How much money to ask for...?

[Rachael]

A bit of background- I've been looking for a new job for a little while because my current one simply doesn't have enough hours available when I'm not in class (I'm a college sophomore). The other day I ran into a woman who was walking her dogs on campus and struck up a conversation with her because I thought her dogs were cute. She asked me if I was a student and how she might go about putting up a notice to get students to apply to work for her. She told me that she works in real estate and she is looking for someone to organize files and input data into a computer. I told her that she could post a flyer in the campus center, but also that I am looking for work, myself, and gave her my contact information.

Tonight she emailed me and again gave me details about the job, and asked about my schedule and also how much money I'm asking for. So, ATOT, how much money am I asking for (per hour of work)? I don't want to ask for too little and get ripped off, but I certainly don't want to be rude by asking for too much. What do you think?

Cliffs:
1: Looking for a job
2: Conveniently ran into a woman looking for someone to do secretary-type work
3: Woman asks me how much she should pay me
4: How much money should I ask for?

 

[KarenMarie]

If it is a form, put NEGOTIBLE and see what she offers.

If she is asking you directly...

Well, how would you feel about $10 per hour?

 

[chambersc]

What are the hours for the job? PT or FT? What do you think she can afford? What area of the country do you inhabit?

 

[illusion88]

The salary you can ask for also depends on your previous work experience and knowledge of your job. I would probably ask for $12. Go $15 if you think you can.

 

[GhettoFob]

~$15

 

[bunker]

Look in the classified ads in your area for similar jobs and see if they have any listings for salary.

 

[Rachael]

Originally posted by: chambersc
What are the hours for the job? PT or FT? What do you think she can afford? What area of the country do you inhabit?

The hours are negotiable, based on our schedules. It's part time, it seems like a kind of informal situation. I live near Philadelphia (Main Line)- it's a rich area so I have a feeling that it's not so much about what she can afford.

Originally posted by: illusion88
The salary you can ask for also depends on your previous work experience and knowledge of your job. I would probably ask for $12. Go $15 if you think you can.

I've helped at my mother's work place with this kind of thing, and in one of the offices at my old high school. However, I haven't had any particularly formal work experience in this area.

(edited to clarify)

 

[SmoochyTX]

I would start with $15.00 and negotiations can go from there if needed.

 

[illusion88]

Ah and you are a High School student, that will count against you as well.
Ask for $10. $10 in HS is pretty good money. More then I made.

 

[Xyo II]

Originally posted by: illusion88
Ah and you are a High School student, that will count against you as well.
Ask for $10. $10 in HS is pretty good money. More then I made.

That's sophomore college student, not high school.
-But that still counts against you. Being in a college town, there will be more people (students) that might be willing to work for less than you will. $8-12/hour is pretty much the optimal range I would be shooting for.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: illusion88
Ah and you are a High School student, that will count against you as well.
Ask for $10. $10 in HS is pretty good money. More then I made.

She's a college sophomore.

 

[chambersc]

Part time - I would ask for $10-11max. Good luck, either way.

 

[WildHorse]

Rachael,

Suggest asking for $20 an hour, flex time, you get right to use her office equipment for your schoolwork outside of your working hours (copy machine, computer, her office printer ink, etc.)

She's getting a terrific reliable bright worker (you) fluent in English (so many are not) and willing to work flex time without benefits (insurance, etc). What a killer deal for her!!

$20 is mutually fair. If she gets you for much less than that, it isn't fair to you, nor worth taking time from your school work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpful reminder: as you already know, keep your school study time at a much higher priority than her p.t. job. Resist temptation to let her put you through a real estate agent cram course & make a seller out of you, which is what she'll probably do (unless you want that).

Edit: Rachael was the only replicant who had feelings

bladerunner

 

[IntrinsicValue]

It also depends on where you are located. The cost of living (and thus salaries) vary from location to location.

But given your background, you are not a professional secretary, and you have little to no experience in it. Therefore, asking for $15 - $20 is probably way too much, unless you're in California or something.

I would follow bunker's advice, and find what similar-type jobs are going for in the Classifieds. However, remember, many jobs in those ads are seeking PROFESSIONAL secretaries, so you will still need to reduce your asking price by about $5/hr.

 

[aircooled]

10-ish

 

[BigFatCow]

I had a job that sounds really similar to what you are describing when i was a senior in High School, but i worked for a CPA. I was getting payed $10 an hour when i did it.

 

[statik213]

$12

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: scott
Rachael,

Suggest asking for $20 an hour, flex time, you get right to use her office equipment for your schoolwork outside of your working hours (copy machine, computer, her office printer ink, etc.)

She's getting a terrific reliable bright worker (you) fluent in English (so many are not) and willing to work flex time without benefits (insurance, etc). What a killer deal for her!!

$20 is mutually fair. If she gets you for much less than that, it isn't fair to you, nor worth taking time from your school work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpful reminder: as you already know, keep your school study time at a much higher priority than her p.t. job. Resist temptation to let her put you through a real estate agent cram course & make a seller out of you, which is what she'll probably do (unless you want that).

Edit: Rachael was the only replicant who had feelings

bladerunner

20/hour? Are you crazy?

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
I would start with $15.00 and negotiations can go from there if needed.

Yup... seeing that it's a richer area, I don't think she'd balk at that.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Originally posted by: scott
Rachael,

Suggest asking for $20 an hour, flex time, you get right to use her office equipment for your schoolwork outside of your working hours (copy machine, computer, her office printer ink, etc.)

She's getting a terrific reliable bright worker (you) fluent in English (so many are not) and willing to work flex time without benefits (insurance, etc). What a killer deal for her!!

$20 is mutually fair. If she gets you for much less than that, it isn't fair to you, nor worth taking time from your school work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpful reminder: as you already know, keep your school study time at a much higher priority than her p.t. job. Resist temptation to let her put you through a real estate agent cram course & make a seller out of you, which is what she'll probably do (unless you want that).

Edit: Rachael was the only replicant who had feelings

bladerunner

You must be out of your mind...20 dollars an hour, ha!!

 

[WildHorse]

Originally posted by: I Saw OJ
< words cut from quote >

You must be out of your mind...20 dollars an hour, ha!!

That'd be very fair where I am, & at that the person would need 2 jobs, maybe even 3, to barely scrape by in a tiny room rented in a mulit-multi-multi person apartment.

Plus, reliable bright workers are hard to come by, and are WORTH more.

I can tell just by looking at Rachael's pic that S H E ' s W O R T H it!!! Look into those hypnotic eyes!

You know sure as anything that pretty soon a realtor is going to try to attract her into becoming a real estate seller to pimp her for commi$$sions. That's how it goes in that biz.

 

[Ameesh]

if she gives you benefits then $13-15 would be ok; if not i would ask for some more.

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: scott

Originally posted by: I Saw OJ
< words cut from quote >

You must be out of your mind...20 dollars an hour, ha!!

That'd be very fair where I am, & at that the person would need 2 jobs, maybe even 3, to barely scrape by in a tiny room rented in a mulit-multi-multi person apartment.

Plus, reliable bright workers are hard to come by, and are WORTH more.

I can tell just by looking at Rachael's pic that S H E ' s W O R T H it!!! Look into those hypnotic eyes!

You know sure as anything that pretty soon a realtor is going to try to attract her into becoming a real estate seller to pimp her for commi$$sions. That's how it goes in that biz.

Yea, Cali maybe.
With little experience, and plenty of supply for students, 10-12 is probably in that range.

Her eyes? Do you think employers would care about that? They just need someone they can hand off data to so it gets entered in the database, not someone they can ogle on ATOT.

 

[LS20]

12

 

[WildHorse]

Originally posted by: simms

< words cut >

Her eyes? Do you think employers would care about that? They just need someone they can hand off data to so it gets entered in the database, not someone they can ogle on ATOT.

The day they handed out playfulness & humor,

you must have been absent