Need your advice, Am I rediculous?

[shybb]

Hi,

I have a few questions that I really need some career advice...
I just got out from college and its hard to find a job now...I really want to get a job with a starting salary of $40000.

I went to a 2nd interview today (QA Support position in a small company) and the manager offer me 30K (He even told me to start working on 5/27) ...but on the job description website, it says its $15/hr. Its 9 hours per day and 9 * 15 = 135 and 5 days a week. Therefore, it should be $35100 / yr. When the manager offered me $30000, I was so nervous (this is my first 2nd interview ever) and i told the manager, "I was thinking in terms of 35000"...the manager did some kinda calculations and told me, "we will make it 34000". I didnt say yes or no, and he just went on with other stuff. He also told me that the health benefit cost $300 for a single person per month. Since I am married, he said the family health plan is $900 / mth.
That means, if I am single, company would pay $300 for me, if I am married, company would have to pay $900 for me and my hubby. They are a small company, I think budget is quite a big thing for them.

Now, after i got home, I feel so stupid that I did NOT bring up that their website says $15 / hr......I really want it to be 40K. In a situation like this, DO YOU think I can call the manager and tell him that, "On your website, it says $15 / hr, that makes it $35100, and also can I not have my hubby covered in the health plan, and save that $600 / mth and add it to my salary?"

Can I ask questions like that?? I really dont know, I never have experience like this before.

To summarize, I have 2 questions and 1 extra question,

1. Can I call the manager back and tell him that 34k is not enough and meanwhile, I told him during the interview "I was thinking in terms of 35k"???? If I do tell him, and he is not willing to match up, is he going to withdraw the offer?

2. Can i give up my hubby's health benefit and add those money toward my annual salary?

If you think I can do that, can you tell me what actually should I say to him?? (i.e. Techniques, wording...etc...)

3. last question, manager said the their company's 401K plan will match up to 50%, for every 1 dollar i put in, company will put in .50 cents for me. What is your companies policy? Is 50% alot or is it little??

Thanks, I am thinking about calling him tomorrow. So I would really appreciate if i can get some advice by tonight.

@Shybb

 

[pyonir]

here is my take.

are you sure the work isn't actually 8 hours of work a day with an hour for lunch? that is what i do, i work 9-6 but i only get paid for 8 hours a day because of an hour lunch.

the benefits, from what i remember where i work ( i don't have a spouse) i don't think you can take your husband out of your benefits. you have to both be included if you are married if i recall correctly.

that $900 a month, find out if the company covers some of that. like for me it is something like $240 a month and the company will pay $240 a month. if i want better coverage or "perks" i have to pay anything about $240.

The 401k is about average. here i get a 100% match on my 401k up until my Gross income for the year is $10,000. after that they match 18.5% for ever dollar. so 50% year round isn't too bad.

 

[djheater]

1) Salary negotiations are pretty back and forth and there are no set rules in my experience.... In this market you should probablly take the money and run, as long as there is the promise of a review coming up.... what's your husband think of all this?

2) You shouldn't be forced to take insurance if you don't want it. You should be able to take whatever part of it you want. to me that seems a little steep for insurance.

3) .50 on the dollar is very good, IMHO. Usually there is some further stipulation as there is in my case.
My co. offers .50 on the dollar up to 4%... so if I put in 4 they put in an extra 2... hey what can you do, it's nice to work at a co. that actually has a functional benefits program

 

[Adul]

actually the way you calculate it is

15*40 = weekly salary
weekly salary * 52

that is about 30k a week.

 

[atrowe]

Where do you live. Salaries can vary widely depending upon the local market. 35k sounds good if its your first job out of college. The health plan sounds a bit steep though. I pay $150/month for full family coverage. If it's a small company, it may be more. 50% match for a 401k sounds about average to me. I would say take the job. If its your first job out of college, you shouldn't set your expectations too high. Once you get some experience under your belt and fatten up the resume, you'll be able to be a bit more picky.

Edit: Congratulations on your first post here.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

I don't find your questions unreasonable. Is it an hourly or salary position though, that might be the difference you are finding.

As for the health insurance, I've found that depends on the company. Sometimes they will pass the savings along to the employee, sometimes not. If they will, you might see if you can be included in your husband's policy for -0- or less charge than $300/month, if so that might be the way to go if your employer will give you the extra money, I don't see why you couldn't go at least the single as opposed to family health care plan since your husband does not need the coverage.

Same with the matching 401K funds, this tends to vary a lot.

 

[amnesiac]

<< actually the way you calculate it is

15*40 = weekly salary
weekly salary * 52

that is about 30k a week. >>



30k per year you mean.
20,000 posts and Elite status and you still can't do math, eh Adul? lol

 

[HappyPuppy]

1. The manager offered you 30k/yr. You countered with 35k/yr. He made a generous counter offer of 34k/yr. If you call him back to tell him you now want 40k/yr he's going to think you are a flake and blow you off. You had your chance to ask for 40k/yr, but didn't. Remember, there are plenty of college grads with years of experience looking for work right now. You might want to think twice about throwing away a job that has already been offered to you. You can always make yourself an indespensable employee and get good raises.

2. You can give up your husband's health benefit, but since it's a benefit, you probably won't see it on your paycheck.

3. 401k plan with employer matching 50% is pretty good. If have heard of a very few companies that match 100%, but they are few and far between. Mine matches 25%.

 

[Bozo Galora]

pretty heavy first time post.
just curious why you didn't refer this to your husband.
you messed up asking for expected salary - you should have started higher to "compromise" to what
you wanted - basic horse trading.
youre stuck now.
two factors arise here:

is the 9 hrs. with non paid breaks as pyonir noted - or 40 hr week with 5 hrs of lunch/breaks?
9X5=45 times 52= 2340 times $15 = $35,100 as you say
8X5=40 times 52= 2080 times $15 = $31,200 as you say
if its 8 hr. day + 1 hr. breaks then he gives you $34,000 / 2080 = $16.35/hr
note that most all tech salaries are down 20 -25% from last year.

Normally $900 mo health is high for married/no children, but I see you are in N.Y., which is an extremely
high state.
You should be able to get outside ins. for whole year for far less than that, if they let you opt out.

 

[shybb]

Hi, further detail on my situation,

The position is called QA / help desk and it is in Suffolk, NY........and the hours are the hours for the job is actually 8-5, the manager says the company buy employee lunches everyday...but I have to STAY inside the office and eat...If I want to go out and eat, I have an hour and will not get free lunch.....the company offer me 2 weeks vacation, 6 paid holiday, $15 / hr.....its a full time permanent job, its a small computer software company...I really want to be a programmer, and the manager said if I get familiar with their software package......for about a year, I can have chances to become a programmer......but there is no specific sick days plan, he said, " we figure you are an adult, if you are sick, then call in, but if you just have a cold, you come to work.".....
Does this sound reasonable and on market price?? This is my first offer ever....dont know if it is good or not.....

As for the $15 / hr, based on the situation....what should be the annual salary?? I thought its
$15/hr * 9 hrs/day * 5 days/wk * 52wk/yr = $35100...am i correct?

The manager didnt say anything about probation or % raise per year or stuff like that, he didnt say nothing about how many % the health care will cover up to either...... Should I ask him??

and for the giving up my hubbies health benefit, when he first interview me, I told him I am married and he said, o, we have the single person health plan...but we will work something out..........and at the 2nd interview, he ask me, your hubby need health insurance too?, I told him yes......and the associate next to him told me the $300 / single person and $900 per family regardless having children or not............do you think that is a 100% coverage health plan?

He didnt even ask me if I want to get the job.....he just kinda told me, "hey, when can you start...you are on board, you are in, "..........I really dont think he is going to send me any official offer letter...should I request one?

@Shybb

 

[Viper GTS]

It's very unlikely that it's 9 hours a day 5 days a week. They would have to pay you 5 hours of OT a week, so instead of:

15*9*5*52 = $35,100

it would be:

(15*8*5*52) + (15*1.5*5*52) = 31200 + 5850 = $37,050

$15 an hour is a $31.2K a year job, not $35.1K. [EDIT]Now that you've posted hours it's definitely a standard 40 hour work week. You have a college degree & you didn't know this?

[/EDIT]

I just got out from college and its hard to find a job now...I really want to get a job with a starting salary of $40000.

Welcome to the real world.

Viper GTS

 

[shybb]

I ask my husband, we both just got out from college...actually, not yet, 2 weeks later.......He is still looking for a job and dont have any experience.......he told me may be I can ask for opinion in here......

If a person offer me 30K, if I really want 40k.....is it reasonable to tell him I am thinking about 40k?...will it be too high?? I was reading some article online and they said entry level dont have much flexibility like mid or senior levels......the article says entry level have about $2000 range flexibility...is it true?

@Shybb

 

[Viper GTS]

<< I ask my husband, we both just got out from college...actually, not yet, 2 weeks later.......He is still looking for a job and dont have any experience.......he told me may be I can ask for opinion in here......

If a person offer me 30K, if I really want 40k.....is it reasonable to tell him I am thinking about 40k?...will it be too high?? I was reading some article online and they said entry level dont have much flexibility like mid or senior levels......the article says entry level have about $2000 range flexibility...is it true?

@Shybb >>



If you ask for $40K for an entry level job out of college doing helpdesk support they'll laugh at you.

Viper GTS

 

[shybb]

ViperGTS,

the manager didnt say anything about overtime pay or anything like that...should I call him and ask as well as how many % will be health insurance will cover? Is it appropriate in the situation like that right now?

@Shybb

 

[pyonir]

<< ViperGTS,

the manager didnt say anything about overtime pay or anything like that...should I call him and ask as well as how many % will be health insurance will cover? Is it appropriate in the situation like that right now?

@Shybb >>


i would. why would you take the job when you don't understand something? ya know?

 

[Viper GTS]

<< ViperGTS,

the manager didnt say anything about overtime pay or anything like that...should I call him and ask as well as how many % will be health insurance will cover? Is it appropriate in the situation like that right now?

@Shybb >>



If you work over 40 hours per week, and are not salaried, they are required to pay you overtime. Most companies are reluctant to pay OT, rather than pay 8 people 5 hours a week OT they can hire one more full time person for 2/3 the cost - Which is the entire purpose of that particular law.

As for the health insurance, they should have some form of documentation for you. It should give a breakdown of what your copay is, what it covers, etc.

Also, 50% is very high for 401k matching... Is there a cap? I know my company matches 50% up to 3%, for a total max of 1.5% of my yearly. If it's 50% uncapped you could snag an additional ~$5000 a year from matching up to the federal limit on 401k contributions.

Viper GTS

 

[pukemon]

Hmmm. College grad and can't spell "ridiculous" correctly.... I hope I'm not the only one that noticed that.

Anyway, like ViperGTS says, for a straight-out-of-college entry level help desk position, $40K is overshooting it regardless of location vs cost of living. However the health care coverage seems kind of high, although that might be right for a small company.

Fact of the matter is, right now employment is at its worst in the last decade. Take any job you can get and build experience, that's the most important thing. Build 2-3 years of experience and if they still aren't treating you right, you will have some more opportunities later than you do now.

 

[djheater]

After reading a few more of your posts.

You seem to be vacillating because you don't want to make a mistake. You need to stop worrying about that. it doesn't sound like the job is going to contract you so you will probably be free to move on if you hate it or feel you made a mistake.

You don't have a job
Your husband doesn't have a job
You're fresh out of school with no experience.
There are tons of people with more experience in your field.
A company has offered you 34,000 when all you thought you could make was 40k....That's a pretty high percentage on your expectation.

You should take the job. Hell, even if they do contract you, there are ways to get out of it....

 

[shybb]

ViperGTS,

What is CAP that you mention in the 401k plan?

The manager said, every dollar i put in, company pay extra .50 cents, I can put in a maximum of 20% of my year salary...
and the company is willing to pay up to 50% of 10% I put in...

That means, if i earn 100, and I decided to put in 8 bucks, company will add 4 into it...so i hve a total of 12 to put in....
if i earn 100 and decided to put in 20 bucks...company will only add 5 into it because they add money up to 10 of my salary.......

Based on my situation, what is my CAP?

Also, is DENTAL part of the health plan?

@Shybb

 

[Viper GTS]

<< ViperGTS,

What is CAP that you mention in the 401k plan?

The manager said, every dollar i put in, company pay extra .50 cents, I can put in a maximum of 20% of my year salary...
and the company is willing to pay up to 50% of 10% I put in...

That means, if i earn 100, and I decided to put in 8 bucks, company will add 4 into it...so i hve a total of 12 to put in....
if i earn 100 and decided to put in 20 bucks...company will only add 5 into it because they add money up to 10 of my salary.......

Based on my situation, what is my CAP?

Also, is DENTAL part of the health plan?

@Shybb >>



Your cap is 5% of your yearly pay (50% up to 10%, 10% * 0.5 = 5%).

My dental plan is separate from my medical plan, you would need to ask them.

Viper GTS

 

[Bozo Galora]

Uh, I wouldn't be so hard on her, people, by looking at name on profile - it would appear English is second
language.

 

[shybb]

Hey,

I really dont understand...isnt health benefit what the company give you???

I thought, I am going to get 34K / year, and they give me this 401K option, and they also give me a health benefit..

Am i correct??

Or if I am going to stick with the 900/mth plan, 900 * 12 = 10800..
are they going to give me 34000 - 10800 = 23200 only???

If I have to pay for my health benefit, then why do i have to get it thru the company?? What good does it make?

@shybb

 

[StageLeft]

ridiculous

 

[GMachine]

<<

<< I ask my husband, we both just got out from college...actually, not yet, 2 weeks later.......He is still looking for a job and dont have any experience.......he told me may be I can ask for opinion in here......

If a person offer me 30K, if I really want 40k.....is it reasonable to tell him I am thinking about 40k?...will it be too high?? I was reading some article online and they said entry level dont have much flexibility like mid or senior levels......the article says entry level have about $2000 range flexibility...is it true?

@Shybb >>



If you ask for $40K for an entry level job out of college doing helpdesk support they'll laugh at you.

Viper GTS >>



I made 47,000 as a support analyst right out of school. Too bad I got laid off. It is possible and good customer support people are hard to find. I mean good, not nerdy know it alls, good with people and rational thought.

 

[alrocky]

You described the job as an 8-5 with an hour company paid lunch. This is a 'standard' 8 hour work day. Website description of $15 an hour suggests this is an hourly position, not a salaried one. Any work after 5:00PM is overtime pay. (If you're unsure, call personnel and verify that you are being offered an hourly wage and can get OT.) There are 2080 hours in a 'normal' work year. (40 hours a week * 52 weeks a year = 2080 hours a year.)

2080 * $14.42 = $30,000

2080 * $15.00 = $31,200.

2080 * $16.35 = $34,000.

2080 * $19.23 = $40,000.

He low-balled you @ $30K, which is lower than the website offer of $15 an hour. He bumped you up a lot @ $34K. You're supposed to be prepared to counter-offer and sorta hurt yourself when you asked for $35K and not the $40K you now say you want. You gotta have a good reason for the increase, not just 'you want' it. Is $40K normal for your background and or this position?

The 401K is fine. Mine is similar.

Your $300 and $900 a month health plan is unclear. Is this your premium that comes out of your pocket/paycheck each month? You should be able to opt for coverage for yourself only. Still it seems high but I'm unfamiliar with NY rates. Contact personnel about it and dental plan too.
.