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[DisneyFan32WI]

8

 

[monarchsfan16]

Retail requires being on your feet and working with the public all day and starts at minimum wage, which is a couple dollars less than that.

The travel industry is not known for high pay, particularly in entry level jobs like being a ticket agent. I would guess she did hurt her chances of being hired, and IF they consider her, there's no room for negotiation.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Air Tran does not pay alot. They are a discount airline and that transfers over to the wages for their employees.

A few years ago when DH's company got bought over and he was afraid he was going to get laid off , he looked at applying to airtran. The starting wage was the same as what he made when he got out of school 24 years ago , working for the old Eastern airline.

My friend just quit her job as a ticket agent for airtran. She was required to work almost every weekend and had to go to Atlanta for training for a time . I can't remember how long. But her and her family did fly for free. Though they never went anywhere because it was very hard to get on flights since they were required to fly stand-by.

I wouldn't think the salary is negotiable either.

 

[bdcp]

I would say no, they won't consider her for the job. That statement is to weed out people who aren't willing to work for that pay and/or aren't serious about applying. With competition for jobs the way it is, I'd say she just shot herself in the foot. Considering it isn't a job that requires experience or education to get it, $9.50/hour is pretty good pay considering it's a couple of dollars over mininum wage and there are benefits. She needs to rethink some things before she applies anywhere else.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

That is typical pay for any entry level Customer Service job. I would agree that they are not going to consider her for that job.

 

[chisnpeke]

I was paid minimum wage to deal with angry people all day long and stay on my feet. I am paid well below $9.50 an hour now at my current retail job. I don't know why that wage would be surprising to you. I think your friend needs to get a grasp of what comparable jobs pay. That is a good starting wage for a job like that.

 

[Acklander]

If she's looking to get her feet in the door, she's going to have to be willing to work for crap wages for a bit. It's just "paying your dues".
I'd assume that they wouln't be calling her back for this job.

 

[js]

That is typical pay for any entry level Customer Service job. I would agree that they are not going to consider her for that job.

Ditto. That is probably how they first weed out all the applications.
The No pile gets filed into the trash and then they begin working on the yes pile.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

That is typical pay for any entry level Customer Service job. I would agree that they are not going to consider her for that job.

Ditto.

 

[Ceila]

I think she blew her chance to get hired. When I worked in HR for a human service agency, our entry-level positions were very low pay jobs. We were up front about the salaries, there was no room for negotiation, and if someone wasn't willing to work for that pay rate then there was no reason to waste our time interviewing them.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I used to be a flight attendant for Delta. I can tell you, they aren't calling her back for a second interview.

That question, among others, are asked to ALL potential airline employees to weed out those who probably won't stick around once they are "in". Airline jobs have HUGE turnaround. I'm sure there is a long line of individuals who would be willing to work for LESS than that.

And I must say, almost $10 an hour plus benefits for an entry-level job in which higher education isn't needed is GREAT. Walmart or Target Pays $7.50 - minimum wage.

I also agree, she needs to rethink things.

 

[melissapealo]

That is typical pay for any entry level Customer Service job. I would agree that they are not going to consider her for that job.

I agree. That's fair pay for entry level jobs. It's also above minimum wage, and probably includes benefits.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Thanks everyone. I texted her and she was able to go back into her job submissoin online and change the "no" to a "yes." She isn't particularly thrilled with the $9.50 an hour, but she is willing to make it work.
She is young and has a lot of potential.

I don't know much about hourly wages, but it just seems so incredibly low.

She also wanted to know about the other benefits such as travel. Does anyone know how much you get per year in travel benefits, if any? She has nothing holding her down so she would like to experience other places for leisurely travel.

 

[melissapealo]

Thanks everyone. I texted her and she was able to go back into her job submissoin online and change the "no" to a "yes." She isn't particularly thrilled with the $9.50 an hour, but she is willing to make it work.
She is young and has a lot of potential.

I don't know much about hourly wages, but it just seems so incredibly low.

She also wanted to know about the other benefits such as travel. Does anyone know how much you get per year in travel benefits, if any? She has nothing holding her down so she would like to experience other places for leisurely travel.

Not sure about the benefits with airtran. I had a friend that worked for US Air and they they could fly anywhere for free. They also had deals with other airlines allowing them to fly free. Things were usually done on standby but if it were just 1 person he could sit with flight crew on any flight. The standby was usually used only if he was travelling with others.

 

[Carly_Roach]

$9.50 an hour IS low when you consider how much of those wages are going to be paid to student loans in about six months. I don't know what her loan payments are going to be, but if we assume $300 a month then the first 34 hours each month will all be going toward the student loan.

That leaves her about $1K left over each month (after taxes) for rent, car, groceries, insurance, clothing, gas, electricity, etc, etc, etc. It's doable, but it's also dependent on a 40hr workweek.

Less than $20K gross starting pay per year for a college graduate? And people here think that's cool? Sad.

 

[melissapealo]

$9.50 an hour IS low when you consider how much of those wages are going to be paid to student loans in about six months. I don't know what her loan payments are going to be, but if we assume $300 a month then the first 34 hours each month will all be going toward the student loan.

That leaves her about $1K left over each month (after taxes) for rent, car, groceries, insurance, clothing, gas, electricity, etc, etc, etc. It's doable, but it's also dependent on a 40hr workweek.

Less than $20K gross starting pay per year for a college graduate? And people here think that's cool? Sad.

I don't believe anyone here said that pay is "cool" for a college graduate. What was said is for an entry level customer service job that is a decent starting wage. No one here knows what she went to college for or even if she has student loans to pay. She could've gotten a full ride for all we know. For the type of job she is applying for that is a decent starting salary. If she is expecting more then she should look into a different field. The reality is many recent graduates end up taking jobs they are over qualified for temporarily until they can land the job they really want.

 

[Acklander]

Less than $20K gross starting pay per year for a college graduate? And people here think that's cool? Sad.

It's a fair wage for entry level with a job that doesn't require a degree. What it is, is getting her foot in the door, especially if she wants to work in that field. As different jobs open up in the company (ones that do require a degree) she will be miles ahead of all the other recent college graduates applying by having worked the entry level job.

 

[bicker]

I don't believe anyone here said that pay is "cool" for a college graduate. What was said is for an entry level customer service job that is a decent starting wage.

Yes, indeed. That comment by Carly bewildered me, as well.

The reality is many recent graduates end up taking jobs they are over qualified for temporarily until they can land the job they really want.

And even then, there are no guarantees of a comfortable life, these days. As things are, I worry that the children in our family are going to face much greater challenges holding their own against the financial pressures of the future than our generation did. As I have mentioned in other threads, globalization, while it is the right thing to do and inevitable regardless, is unfortunately and invariably going to result in an overall decrease in the US standard of living for this next generation.

I'm not as concerned, though, about our children's children, just being born. I think (hope?) by the time it matters to them things will have stabilized at a new level.

 

[goofyernmost]

$9.50 an hour IS low when you consider how much of those wages are going to be paid to student loans in about six months. I don't know what her loan payments are going to be, but if we assume $300 a month then the first 34 hours each month will all be going toward the student loan.

That leaves her about $1K left over each month (after taxes) for rent, car, groceries, insurance, clothing, gas, electricity, etc, etc, etc. It's doable, but it's also dependent on a 40hr workweek.

Less than $20K gross starting pay per year for a college graduate? And people here think that's cool? Sad.

So you really think that employers are interested in paying you more if you have a degree that they don't need?

The only time any degree figures into your wage is if it is coupled with specific training that a particular job requires. Contrary to popular belief, a degree doesn't automatically place you a level above any other first time applicant. It may go a long way in future considerations for promotion and added responsibility, but to start out in a field where you have no specific training or experience, you might as well bring in a McDonald's Napkin in place of a Degree. It has the same value.

Who puts these ideas in peoples heads anyway? You can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone that has a college degree anymore. They are a dime a dozen. You need to show something special, be it initiative or originality or just plan willingness to work hard and achieve to get that foot in the door. Once it is there and you have done what is necessary to show your value, then you can negotiate more money or other benefits.

How much you owe in Student Loans are of no concern to a prospective employer and carry no weight at all. Lifes sad truths include the fact that you will not be judged by the piece of paper in your hand but in how you use that piece of paper to help them achieve.

 

[SaraJayne]

So you really think that employers are interested in paying you more if you have a degree that they don't need?

The only time any degree figures into your wage is if it is coupled with specific training that a particular job requires. Contrary to popular belief, a degree doesn't automatically place you a level above any other first time applicant. It may go a long way in future considerations for promotion and added responsibility, but to start out in a field where you have no specific training or experience, you might as well bring in a McDonald's Napkin in place of a Degree. It has the same value.

Who puts these ideas in peoples heads anyway? You can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone that has a college degree anymore. They are a dime a dozen. You need to show something special, be it initiative or originality or just plan willingness to work hard and achieve to get that foot in the door. Once it is there and you have done what is necessary to show your value, then you can negotiate more money or other benefits.

How much you owe in Student Loans are of no concern to a prospective employer and carry no weight at all. Lifes sad truths include the fact that you will not be judged by the piece of paper in your hand but in how you use that piece of paper to help them achieve.

Funny, I was just thinking that DH made $23,000 in his first "real" job right out of college 15 years ago...and we both thought we had it made with that salary! We were rich!!