YAJT: Interviewed for a position that pays substantially less than state ave. WWYD?

[arkcom]

Salary Report link

Semi relevant B.S. (Physics) and no experience, probably on par with someone with an Associates in Electronics.

Starting pay is $8-12.50, and I "could be making up to $20 after 5 years"

Is this reasonable? Is this even close enough to be able to negotiate.. it seems so far off?

I'm in a spot where I really need to get work. I would take it and leave when something better comes up, but this is a <5 person company that would be in trouble if I did. They were pretty adamant about wanting a long term person.

Any opinions?

 

[Ns1]

keep looking or counteroffer and move on, but sounds like you're pretty far apart to counter offer.

You should tell them "You realize McDonalds workers are rallying for $15/hr right?"

 

[Markbnj]

It depends on what "really need to get work" really means. If you need money like, yesterday, then take the job.

 

[UglyCasanova]

If they were wanting someone long term they wouldn't be starting a person with a bs in physics at $17k.

 

[Ruptga]

It depends on what "really need to get work" really means. If you need money like, yesterday, then take the job.

That

If they were wanting someone long term they wouldn't be starting a person with a bs in physics at $17k.

and that

If you really need the money, take it, then ditch them the second you're offered something that pays a livable wage. Don't even think about feeling bad about it; an employer that expects their people to live long term on that kind of money isn't worth any regrets, they're either completely out of touch with reality or massive assholes.

 

[arkcom]

Thanks guys. Pretty much my thoughts as well.
If they make an offer (they have no other qualified applicants... hmmm) I will tell them that I would need start closer to what they max out at.

I could do fast food for $8+ an hour, and they wouldn't have trouble replacing me when I left. Doesn't look as good on a resume, though.

 

[Chaotic42]

There are a ton of red flags here, but if you can survive on the money, take the job and get your resume built up.

 

[sandorski]

<5 people? Is this some kind of startup with some kind of Undeveloped Product?

 

[arkcom]

<5 people? Is this some kind of startup with some kind of Undeveloped Product?

It's a place that sells/installs GPSs, radios, other equipment in airplanes. Been around over 15 years.

 

[sandorski]

It's a place that sells/installs GPSs, radios, other equipment in airplanes. Been around over 15 years.

Ahh ok, that doesn't seem like much of an attractive job then.

 

[Imp]

It's a place that sells/installs GPSs, radios, other equipment in airplanes. Been around over 15 years.

15 years, still fewer than 5 employees, can only afford to pay new employees ~$10/hour (that's minimum wage where I am), and you get $20 after 5 years -- maybe. Unless it's a family business, I can't believe they can keep employees.

 

[andylawcc]

it's all about the work experience and how it will build your resume. money is not the biggest issue here. but again, you probably don't know what you will end up doing in 10, 20 years later anyway, so just get started.

 

[sandorski]

it's all about the work experience and how it will build your resume. money is not the biggest issue here. but again, you probably don't know what you will end up doing in 10, 20 years later anyway, so just get started.

Hmm, this is a good point. That starting Wage still seems way low. $12 maybe is ok, but 8?

 

[Ophir]

Me? I would go back to grad school. Find a school that offers programs/research in the field that has better job prospects (i.e. not physics) and you want to end up in, then beg, borrow, or steal your way in. You'd be surprised at what you can find at smaller schools and many are not very choosy. 2 yrs, some research, and an MS will help open a lot of doors.

In the interim, I'd fight for the $12.50 - $8k more /yr is a big deal - take the job, and keep my resume current. Any company trying to pay essentially minimum wage is not serious about long term retention, so you shouldn't be serious about long term commitment. Employment is a two way street.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Do you get French benefits or is it just the low pay as compensation? If you only get the hourly rate, it sounds like they're not cereal about getting someone permanent. I totally understand that some industries and parts of the country don't pay as much as others. If you have few options where you are, take the job. Just keep applying everywhere else and consider the risk/reward of moving from job to job too quickly. You need to build a resume and that takes time to show employers that you won't jump ship on them and move to the next best thing when it comes along. Typically 2 years or more per job is what they look for.

I had job that made $12.50 like 16 years ago, but after 3 months they offered me 2 weeks paid vacation, 5 sick days a year, holiday pay, insurance, and tuition reimbursement benefits and time and a half when I worked OT. The benefits made it worth working 40 hours a week there while I was in school at the ripe age of 19. I still only worked that job a year and a half before moving on specifically due to the low pay. My next job after that was over 7 years before I changed employers again.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'll echo what others have said -- if you really need money and experience on your resume now, take the job but keep your eyes open for better opportunities. They might be "adamant" that they want a long-term person, but that is their problem, not yours. You have to look out for the most important piece of the equation -- yourself. Repeat after me -- them being screwed or in a tight spot because you found something better and left is their problem, not yours.

 

[SearchMaster]

If you think you would feel guilty about leaving them, don't take it. You'd make more delivering pizzas. I doubt the experience is anything that would help you long-term except that "Electronics Installer" might sound marginally better than "Pizza Deliveryperson" on your resume. Marginally.

If they really think someone is going to stay for the long haul at barely above minimum wage, they're not grounded in reality and not someone I would want to work for. You could make up to $40K/year after 5 years? You should be starting at $40K minimum with a B.S.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'll echo what others have said -- if you really need money and experience on your resume now, take the job but keep your eyes open for better opportunities. They might be "adamant" that they want a long-term person, but that is their problem, not yours. You have to look out for the most important piece of the equation -- yourself. Repeat after me -- them being screwed or in a tight spot because you found something better and left is their problem, not yours.

Ohh yeah....after you prove yourself and get another job offer somewhere else, they may see you pull your weight and decide to pay you what you're worth to stick around. Just something to consider. When I left the job I mentioned earlier, I was offered a decent raise to stay. I didn't see the industry as a safe place to work long-term (we had layoffs frequently), so I moved on.

 

[CPA]

it's all about the work experience and how it will build your resume. money is not the biggest issue here. but again, you probably don't know what you will end up doing in 10, 20 years later anyway, so just get started.

This. When I first started looking for a job after college (20 years ago), I ended up taking an accounting/HR position in a private prison that paid $7.69/hour, and this was in the fourth largest city in the country. I honestly didn't care what they were going to pay, I wanted the experience. My plan was two years, tops, and I would look for another opportunity. I ended up finding one about 14 months after starting and it paid $12K more than what I was making. Two years after taking that job, I found another making about $6K more. From there, I have found new advancements within that employer to the position I am at now. I don't regret that initial decision one bit.

As for guilt, I look at it this way, 99% of employers won't feel one bit of guilt letting you go. My feelings are reciprocated if I find another, better opportunity. No guilt.

 

[drebo]

You admit you have no experience (a BS in Physics is not going to help you install radios in an airplane) and yet you still want state average?

You sound like another whiney college kid who wants the world to give him everything.

If you think you can get a better job with no experience and a physics degree, then by all means go get one. However, anyone with a brain and an ounce of common sense would probably take the job and build experience, especially if it was in a field that interested him. Doubly so if there were no other offers on the table.

 

[Sonikku]

Salary Report link

Semi relevant B.S. (Physics) and no experience, probably on par with someone with an Associates in Electronics.

Starting pay is $8-12.50, and I "could be making up to $20 after 5 years"

Is this reasonable? Is this even close enough to be able to negotiate.. it seems so far off?

I'm in a spot where I really need to get work. I would take it and leave when something better comes up, but this is a <5 person company that would be in trouble if I did. They were pretty adamant about wanting a long term person.

Any opinions?

lol, "up to". Up to doesn't help you. All that is is a ceiling. "at least" is the term you're looking for.

 

[arkcom]

You admit you have no experience (a BS in Physics is not going to help you install radios in an airplane) and yet you still want state average?

You sound like another whiney college kid who wants the world to give him everything.

No, I don't want state average, but it would be nice not to make less than the bottom 10% in the field for the rest of my life.

 

[SP33Demon]

Counter with $15/hr, if they can't do it then peace out. Though if you're desperate and there isn't crap in your area, take the job because it's better to have a job and look than not have a job and look.

 

[BoomerD]

Fuck. Really? $8-$12.50? That's fast food wages in most parts of the country.

Expand your job search area. Find a job that's actually willing to pay you a decent wage.

 

[Vdubchaos]

It depends on what "really need to get work" really means. If you need money like, yesterday, then take the job.

This

and at that pay, very little room to negotiate.

You can always look for other jobs while you have this job.

Just because this place "wants someone long term", it means NOTHING to you. If they really cared about it THAT much they would not be paying MINIMUM WAGE.

They will get exactly what they pay for.