YAJT: Interview Next Week

[Riverhound777]

I have an interview next friday for an IT company in Santa Barbara for a Network Engineering position. I talked to the HR guy today about the job and everything.

One of the things that caught my eye was their pay scale. They do base salary plus commission based on monthly sales. Each engineer has certain clients they are responsible for and they keep track of the billable hours. They have three levels for the pay scale. The lower gives you higher base pay, lower commission, opposite with the third scale. Has anyone ever had a job with a scale system like this? Did it work to your benefit?

I'm just worried this is an excuse to low-ball my salary. Of course he said one of his engineers made over $90k last year but I doubt that is normal.

 

[IntrinsicValue]

My wife used to have a job similar to this. She worked for Nucor (stock symbol: NUE, in case you're interested) and she was paid a base-salary plus a bonus dependent on the sales of the company.

It worked out great for her, as the company performed exceptionally well while she was there. However, I'm sure there were some down-years too.

If you take this job, my advice is to try your hardest to live on only the base-salary, then invest anything you make on top of that. That way, if there are some months where you don't make as much, you aren't struggling to make ends meet.

 

[Aharami]

never heard of the commission based engineering job. thats more along the line of sales, no?

 

[Riverhound777]

Yeah, it seemed kind of odd to me as well. But I guess it makes some sense. It kind of seems to me like it would promote immoral sales a bit though. I mean I could pretty much tell the customer anything to get them to purchase something knowing I will be paid more. "Yeah, looks like your going to have to upgrade this server (they have spyware...)."

The company makes money, I make money, but it seems fishy.

 

[MetalMat]

Is the base pay pretty good? I make base + com

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I'm just worried this is an excuse to low-ball my salary. Of course he said one of his engineers made over $90k last year but I doubt that is normal.

Someone whose title is "Network Engineer" should have no problem whatsoever making 90k in California. This sounds more like a consulting gig where you utilize network engineering and other skills.

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Is the base pay pretty good? I make base + com

I don't know, the interview is next week. If it is around $35-45k, I would really consider it, but if its 20-30k... I just don't know. I am currently making $30k.

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I'm just worried this is an excuse to low-ball my salary. Of course he said one of his engineers made over $90k last year but I doubt that is normal.

Someone whose title is "Network Engineer" should have no problem whatsoever making 90k in California. This sounds more like a consulting gig where you utilize network engineering and other skills.

You are correct, it is a lot of consulting as well as admin, maintenance, server upgrading. There is no wiring unfortunately, which happens to be something I really enjoy.

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Is the base pay pretty good? I make base + com

I don't know, the interview is next week. If it is around $35-45k, I would really consider it, but if its 20-30k... I just don't know. I am currently making $30k.

Well, how expensive it that area of Cali? Making 90k + around San Fran would convert to around 65k here lol

 

[Imdmn04]

Influence the engineer by rewarding him through billable hours collected is bound for abuse.

Any network engineers can make up some bullsh!t problem and charge the client a ton. This type of encouragement reflects the shadyness of the company.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Is the base pay pretty good? I make base + com

I don't know, the interview is next week. If it is around $35-45k, I would really consider it, but if its 20-30k... I just don't know. I am currently making $30k.

Well, how expensive it that area of Cali? Making 90k + around San Fran would convert to around 65k here lol

Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive areas in California to live.

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Is the base pay pretty good? I make base + com

I don't know, the interview is next week. If it is around $35-45k, I would really consider it, but if its 20-30k... I just don't know. I am currently making $30k.

Well, how expensive it that area of Cali? Making 90k + around San Fran would convert to around 65k here lol

Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive areas in California to live.

Yes i've heard that and it definitely looks more expensive when I look at renting an apartment there, but is there anything else to worry about? For instance right now I pay $300/month while in SB it would be $600-700. If i'm making more money, I think i'll be fine no? Or is it more than just rent that is expensive there?

On a separate note they mentioned they need someone in Ventura so I might just move there instead. He said it was much cheaper to live there, but is it a crappy town?

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Is the base pay pretty good? I make base + com

I don't know, the interview is next week. If it is around $35-45k, I would really consider it, but if its 20-30k... I just don't know. I am currently making $30k.

Well, how expensive it that area of Cali? Making 90k + around San Fran would convert to around 65k here lol

Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive areas in California to live.

Yes i've heard that and it definitely looks more expensive when I look at renting an apartment there, but is there anything else to worry about? For instance right now I pay $300/month while in SB it would be $600-700. If i'm making more money, I think i'll be fine no? Or is it more than just rent that is expensive there?

On a separate note they mentioned they need someone in Ventura so I might just move there instead. He said it was much cheaper to live there, but is it a crappy town?

Everything is more expensive Wel, cept the value menu at wendys

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Is the base pay pretty good? I make base + com

I don't know, the interview is next week. If it is around $35-45k, I would really consider it, but if its 20-30k... I just don't know. I am currently making $30k.

Well, how expensive it that area of Cali? Making 90k + around San Fran would convert to around 65k here lol

Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive areas in California to live.

Yes i've heard that and it definitely looks more expensive when I look at renting an apartment there, but is there anything else to worry about? For instance right now I pay $300/month while in SB it would be $600-700. If i'm making more money, I think i'll be fine no? Or is it more than just rent that is expensive there?

On a separate note they mentioned they need someone in Ventura so I might just move there instead. He said it was much cheaper to live there, but is it a crappy town?

Everything is more expensive Wel, cept the value menu at wendys

How is that? I mean if you go to Safeway, does a loaf of bread cost more? A gallon of milk? I pay $2 for a loaf of bread, $3.50 for a gallon of milk currently for instance.

 

[Riverhound777]

Bump for another crowd. Anyone have any more to say on this?

I talked to some RL friends yesterday and they brought up a good point about the screwing over people to make more money. With a car salesman they do it because they are unlikely to see the person again any time soon, but with IT you are dealing with them all the time, so if you screw them over just to make a few more bucks and they find out, you are out of a client. So I don't think this will be much of a problem.