How to properly negotiate a starting wage?

[cerebusPu]

I agree with everyone else. even at $15 its not worth driving 100 miles a day and putting a kid in daycare. I wouldnt even bother negotiating and say 'thank you for the offer' and move on.

perhaps you should aim higher and take some networking classes and get a network related certification.

 

[BAMAVOO]

my car gets about 20mpg. So about 5 gallons of gas at $4 would be $20 a day to commute. I'm not exactly sure how much day care is yet, that will also depend on my fiance's class schedule. I believe it was somewhere around $175 per week. $175/5 would be $35 a day. So at the most i'm looking at $55 in expenses added per day if i were to take this job. If my fiance doesn't have class on a day i'm working than obviously she can watch our daughter and that negates the day care cost for that day.

So there's still several factors that tie into whether or not this is worth it. Obviously at $12.50 i don't feel that it's worth it. Even at $15.00 it might not be. Like i said, just because i take this job doesn't mean i'm done looking. It's tough but there isn't really anything where i live unless i get hired in full time at the university (there are currently no openings).

stay in shocol!

 

[Arik5405]

stay in shocol!

lol so sorry.

 

[Arik5405]

I agree with everyone else. even at $15 its not worth driving 100 miles a day and putting a kid in daycare. I wouldnt even bother negotiating and say 'thank you for the offer' and move on.

perhaps you should aim higher and take some networking classes and get a network related certification.

I actually have the first 2 CCNA classes done (I took them as directive electives) and I just didn't stick with it to finish 3, 4, and the NTT course to get the certificate. I suppose I could finish those off in the future. It would take 3 semesters, but if those were the only classes I were to take, that wouldn't be bad at all.

 

[Arik5405]

$33k-$35k for entry level help desk is reasonable. $12.50 is not.

So that's about $17/hr. I would likely go for that if I could get it. But I'm not sure this company would start someone off that high when the job caps at $19/hr. It's worth a shot to aim high when negotiating and see what happens.

 

[Exterous]

I think salary.com can give you some estimates although I think it's sometimes high.

45k might be a bit high I think in this market/economy. But then again I guess it also depends on the company and your negotiating skills.

In Michigan I definately think its high. Maybe its better on the other side of the state but I would say the high end is probably $45k over here - but then the last place I worked had over 400 applications for their most recent Help Desk position

 

[isekii]

So that's about $17/hr. I would likely go for that if I could get it. But I'm not sure this company would start someone off that high when the job caps at $19/hr. It's worth a shot to aim high when negotiating and see what happens.

If you're in need of a job~ you can always take it and you can always look else where while you're working.

I think atleast $15-16 at the minimum.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

My car gets about 20mpg. So about 5 gallons of gas at $4 would be $20 a day to commute. I'm not exactly sure how much day care is yet, that will also depend on my fiance's class schedule. I believe it was somewhere around $175 per week. $175/5 would be $35 a day. So at the most I'm looking at $55 in expenses added per day if I were to take this job. If my fiance doesn't have class on a day I'm working than obviously she can watch our daughter and that negates the day care cost for that day.

So there's still several factors that tie into whether or not this is worth it. Obviously at $12.50 I don't feel that it's worth it. Even at $15.00 it might not be. Like I said, just because I take this job doesn't mean I'm done looking. It's tough but there isn't really anything where I live unless I get hired in full time at the University (there are currently no openings).

Don't forget depreciation and wear and tear on you car. What about lunch, unless you are going to pack it everyday. Even if we ignore these costs and assume you only pay 10% income and SS tax you would only clear 90-55=$35/day for an eight hour day. Since your day will be about 10 hours long with commute your effective pay rate is $3.50/hour.

You would be better off begging for money on the street or leaching off some state program.

 

[Arik5405]

Don't forget depreciation and wear and tear on you car. What about lunch, unless you are going to pack it everyday. Even if we ignore these costs and assume you only pay 10% income and SS tax you would only clear 90-55=$35/day for an eight hour day. Since your day will be about 10 hours long with commute your effective pay rate is $3.50/hour.

You would be better off begging for money on the street or leaching off some state program.

ouch. begging it is then! j/k...maybe.

I talked to my fiance more about it when I got home from work, and there's a real good chance that if scheduling works out at the company, that based on her class schedule, we wouldn't have to worry about day care. That would be nice, but we don't know for sure yet.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

ouch. begging it is then! j/k...maybe.

I talked to my fiance more about it when I got home from work, and there's a real good chance that if scheduling works out at the company, that based on her class schedule, we wouldn't have to worry about day care. That would be nice, but we don't know for sure yet.

Sorry that was blunt but I'm sure you place a value on your time.

 

[Bignate603]

Yes, I'm in Big Rapids, MI which is about 50 miles north of Grand Rapids.

I actually see some more job postings on salary.com that I will likely apply for. Thanks for that as well.

Be careful about those salary places when you don't have any experience, usually those shown salaries are the average of people currently working in the position and they'll have a range of experience. You're just starting so you'll start below the average for people that have been doing it for a whiles.

That being said, if they make you an offer come back and say "I have do deal with X expenses if I take this job, I need to make Y or I can't afford to take this job." If they can't meet that tell them that you have to decline the offer due to the requirements for your family. End of story.

If they can't meet your needs its not a good job for you and you need keep looking. Don't stress out about negotiating over the pay, there are other jobs out there.

 

[sigmanova]

Also, if some of you don't might taking the time to critique my resume a bit, I am definitely open to suggestions. I just want to say that I really do appreciate the help I receive from you guys.

Resume
Cover Letter (This isn't the company with the help desk position)

For starters, get rid of your "Objective" and GPA under your education. Unless you have a 3.8 GPA or higher it's not going to help you. Most employers don't care otherwise I'd still be unemployed

as others have said, since this will be your first real job out of school you basically have no negotiating power. get some years of experience under your belt; develop some useful skills then when you are ready to pounce on a more senior position you can negotiate for higher wages. until then, interview with more prospective employers and take the one that has the best overall compensation package.

 

[Rage187]

Agreed on leaving off the GPA. It is good when going for a college intern gig or if you are going into finance or law.

 

[Zivic]

So that's about $17/hr. I would likely go for that if I could get it. But I'm not sure this company would start someone off that high when the job caps at $19/hr. It's worth a shot to aim high when negotiating and see what happens.

if you are looking at a lengthy commute + daycare, you need to make more than 12-15/hr....

out of college I was at 38k+ (10 yrs ago) and I had no kids, an 18 mile commute and no college loans and I felt like I was just getting by. no way would I go for anything less than 20/hr under your circumstances. Look for something closer to home with flexible hours. this will allow you to work for less money and still have a buck or two left at the end of the day

 

[Matthiasa]

In case you missed it for the 23423423 not worth it at that wage.

 

[zCypher]

Makes no sense at all. $17/hr if it was minimal commute. $12/hr ... well, that might be ok if you have no commute and absolutely no living expenses. Traveling that much? Ugh... traveling costs a lot more than just the time and gas in the long run. Even at $19/hr, it would be a pain IMO.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.slate.com/articles/podca...cademy_episode_4_negotiating_with_jerks_.html
slate has a series on negotiations

 

[richardycc]

with the commute and daycare cost, you might as well take a job at the daycare for $10-12/hr plus employee discount.

 

[alkemyst]

$12.50/hr for a college required job is insane. Thank the adult children living at home with mom and dad for that.

I was working for that wage in 1992ish as a student.