Job interviews

[Twisted G]

Craigslist. Landscaping position.
Starting salary $18-25 pay based on expierence.

At Interview. "So you have good experience with doing basic and advanced landscaping work. Is it okay to start you at $16.50"?

Me. ... i guess sure. .

[FredMnkyDad10]

Nope. Be confident and always sell yourself up. They need you more. I think that still true now, lots of companies having hard time finding quality ppl. Or keeping them.

[coyote]

I have been through that one before. I didn't take the job.

If an employer starts a relationship with dishonesty I'll hit the bricks. The person interviewing is creating a very out of balance power dynamic. That will bite you later.

[superman]

I would 100% find a local fast food place and see what there starting wage is and use that as leverage. We have places in our area offering $18 an hour and don't have to use equipment or other hazards of the job.

[Twisted G]

I would 100% find a local fast food place and see what there starting wage is and use that as leverage. We have places in our area offering $18 an hour and don't have to use equipment or other hazards of the job.

Aldi grocery store is 16.75 or 17.50 starting. You are absolutely correct on that. So many hard labor and even dangerous jobs pay absouletly nothing. I don't want your benefits. Just pay me more.

[Grendel]

Know your worth, if you are unwilling to fight for what you feel is right then no one else will. Honestly I know a few landscapers and they are having a hard time hiring/keeping employees. You are selling a commodity that they need this is a seller's market do negotiate for what you feel it is worth for you to do the work.

[cfos00]

I hire people into some of the largest companies on the planet for a living (if you alter pictures with software you are likely using on client's software, and if you have a white mobile phone you have another one's product), and I'll tell you right now that rate isn't good. We've had to explain to some clients this past year that if you're offering $17/hr in some markets, that's $10 below what the amazon warehouses are hiring for (and have the market data to prove it). Hell, we have another client (major healthcare company) hiring customer service reps working from home for $17-18/hr. This isn't the time for employers to lowball---they'll lose people and lose them quickly. If a company isn't going to pay well enough, there are other options out there.

[BrickHaus]

It comes down to building yourself up more than even you believe. I have terrible self talk normally, but in an interview I get a unique confidence and I just sell myself. My current job is a prime example. I went from machine building to panel building ( less work less thinking). The HR recruiter scoffed at my asking wage, and didnt want to let me interview. I assured her if she let me in front of the shop manager, Ill get the job. I got the interview. In the interview i told the manager I made 3 dollars an hour more than I actually did at the time. (My current employer was working on giving me a raise as they knew I was looking). I stated I'd take 2 dollars less than my "current"wage to come on board as this job is closer to home. They offered me a dollar more than my "current" wage. I essentially got a 3.50 raise over night, and cut over an 45 minutes of drive time out of every day. And I got a 5% increase within 6 months for an annual.

The guys are right you need to stand up for yourself, and over sell your self all at the same time. its stupid, but it works.

I can also say, landscapers are in dire need of help, and should be willing to pay more for help. I did landscaping for cash with a friend who owns his own business last summer. Nothing major, a few days here and there doing spring clean ups and mulch beds. . We agreed on 20 an hour the first day, and gave me 30 an hour at the end of the day. I assured him I'd help for free as he's my friend. He called me back for a few jobs he was upside down on to get them all done within a week, and he ended up paying me 35 an hour for those. You can find better opportunities with better pay for sure. He would also hire me full time if I wanted to do it. But I need year round work with benefits.

But its also easier to findta job when you have one. If you are currently unemployed, you are kind of by the balls. that doesnt mean you cant keep looking qnd get another offer. When the new offer comes in at 16.50. Tell them you are currently at 19.50 at your current employer. Bam, you got a raise.

[moonweasel]

As an aside, panel building, back in my Memphis days It was probably my favourite job, plug my music in, and just work, and no contact with the end client, or general public. It was great.

[BrickHaus]

Yeah its a nice low stress gig. I have bone conduction headphones and i have spotify premium so its pretty nice. Company is an ESOP, and we have caribou coffee on tap. Lol its definitely a step backwards career growth wise, but I dont really care.

[Twisted G]

BrickHaus Yeah unless he pays me a few dollars more an hour i will only work with him till i get a better gig. .

[Axel]

I'd be tempted to snarkily ask them to explain which of my deficiencies justify an offer below the advertised rate but that may or may not be a wise move.

[martix_agent]

I dont' think that's snarky at all. It's a show of HUGE disrespect to offer less than the advertised pay.

[FredMnkyDad10]

Also not snarky. The guy already likes his experience. Asking why he offering less is the right move and puts them on notice of your worth.

[Levi]

Man I'm sorry, that's a bunch of bs.

I hope this doesn't come across as preachy, but learning some negotiation tactics is life changing. Check out Chris Voss on YouTube and then grab his book "Never Split The Difference". It's an easy read with real world examples you can start using right away.

I refer back to my copy all the time. And I can directly attribute many thousands of my salary to using the techniques during wage negotiations.

There are two techniques from that book that immediately came to mind when I read your post.

But yeah, I agree with everyone above. I'm sure you are worth quite a bit more than that. Finding good reliable employees who are willing to actually work is getting harder. You are a commodity that is limited in supply.

[Twisted G]

Man I'm sorry, that's a bunch of bs.

I hope this doesn't come across as preachy, but learning some negotiation tactics is life changing. Check out Chris Voss on YouTube and then grab his book "Never Split The Difference". It's an easy read with real world examples you can start using right away.

I refer back to my copy all the time. And I can directly attribute many thousands of my salary to using the techniques during wage negotiations.

There are two techniques from that book that immediately came to mind when I read your post.

But yeah, I agree with everyone above. I'm sure you are worth quite a bit more than that. Finding good reliable employees who are willing to actually work is getting harder. You are a commodity that is limited in supply.

update. worked a full day yesterday and he liked me. I told him I will continue. Just one request. Please give me heads up via text the day/night before what the start time is. I started at 11am yesterday and he told me it would be earlier than that. I get it. Just he texted me Wednesday night quarter to 11pm "hey can you meet me at this mcdicks for an interview. bring everything you need to work today"? Way to late of a notice I'm usually asleep way before that so that will not fly. 10:30pm comes around again and i hear nothing. Text him to confirm a time and place to meet. No response. 11pm passes and i send another text. No response. I go to bed and wake up at 7am like usual and find a message from him at 4:30am. "hey can you meet me here at 7am"?

My response.

"I hope you go to bed tonight with new Nikes on"

[glaman5266]

If they are offering below their advertised rate right out the gate that’s a sign to just walk. First impressions are super important, and if they do this on the first meeting that may be indicative of how they will treat you all the time.

[Twisted G]

If they are offering below their advertised rate right out the gate that’s a sign to just walk. First impressions are super important, and if they do this on the first meeting that may be indicative of how they will treat you all the time.

Kinda funny since i was 5 minutes early to our interview and he was almost a half an hour late. .

[BrickHaus]

Man . 11 am start time? Effff that. Yeah, just keep looking, having a job will only make you more valuable to someone else.