I think I need help. I feel a bit overwhelmed and disappointed right now.
I interviewed for a job a few days ago. An office job that is not terribly exciting but I know I can do it easily.
Early in the interview the man explained to me it was a temp job; to work for 1 week while his regular staff manager was on vacation. I knew it was for 1 week, it was in the job ad. 1 weeks pay is 1 weeks pay for the unemployed right now.
So, he asks me what salary I want to be paid. I said $10.00 per hour. I said this because I have no idea of this jobs pay grade, and $10 hr is my rock bottom salary. I have not been hired for several other jobs that I interviewed for, and I'm a bit desperate. I want this week long job and $400 minus taxes is better than $0.
So the interview continues and I know I can do the job. It's not difficult.
Well the interviewer starts to like me and says he might be able to hire me on as a 'floating manager' between 2 of his other offices that are each located an hour away. Neither of those 2 offices has a manager, though this local office does have a manager.
I agree to this idea and say I am fine with it. And I am fine with it. I don't mind the idea of driving and spending 2-3 days at each office a week.
So a few days later he calls to offer me the job(s). He asks me to work at the local office for the week the manager is on vacation, and to then work permanently as a floating manager between the other 2 offices each located an hour away.
He tells me the pay is $10 hr (surprise surprise) and I am going to start this week for training.
Now onto my dilemma-
$10 hr is fine for a week long temp job that is 10 min from where I live.
I have a problem driving 2 hrs a day unpaid, to work for $10 an hour. And not get benefits.
I currently pay $200 a month for my own benefits and was looking forward to dropping that bill once I started working full time. Or at least getting paid enough that the $200 a month wasn't a large chunk of change.
I figure, that after paying out of pocket for gas/milage, my own benefits, PLUS 10 hours of unpaid driving a week- I am clearing around $5 an hour.
I need to renegotiate with this employer. I figure I will do the 1 week in the local office for $10 hr, and ask for a time to meet with him at the end of the week to try to renegotiate my pay rate.
But is this a satisfactory argument? I am a horrible horrible negotiator.I am so uncomfortable doing it. I don't know what is reasonable to ask for. I am not familiar with the industry or this companies profit margin to know what might be a standard pay grade. I do believe the local office manager might be getting paid MORE- because this man does not want her training me, I will have no contact with her though I will be doing her job for the week she is on vacation. I would guess he doesn't want us talking about our salaries.
I don't care if I make more or less than this woman. I care about making the money I am worth. I care about not having this sick feeling in my stomach thinking about what happens if gas prices rise, or the mileage that will be added on my car, or my unpaid commute everyday.
He doesn't have to hire two employees, I am doing the job of 2 people, saving him one salary.
I just want a pay that doesn't make me feel insulted or angry. Am I being reasonable...What can I say to effectively get a raise?
need advice
May 12th, 2009 at 07:10 pm
May 12th, 2009 at 07:21 pm 1242156062
Have you looed at the USA jobs website that lists federal jobs accross the country? There must be some in your area, good pay and benefits.
Also you should be making the same or more money as the manager at the permanent office. (More as you are traveling more) and the company should be reimbursing the difference between the mileage between the office you are working at, at a minimum. Anf if the other manager is getting benefits so should you. The packages should be the same.
Good luck with the negotiations! you can do this, you deserve more! (am i wrong in thinking you have earned your masters?)
May 12th, 2009 at 07:36 pm 1242157018
But I wasn't counting on taking a low paying job and then having extra expenses of travel/gas/benefits on top of it.
What is a reasonable raise to ask for? I was thinking of asking for $12.50 hr- that would cover my medical and $30 week of gas- but the 10 hrs of unpaid driving coming out of my pocket.
I did try for government jobs but OMG! the bureaucracy and red tape to get a job. I give up.
May 12th, 2009 at 07:37 pm 1242157072
May 12th, 2009 at 07:39 pm 1242157171
May 12th, 2009 at 07:48 pm 1242157694
May 12th, 2009 at 07:49 pm 1242157750
May 12th, 2009 at 08:03 pm 1242158613
May 12th, 2009 at 08:06 pm 1242158810
But do go to salary.com, that will give you a starting point.
May 12th, 2009 at 08:18 pm 1242159514
BTW- for those of you wondering. The clothing store still wants to hire me but they are having a problem with their district manager getting in to interview me. So I do have another option if I need to walk away. But that job pays about $7 hr- but is 10 min away and provides benefits. I would prefer this office job. Actually I really want this office job. I wish the guy had just increased the pay a few dollars and this pay thing wouldn't even be an issue. I could be out celebrating instead of feeling torn and upset.
May 12th, 2009 at 09:07 pm 1242162423
Part of me also feels that if it is a good job and a good fit that you will have a better leg to stand on to ask for a raise down the road, once you prove yourself. Is there any kind of probationary period? I don't think it's the worst to take it, and then ask for more down the road. (Are you sure they don't reimburse at all for driving???)
On the flip side of the coin, I know my career is in another realm, but when I was interviewing with our big move I was extremely turned off when a potential employer asked on their application what my "minimum salary" would be, and that was precisely what I was offered. It was in an extremely competitive market and it just rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't take the job, for other reasons. I obviously wrote down more than my minimum, though I did put down less than I really expected. To be fair, the employer could have felt my minimum was on the high end - but my current employer ended up offering far more than I expected and he treats his employees very well. I feel the negotiation process told me a LOT about potential employers.
In your case it might be nice just to get something on your resume and move on if it doesn't work out - other benefits besides the pay. Like my spouse hasn't worked in many years - to him I'd just say take the job... A lot to think about! Good Luck.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:47 pm 1242168442
If I were you, I would probably call him now and just mention the possibility of increased pay once you get the second part of the job - remind him that it wasn't in the add and that you hadn't considered that part of the job when you told him $10 an hour for the temp job. Then maybe ask him to think about it for a week while you do the temp job.
May 13th, 2009 at 05:07 pm 1242234466
I think you should be honest and tell the person who interviewed you that the $10/hr rate was ONLY applicable to/for the one week (temporary) position.
Tell him that had you known you might be considered for a full-time/pemanent positiion your answer to the question pertaining to the payrate you were looking for would have been MUCH different.