Wage Deflation-What is happening to the wages in your region?
Submitted by Elizabeth on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 12:55
Hello All:
Just wanted to compare notes. I live in Seattle. I am currently looking for a job. I am looking for administrative/executive assistant jobs. I was submitted by a recruiter today to a company and I was asking for 17.00 an hour. In November I was being paid 23.00 an hour for the same work. The recruiter just e-mailed to tell me that the company turned down my resume because I was asking for too much money. They are only willing to pay 15-16.00 an hour.
The cost of living here in Seattle is high. Usually this job pays right around 18-20.00 an hour here. I am seeing other employers slashing wage rates. I am seeing similar jobs go for 14.00 an hour.
Anyone want to chime in on this?
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we're in a depression, and
we're in a depression, and unemployment is high.
there are many people wanting jobs right now, and less employers offering jobs....and this is all within the country right now.
those babbling on about outsourcing (which is a legitimate issue) and other things are on the wrong thread, and some of you are on the wrong forum.
reread the post.
sheesh
The whole world is competeing for your job
Thanks to outsourcing from India and elsewhere. I remembered a moronic-stupid caller to Rush Limbaugh some years back, extolling the virtues of Free-Trade and unregulated capitalism, well this guy from Seatle was having to train the new guy from India, who was going to replace him. Teaching the guy from India-on how to do his job for less than what he was being paid. So part of the blame for this economic demise is us for allowing policies that are detrimental to this nation go on unabated. The American worker is now pitted against the surplus of the world's workers, labor, it will always gravitate to the lowest wage workers anywhere in the world.
your post makes no sense.
your post makes no sense. are you sure you are on the right forum?
The whole world is competeing for your job
Thanks to outsourcing from India and elsewhere. I remembered a moronic-stupid caller to Rush Limbaugh some years back, extolling the virtues of Free-Trade and unregulated capitalism, well this guy from Seatle was having to train the new guy from India, who was going to replace him. Teaching the guy from India-on how to do his job for less than what he was being paid. So part of the blame for this economic demise is us for allowing policies that are detrimental to this nation go on unabated. The American worker is now pitted against the surplus of the world's workers, labor, it will always gravitate to the lowest wage workers anywhere in the world.
Hard choices
The outsourcing of jobs has inevitably put a lot of pressure and is a race to the bottom.The quality thus of many casual, semi-essential services has steadily deteriorated all across the board as employers are hiring cheap labor. As long the new hire have a pulse,pass a drug test, doesn't want full benefits and can work for $8-9per hour that will do it.
better face those hard
better face those hard choices now.
cause later, will be worse.
anyway the post had to do with unemployment and local competition for the same job.
not outsourcing.
Kansas City
Teamsters who work with us are getting a .75 an hour wage increase
and the Glazier's Local will be getting roughly the same, Construction is pretty strong still in KC
"Ask not what your country can do
for you, Ask what you can do for
your country."
John F. Kennedy 1961
"Freedom is a right that can never be won in war,only by each individual "
San Francisco
Because of an inflation pinned minimum wage, it now stands at 9.79!
When the Inflation Hits
Wages generally lag at least 2 years before they start to catch up to the "price" inflation.
Sheldon Waxman
sheldonw72@gmail.com
www.thelawyer.info
www.independentcontractor.info
Sheldon Waxman
sheldonw72@gmail.com
www.independentcontractor.info
www.thelawyer.info
Sounds like you got outbid
or underbid or whatever. Employers are looking for someone who can help them get the work done, meet their goals, provide value to the company, etc. I'm guessing the recruiter has a whole stack of resumes. Here's some ideas that might help:
1.) If you really want this job, call them back and tell them that and make an offer for the lowest amount you are willing to work. Whatever you do don't ever beg, whine, or complain.
2.) Call, or better yet, show up before the doors open in the morning and ask to speak to the recruiter. Find out what they are willing to pay based on other labor "bids". Tell them you are worth that and more and you are willing to prove it. Offer a try before you buy guarantee so to speak. Work for a week or two and if they don't like you, you leave, no questions asked. But if they decide to keep you then you get paid for this time.
3.) Ask them if they really want the cheapest person they can find or the one that brings the most value. Sell your own value. How are you different from all the other exec assistants out there? Tell them.
4.) And if those don't work, at least call the recruiter and thank them. Ask if they would be willing to share all the reasons behind them choosing someone else. If the only issue is money, ask them if they would have given you the job if the requested wage was the same. If not, find out why. If yes, then say something along the lines of, "so assuming my wage offer was the same, would you have picked me?" If no, find out why not. If yes, then ask if you could get picked now if you lower your wage.
5.) If the other person is already hired, give the recruiter a call in 1 week and ask how the other hire is working out and suggest they call you if things don't go as expected. Call them again a week later. If something doesn't work out, your name will pop into their thoughts.
As an employer, these are the kinds of things I would look for. You gotta stand out in the crowd somehow.
Get out there and sell yourself. You have nothing to lose at this point and everything to gain, even if it is just practice for the next time. You will be surprised to find out how far people are willing to go to help you if you are polite and sincere.
Good luck!
meat and potatoes post
excellent advice!
Hi Elizabeth
I live in Woodinville just outside
of Seattle.Most of my family is in construction and still doing ok.
My daughter just got a new job
as an office worker in the medical field.Pay and benefits are good.The company sells
high end medical equipment.
Hope you find something!
According to
Gerald Celente' arts and entertainment always do well in a depression. So buy a keyboard or violin and play at your local stores with a bucket on the ground.
Detective Krum Investigates:
http://victory1project.wordpress.com/
http://v1-p.com/
Detective Krum Investigates:
http://victory1project.wordpress.com/
You just need to get your foot in the door. These tough
times will pass. Wages will go up once people start getting back to work. You can always prove yourself once you get the job. If you are
a kick @$$ employee, they will raise your pay to keep you. If they don't, you can always move on. There ARE jobs out there. You just need to keep a positive attitude, believe in yourself, and KEEP MOVING FORWARD! Good luck to you.
~Your perception becomes your reality~
~Your perception becomes your reality~
This is going on all over the place
Hate to bring tears to you eyes but I know of a Bank of America exec whose job was eliminated but hung on by making a lateral move within the company. Guess what? His salary will stay the same except no more bonuses (which was about 40% of his gross).
I'm self-employed. It's no fun here either. There are still some good days, but they're few and far between.
I hear every day about companies going out of business, individuals looking for work ... all sorts of sad cases.
The crooks in the medical industry are the only ones still hiring. Medical terminology is very different, but if you're a quick study you might bone up and try for a job there. I'd even suggest you offer yourself at a bargain price just to get the experience. You can always move on or demand more if your work is good. Of course, it's not easy to take home less at a time when prices are rising. Good luck.
One more idea ... there's an organization of home visitors (don't remember the name) ... which trains people to visit homebound and elderly patients and do chores, errands, etc. for them. It's a franchise. They train you and then you run your own business. Maybe there's some national marketing they do for you. As long as ss and pensions keep coming in this is a cost effective and beneficial service. It helps people stay in their homes and out of nursing facilities. I think I heard this company's ad on a recent Rush Windbag Show.
I feel your pain,
I am a college student in International Relations and i just got a job at a bank as a rep. It pays decently, but is so nice to be working again. Its a upgrade from the $8 i was making two months ago tho. :P
I put resumes out everyday for 2 months, craigs list, yahoo, monster, classifieds, etc.. got a few but they never matched up... if i were you, check the census bureau they are hiring.
I was out of work
When I left the military I was out of work for 3 months. Military experience in signal communications, job experience and out of freaking work! I went online and searched put my resume out to everyone and couldn't find a job. My husband was in the same predicament., he found a job paying $8 an hour 40 hours a week, in CA that is not enough. We finally found jobs at a non-for profit at 8 dollars an hour and the only way we survive on that is that we work 103.5 hours a week how ridiculous is that. In todays economy you have to have 2 or more jobs to make it.
...Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
-Pastor Martin Niemöller
Thank you for everyone's comments and suggestions
Just getting a feel for what others are experiencing helps me feel more sane. It is a unique sensation to be in the position of having good skills and being told I was too expensive even when I low-balled it as much as I thought I could. Lower pay is not so bad as long as prices in general fall. That remains to be seen. As tough as this feels right now, I really hope that this economic collapse cleans our country up and makes us a better, stronger, more honest nation. I am more than willing to suck it up for that.
Love to you all,
Elizabeth
Proud member of Ron Paul's Revolution
Pppssttt
Go get you one of them government jobs and see how long it takes before they catch you..stop you..and fire you for passing out info on how corrupt they are...
Freedom is another way to God...A corrupt government is a straight way to hell.
I believe in Hope & Change..I Hope the government will Change
Spindale-Rutherford County-North Carolina
I have worked for the Feds- I hated it
The Federal government is more wasteful than you could possibly imagine. All the jokes about government and government employees and waste are not jokes. They can't wait to retire and collect their retirement pay. In the meantime, many do as little as humanely possible all day. I am not kidding. This sounds mean but I dream of the day when the Federal government finally collapses and the government workers find themselves in the same boat as the rest of us. These folks really do seem to believe that they are bulletproof. BTW- I was contracted with them, I have never been a bona fide Federal employee and never wish to be.
P.S. I read a couple of days ago that the Federal Government added 9,000 new jobs just last month. Did you know that when government workers retire they get almost the same amount of pension as their former salaries? It made me crazy when I learned this.
Proud member of Ron Paul's Revolution
Obama is hiring ! I hear that government jobs are still avail...
available. In my state the governor is expanding government. I also found out that the msm at every level are saying jobs are available at the government, education and health areas. Think about that one.
GOVERNMENT IS OUT OF CONTROL.
All of us need to step up to the plate and do whatever we can to stop this mess. Time is running out in the freedom hour glass. Each one of us is more powerful then what the Government is. 98 % opposed the last bill passed by congress for more money to finance big government. And the congress along with the people have no idea where it goes. Why in the world are we continuing to stand by and allow the illegal goings on to happen. Government, congress, senators, governors, representatives, are not listening to us. The neocons and elitist are just smiling and moving forward at warp speed with their plan.
By the way. If you wanted seventeen dollars an hour, you should have said eighteen or nineteen dollars. You might have just received what you were willing to work for. Understand, the corrupt thinking and words of employers are tactics used by our government that trickle down from our leaders. Most of the people who have power and authority almost always abuse the use of their power and authority.
Yes, I understand that they can hire and fire who they please. So, you have to have a plan when offering your services to businesses that you apply to.
100,000 jobs to oversee stimuilus!
I heard this on the news last night ... 100,000 jobs opening in DC to run the stimulus program!
people are a commodity
with so many people looking for work, business' can lower starting pay and not worry about being able to fill a position.
plus, they probably are trying to cut costs to ride out the storm.
Wages where I am have
Wages where I am have remained stagnant but of course the cost of living is growing by leaps and bounds if you want to go to college or the doctor. It is becoming harder to make ends meet. The government just doesn't realize that they are destroying the middle class or they are doing it on purpose because they like the pain that a revolt will do to them and their guild of thieves in DC.
http://www.meetup.com/RP2012GrandJunctionCO
It's on purpose
Our government isn't stupid, it's evil.
People, think outside the box
I was stuck in a factory job for 15 years as a maintenance electrician. I took those skills and with a little schooling in refrigeration, I opened a home refrigerator repair business in the recession of the '80's. I retired 13 years later at 53. It was all uphill.
Not everybody is cut out to do what I did; quit a good job in a recession; work 10-12 7/50. I gave that business to my son (lazy) and he is filing for Chapter 13. He can make, and has, $3000 in a day if he wants too. The problem is, you have to want to work.
The Lions share is better than the mouses share, work for yourself if you dare.
Being laid off is a great opportunity for someone with the right mental attitude.
Tennessee
Here 4 day workweeks, voluntary layoffs, a factory lays off because even though they have orders, they can't get credit they need to fill them.
Lots of people looking forward to stimulus checks and food stamp increases.
I'm just glad its almost Spring. Getting outside exploring the woods for wild plants makes me forget all the bad stuff for a while. There are a few flowers blooming out there now but its cold today.
Learn about wild medicinal plants at www.altnature.com .
Haven't worked in over two
Haven't worked in over two months. The oil field is going down and now I am pretty much out of money. I am worried and I would hate to quit my company to find work in africa but oh well. Oh I live in Lafayette La.
welcome to the depression
And when hyperinflation starts . . . watch out
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Don't use a recruiter.
Be your own recruiter. Use the net and blast everyone you have and even have not heard of with a resume. Follow up as well and keep at it every single day.
In the end, you have to ask yourself how much it is worth to you to work instead of enjoying being unemployed. If 14 or 15 per hour is malinvestment of your time, then turn the job down.
The bad news for you is that now the job market is crowded and yes, this drops wages. Set yourself apart during an interview and be clear about why you deserve more than another guy for the same job. Tout your experience and more importantly, the number of systems and programs with which you are familiar and agile......Good luck.
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A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
~Mahatma Gandhi
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A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
~Mahatma Gandhi