and they have some macs running OSX/OS9 which aren't really my strong suit...you might say I don't know a ton about them. Everything else they ask for I'm confident I can do without any problem: TCP/IP networking, function as technical support, installing software and drive images, upgrades, etc. The company also sells gardening equipment and plant related stuff; my family owns a greenhouse wholesale business and I worked doing telephone sales a few years back for a company that does pretty much the same thing.

I'm in Burlington, VT. Not a huge job hot spot. I'm making not a lot right now between my two jobs about 22k a year. I'm underpaid there and there's no room for advancement in my main job.

I think I'd probably take this job for 25k...but of course more is better, I have virtually no debt right now but my car is getting old and if I have to get a new one things might start to get tight. Plus the girl and I want to get married and own a home. I'd rather not tell my current employer until (if) I get the job, and unfortunately they're probably my best reference.

What should I ask for on this? Is 25k way lowball? I've got a BS in CIS.

Oh, the company has a nice benefits package as well, full med and dental.

 

[ryzmah]

Look it up at monster.com - if you can find an appropriate job description, they can give you the ballpark salary for the area.

 

[edro]

25k is fine as a Minimum.

 

[Ameesh]

put whatever you wnat your salary as a minimum. If i were you i would put that youre looking for 35K a year.

 

[Audiotherapy]

work while u look for better opportunties

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: audiotherapy
work while u look for better opportunties

I'm not sure what you mean. Thats exactly what I'm currently doing. This is a better opportunty.

 

[Thegonagle]

25K after all that work getting a BS is a rip-off. You realize that's less than $12.50 per hour, right?

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
25K after all that work getting a BS is a rip-off. You realize that's less than $12.50 per hour, right?

geezus... they pay interns more than that

i'd say ask for 35k, expecting a counter offer around the 30k range

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: audiotherapy
work while u look for better opportunties

I'm not sure what you mean. Thats exactly what I'm currently doing. This is a better opportunty.

25K isn't a better opportunity, you need to market yourself way better

 

[Drakkon]

yeah 30-35K is mroe what u should shoot for....if u take a 25K job your never going to make much more than that for the rest of ur life....unless ur happy with that...but in todays world more is always better cause usually more turns into less fast enough

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
25K after all that work getting a BS is a rip-off. You realize that's less than $12.50 per hour, right?

He has a point. Look at it this way: You already have jobs that pay you $22k/year. If you are going to leave the security of those jobs, make it worth your while. Otherwise you are the one taking all of the risks. If this job will include more benefits/perks, then take those into account.

To be perfectly honest, though, I don't know much about your field so my advice is not the best. You should always compare risk vs. reward, though.

 

[Blieb]

Balt hit the nail on the head.

You're giving up a comfortable haven ... you need to make 30k minimum to leave said haven. You have to analyze how big where you're going is ... how many employees etc etc ... so you should ask for at least 35 ... then you can back down a little if you have to. At the same time, what if they think you need 40k ... you say 30 or 35 and they just got a sweet deal.

It's a game ... "he who says the first number loses" ... EOS ...

 

[PingSpike]

Well they wanted a range, so I'm thinking of asking for something like 27-35k right now. Thanks for the advice so far guys.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Well they wanted a range, so I'm thinking of asking for something like 27-35k right now. Thanks for the advice so far guys.

Go 30~37 and then they may offer you around 27.
If you only look for 27, they might try and offer you that or less, unless you seem like a good future investment.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Make the range 30 - 40, dont start the range at 27k, I don't like that number.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
if u take a 25K job your never going to make much more than that for the rest of ur life....

What in the hell do you base that on?

 

[EvilPaper]

Originally posted by: edro13

Originally posted by: Drakkon
if u take a 25K job your never going to make much more than that for the rest of ur life....

What in the hell do you base that on?

I'm curious too -- that makes no sense at all.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: EvilPaper

Originally posted by: edro13

Originally posted by: Drakkon
if u take a 25K job your never going to make much more than that for the rest of ur life....

What in the hell do you base that on?

I'm curious too -- that makes no sense at all.

I'd say its because it shows a lack of ambition from a financial sense. Kinda displays a "whatever, I'll take it" attitude.

As far as a range 35-60 sounds good. If you short yourself on the high end by saying 25-35 the hiring manager might be thinking "Great! I was gonna pay this kid 45 but looks like he'll settle for 30! Wahoo, my bonus is going to be FAT this year."

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
25K after all that work getting a BS is a rip-off. You realize that's less than $12.50 per hour, right?

im 3rd year CS/ECON student and i get 12.5/hr now with fully flexible hours (show up anytime). 25K is a blatant ripoff... you should be asking for 40-50 if you have a diploma from a good school.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
25K after all that work getting a BS is a rip-off. You realize that's less than $12.50 per hour, right?

Meh...I make $13.11 per hour.

How many users/ computers would you support?? We have over 600 computers in the hospital with over 1600 users.

 

[PingSpike]

Ok, I asked for 28-35k. Maybe thats a little low, who knows...but the position sounds like it has a lot more room for advancement than what I have now. (I have NO room for advancement) And it has a nice benefits package including stock, profit sharing, full medical and dental and employee discounts on yard equipment which I'll need a house before I could use...

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I don't know what to ask for. I don't have a lot of real world experience on the telephone end, and they have some macs running OSX/OS9 which aren't really my strong suit...you might say I don't know a ton about them. Everything else they ask for I'm confident I can do without any problem: TCP/IP networking, function as technical support, installing software and drive images, upgrades, etc. The company also sells gardening equipment and plant related stuff; my family owns a greenhouse wholesale business and I worked doing telephone sales a few years back for a company that does pretty much the same thing.

I'm in Burlington, VT. Not a huge job hot spot. I'm making not a lot right now between my two jobs about 22k a year. I'm underpaid there and there's no room for advancement in my main job.

I think I'd probably take this job for 25k...but of course more is better, I have virtually no debt right now but my car is getting old and if I have to get a new one things might start to get tight. Plus the girl and I want to get married and own a home. I'd rather not tell my current employer until (if) I get the job, and unfortunately they're probably my best reference.

What should I ask for on this? Is 25k way lowball? I've got a BS in CIS.

Oh, the company has a nice benefits package as well, full med and dental.

They need to give a number first... that is rule #1 of looking for a job... let them name the number. Then give them a somewhat higher number and work from there. Give a higher number EVEN if you're happy with their initial offer. You will regret it later if you don't.

I dunno about salaries where you live... but in that position I wouldn't settle for less than 40-45K

:thumbsup:

-Max

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Ok, I asked for 28-35k. Maybe thats a little low, who knows...but the position sounds like it has a lot more room for advancement than what I have now. (I have NO room for advancement) And it has a nice benefits package including stock, profit sharing, full medical and dental and employee discounts on yard equipment which I'll need a house before I could use...

damn... I'm too slow...

-Max