[gaya]

A friend of mine recently applied for a "entry level" position at some company and the manager interviewing him asked what his salary requirements were, so he gave a figure and found out that he should have asked for more. He said at least 40 and the interviewer said "that's it?". Mind you, Boston is one of the most expensive places to live in the US so 40 doesn't go very far.<br><br><br><br>
At some point I'm going to be looking for a real job. I work at uni right now and make squat and my situation is not sustainable so next year I'll probably go into industry. How can I find out what I'm worth? I've used the salary calculator <a href="http://www.bostonworks.com" target="_blank">www.bostonworks.com</a> (at the bottom of the page) and I don't see how those salaries can be accurate. Is it wise to over shoot? Do companies haggle over salaries or will they just not bother if you ask for too much? I check out available positions all the time but salaries are never list and it's always DOE.

 

[GhostUser]

$40,000 doesn't go very far in a large U.S. city? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[pgor72]

I do a lot of interviewing and hiring as part of my job... my advice is to go high! If you low ball yourself, then that is what you will get, even if they like you and are willing to pay more. Running a business is always about money and they will save where they can. If I am considering a candidate and they shoot to high, I always ask them if they are negotiable- in this scenario they have set the starting point and I can pretty much guess how much leeway I have in my offer. It is usually abuot 5-7 up or down. So if you want at a minimum of 60000 ask for 65000 or 66000.<br><br><br><br>
Hope that helps.

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>sarahjayn1980</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I can imagine it wouldn't. It wouldn't go far in Tampa. Especially if you are single. Everything's gone condo here and housing is impossible to find. We're not even a large city.</div>
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Hmmm, I never knew that. Growing up, I always thought $40,000 was a lot...

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>sarahjayn1980</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Why don't you jones about to see what other people are currently being paid? Like, can't you look up some of your school's grads who went into similar fields throught the alumn association?</div>
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I did meet one student who was working in industry and was hired at 55 about 4 years ago. I have a couple of friends who were hired for less (45-50) and it just doesn't make any sense to me. That's why I'm wondering. Should they have asked for more? When you were hired, did they ask you what your salary requirements were? eta: or did they just tell you what the salary for the position was?<br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">I didn't have this problem. I'm a teacher, so I quickly learned I am not worth ****.</div>
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too true. teachers are certainly not paid what they are worth imo.

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>veggiejanie</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
$40,000 doesn't go very far in a large U.S. city? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""></div>
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In my area, a small ranch house is between 350-450,000.

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>pgor72</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I do a lot of interviewing and hiring as part of my job... my advice is to go high! If you low ball yourself, then that is what you will get, even if they like you and are willing to pay more. Running a business is always about money and they will save where they can. If I am considering a candidate and they shoot to high, I always ask them if they are negotiable- in this scenario they have set the starting point and I can pretty much guess how much leeway I have in my offer. It is usually abuot 5-7 up or down. So if you want at a minimum of 60000 ask for 65000 or 66000.<br><br><br><br>
Hope that helps.</div>
</div>
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That does help. Thanks.

 

[Skylark]

I hate asking for more money. I don't believe my hourly wage is negotiable at my job--the publisher has to approve all raises, and he's highly inaccessible. I had a friend who worked here doing the same thing as me for a year and a half, and during that entire time she made less per hour than I <i>started</i> at. She left about the time I started.

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>skylark</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I hate asking for more money. I don't believe my hourly wage is negotiable at my job--the publisher has to approve all raises, and he's highly inaccessible. I had a friend who worked here doing the same thing as me for a year and a half, and during that entire time she made less per hour than I <i>started</i> at. She left about the time I started.</div>
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wow, that does suck. That's why I want to be prepared and have some kind of a clue. I'm pretty sure one of my friends was hired at 45 (haven't spoken with her in a while) and the woman is practically a genius. She's worth so much more so maybe she did just sell herself short.

 

[IamJen]

40K is pretty good for an entry level job, depending on the field of course.

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>IamJen</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
40K is pretty good for an entry level job, depending on the field of course.</div>
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The guy I was speaking of was going for some type of office job at a large company. No real skills or training required. He was making 42 in retail as a store manager at some mall. He doesn't have a degree or anything. 40 is good money any where but here I suppose. I've been considering moving south but I really do like the boston/cambridge area. I'm hoping that something will give over here with the housing market. It's constantly discussed on the radio, in the papers etc. It's just rediculous. I pay 800 and change for a little two bdr apt and that's a total bargain! lol eta: a standard two bdr normally runs between 14 and 1600 + utl. We just lucked out because a friend's mother dates the building manager.

 

[kpickell]

$40k is good for entry level office work, but maybe not for Boston?<br><br>
Boston is such a rediculously expensive city. I could never live there. I love that my town is so cheap. The mortgage on my three bedroom house is $350/month.

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>gaya</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
In my area, a small ranch house is between 350-450,000.</div>
</div>
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Wow, that <b>is</b> a lot! I guess you learn something new every day!

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kpickell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
$40k is good for entry level office work, but maybe not for Boston?<br><br>
Boston is such a rediculously expensive city. I could never live there. I love that my town is so cheap. The mortgage on my three bedroom house is $350/month.</div>
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wow! I would love that. I want to buy a home so bad.

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>gaya</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
wow! I would love that. I want to buy a home so bad.</div>
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What's keeping you from moving? (Not to be rude. I am genuinely asking.)

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>veggiejanie</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Wow, that <b>is</b> a lot! I guess you learn something new every day!</div>
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Isn't it crazy? Even if I landed a decent job at 65 or something, I still wouldn't be able to afford it. There's a really nice trailor park about 40 minutes west that I would consider and the homes are affordable (around 100K) but it's a 55+ retirement community lol. I'm probably gonna have to go out of the city a good hour and suffer the commute I suppose. I'm interested in North Carolina but my husband is resistant to the south for various reasons. I used to live in florida but he's worried about the hurricanes etc.

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>veggiejanie</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
What's keeping you from moving? (Not to be rude. I am genuinely asking.)</div>
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I answered above (sort of) and no, that's not rude. For one, my friends (i love em) 2. cambridge rocks! seriously. I've lived all over the US and cambridge is probably one of the best places. 3 my DH is still in school as well and has a few more years to go and I'm being impatient. I want a home etc.

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>gaya</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I answered above (sort of) and no, that's not rude. For one, my friends (i love em) 2. cambridge rocks! seriously. I've lived all over the US and cambridge is probably one of the best places. 3 my DH is still in school as well and has a few more years to go and I'm being impatient. I want a home etc.</div>
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Those are good reasons. What is DH?

 

[GhostUser]

Ohhhh okay. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/blush.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[SeaSiren]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>sarahjayn1980</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
on most webboards I've seen it means "Dear Husband"</div>
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Or darn husband depending on the day <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:">