Update: They called back.


"They" was their HR, not the guy himself, which was Strike 1. They offered $18 an hour, which is still below my cutoff of "low 20's" before I'd even consider it, so Strike 2.

She asked at one point, "you know it's part-time, right?" in trying to justify the rate, to which I responded, roughly;
"Yes, I do. It means I still make 4 or 5 trips across town every week, I just don't stay as long each time. I do a lower volume of high-quality work, you pay a lower volume of high-quality salary. It's in balance until you lower the pay rate, but expect me not to lower the work quality." -silence-

her, incredulous tone - "How much is your school telling you to expect for these jobs?"

me - "Let's be clear about something. My school isn't telling me to expect anything. I expect something, which is to be paid something near what my job is worth. According to my previous jobs, as well as those of all my classmates and alumni, this job is clearly worth at least $25 an hour, if not $30. If you wouldn't call your boss right now and volunteer for a 50% pay cut, you can't really ask me to sign up for one."


In answer to "what do I do that's worth that amount of money an hour," I am in the field of Supply Chain Management. This project in particular is an overhaul of a large company's north american logistics mess. They have 10 or 12 carriers doing the bulk of their shipping, all reporting into one system, but the orders were generated in another system. The two frequently don't match. As I see it, step 1 is to go through almost three quarters of a million lines of exception reports in a database and comb them out straight. Step 2 is to find out which carrier causes these errors and why. Step 3 is to initiate supplier audits on their carriers, with a balanced score card that tells them how they're doing with their end of the bargain on a monthly basis. Step 4 is to roll the incoming data into the one system they should be using, instead of 2 systems (they paid for it for chrissake, use it already). And finally, step 5 is to award a higher % of business to the companies who enter the data incorrectly, thus incentivising correct transactions on their parts (for free), and negating the need for such a project ever again in the future.

The movie is still there, you just have to look for it.

UPDATE on the UPDATE:

They called back again, with $20. Still no dice. I told them I'd call by tuesday, but I really think the disruption in my time at school and looking for a job for the spring (that actually pays well or is something I truly care about) is worth $25, just like I told them the first two times. Shit, as a part-timer they're not even paying the roughly 30% hidden cost of benefits. Our undergrads start above 20 an hour.

My time is all I have to barter.

Would you believe his story was featured on the Keith Olberman show 'bout two days ago? He had threatened to sue, they pulled the Vid. but then put it back. A lot of mileage for a slightly off job-seeking ploy.

I am impressed by your moxie and iron will, Cap'n. The fact that they keep coming back with higher offers means you will eventually emerge victorious. I wish I had your cojones, sir! Bravo!!!

Fuck those hoez.

go kyle.
you are the man.

Hey Cap'n!

I know I'm late to the party but remember that this little town is FULL of overqualified grads that still work at Borders and the like. So she's just like the rest of the dishits in this town that think that the overpopulation of advanced degrees here justify their lowballing you.

Who ARE these clowns anyway? is it ROV now SB? But like someone said earlier if you seem desparate they'll keep lowballing you. Play it cool but leave the door open and ALWAYS be pleasant and DON'T get offended or take it personally. It's not a personal thing the HR assclown is trying to make themselves look good and earn their keep by getting you for a song. But if you keep the door open and entertain other offers, and make sure they know you are entertaining other offers, then you have the leverage.

Unfortunately this town doesn't appreciate good marketing or management skills and can't rcognize the need at times.

Good luck!

Howdy chow!

Whomever they might be... I don't really regret it working out this way in hindsight. I'm not yet ready to give up on finding someone to work for post-grad that I care about, and I don't care about what these folks do. It just gives me the needed kick in the arse to go find someone I respect, knock down their door, and convince them they can't live without me.

Stick to your guns. You're doing us all proud.

The more I think about it, this is one of like 1,000 reasons Squirrgle very well may be our single greatest Obnerinian. Think about it, people. Dude got fired from his gig for getting busted on Obner, and is about to become a ridiculously wealthy MBA grad. Plus, he's well-traveled, plays guitar, remodels houses, rescues animals, rebuilds motorcycles and packs all of this talent into a whopping 65-pound 4'8" frame.

We're not worthy.

I work for the devil aka big tobbacco. It's awesome. Im a temp but they pay awesome.

You learn a lot working for these guys. I'm trying to quit smoking, but damn. . . . .it's tough. I like my Dunhill Special Reserves too much anyway. Goes awesome with whiskey.

your local IGA
(Indigenous Gathering Area)

Flattered, Bob, but not worthy. If I were single I'd still be painting houses or making cabinets somewhere, licking my wounds. But I have an overacheiver of a wife not to disappoint. I can kid myself into thinking I'm incapable of stuff like this, or it would be too hard, or they wouldn't let me in, etc, but not her.