Interview Update

[sabrinageek]

So I had the interview today.  I got to finally meet the owner.  He sat down, we talked for a bit, and then he left with his manager.  A few minutes later, the manager came back and offerend me the job.

At $8.00 an hour.

I currently make $9.85 an hour.

So it wasn't an automatic "Yes."  Which is really killing me right now.  It's really complicated issue --   Here's why:  the new guys are in a huuuge growth phase -  I'm looking at a minimum of 5 hours overtime each week, with more than that extremely likely.  So if you crunch the numbers, it looks like this:

$9.85 X 40 hours = 394 Gross (Current Job)

$8.00 X 40 hours = 320 gross + (New Job)
$12.00 X 5 hours =   60 gross =
                               380 gross
+ more o/t likely  = ???? 

For a grand difference of 14 dollars a week gross.  Admittedly, this is due to working more hours and getting overtime, which means I'd be working more.  The facility is a much further drive (about 30 minutes or so).   The upsides that I see is that they're in a huge growth period.  They're looking for competent people (and my pc skills) to later possibly put into full time IT.  They also may want me to do web design for them.  It sounds like there's a lot of movement potential for promotions and the like.   Also, they base raises on merit as opposed to a set review period, and that raises generally are 25 to 50 cents a pop, compared to my 10 and 20 cent raises. 

With my current job, I make more money, and have much flexibility in taking time off, etc.  Other than that, the morale sucks, my boss patronizes me and the other employees, and our quota-based system is inherently unfair and rewards those who are willing to break the rules on purpose.  It's a dead-end job that has no room for improvement, no room for promotion, and is not in my field of work.  The only thing it has is better pay at the moment, but again, at 10 and 20 cents a year raises, how long would my pay anywhere else be less, as long as I was getting "normal" raises? 

Most everyone I've talked to seems to think it's a better idea to take a pay cut in order to get a job that feels like it'll be more mentally healthy for me.  That my job satisfaction is important.  Rachel has no objections to me taking this job, but will not offer an opinion, making me make the decision.  It feels like there's so major possibility to get in a good position with this company, but the few people I know who work there that I might discuss this with are not around.  I think I'm leaning towards moving to the new job in the decision department..


BUT --

Here's the sticky part.  My parents are stuck on the "$8.00" part.  They feel I should try to negotiate for at least $9.00 / hr minimum.  They're giving me this moral high ground crap about how much I'm worth, yadda yadda..  and I don't feel like they consider my mental health important enough to warrant such a drastic cut in salary.  I believe the $8.00 / hour is already -more- than the other "grunt" workers are making there, so I don't know how much more the owner would be willing to offer -- although the manager -did- mention that he -might- be able to squeeze out a little more, but he thought that $8.00 an hour might be the most he could get for me.  However, they''ve seemed like they really really want me, so I don't know.

So I guess I'm kind of stressed right now, and confused, and not sure what to do.  I'm worried that if I stay at my current job much longer, my head will explode, or that I'll lose my job through not making goals.  However, if I take the job at $8.00 / hour, I can make as much as I make now, but by working -more- hours.   Given the growth of the company right now, it sounds like the overtime would be pretty constant for a long while and not prone to disappearing, and conceivably, I would have a decent raise before the overtime went away.  Or I can try and ask / negotiate for a little bit more in pay, although at this point I'm not sure what I'd ask for -- 15 cents? ($387 a week with o/t)  or up to, say, 50 cents? (403.75 with o/t)

My parent's opinions mean a lot to me and always have.  I don't like the thought of going against their ideas, because they always seem to know best, except there's times where it feels like they don't and maybe don't necessarily know my life well enough or know all the info enough to understand fully.  I also often feel like they too often make judgements/give advice based from -their- standards, and I sometimes think their standards are too strict.  (My mom hasn't worked for most of her life because she cannot and will not take shit from anyone -- she'll quit a job first.)  It feels like it's really easy for them to make demands or set arbitrary numbers and expect the world to follow them, when they're in their own rose-colored world of dad making $35/hour.  But at the same time, I am somewhat scared, and I hate to not have my parents' support on things.  The thought of going "against" them scares me, and the thought of switching jobs is also somewhat nerve-wracking, although not so much so that I can't do it.  I just need to try to figure out what decision to make --

I can say no to the job, or
I can say yes to the job, or
I can ask for more money and be told yes or no.

If I say no, nothing changes, for better or worse.  My current job still sucks, pay still sucks, and so on.
If I say yes, I get a new job, work longer hours, and make the same money but most likely not hate the job, possibly get better raises and get promoted. (not to mention exploiting the employee discount)
If I ask for more money, they can say no.  I'm not sure if they'd rescind the job offer, but they can turn down the more money request.  They could also say yes. 

I told them I'd give them an answer this weekend, so I need to make a decision.  I know this is a rather long post, (as is most of mine)  but I'd love to hear thoughts and opinions..
(Please!  leave thoughts and opinions!)

TW

Comments

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Pitch for more cash.

It's worth the shot, and if they say they can't, then accept the job with a guarantee - written - about when you should expect raises and what the amount will be. Explain politely that you really want to work there, you feel the job will be better for you all around - but you will be taking a serious pay cut and are just being careful to not sacrifice too much for the joy of working for their company.

Trust me, that's totally professional, and states that you're willing to take the pay cut to work for them but you're no dummy.

It really sounds like this is a better deal, though.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I thought about it for a second - actually, get ALL their promises in writing.

I've worked for a few places that were great but made a lot of promises that they didn't deliver on.

[justphoenix.livejournal.com]

I like xiane's advice. Did you ask about benefits at all, and if they would be better/worse at Bacon's?

[vurtsnake.livejournal.com]

They have health/disability/life insurance, and they have the employee discount.
No word on dental or vision, and no word on 401(k).

The health insurance was the important thing.

[risabe.livejournal.com]

Some things are not worth money, hon.

I was a full time advertising salesperson when I worked at the paper. I had great insurance, etc., but it was a nightmare. I chose to go back to my job in the production department, making less money and giving up my insurance.

[moiracoon.livejournal.com]

I would say to try the new gig to salvage your sanity but...$8 an hour? That's just so wrong. I'd definitely try to negotiate for more money. I know what Chris made when he was working in production for another gaming company a few years ago and I know what he makes now doing IT elsewhere. Trust me...eight bucks an hour is a joke. Plus, as xiane mentioned, you may be getting much bigger promises than what will be delivered. Stand firm on the fact that your skill set is worth more money. Let them know that while you're willing to possibly take a pay cut in order to do work closer to your passion, you do have certain financial needs.

[aphrodite923.livejournal.com]

As it has already been stated, it wouldn't hurt to ask for more money. On the other hand, if the benefits are better than in your current position, that should be taken into account as well as it would reduce out of pocket expenses for those things and thus balance the change in pay rate. I say go for the new job whether you decide to ask for more money or not. Trust me, your sanity is worth even more than $70 a month. Of course I had to give up about $1200 a month to rescue my sanity so I'm biased lol. Money can buy a lot of things but happiness isn't one of them. Good luck sweetie!