Today, I applied and was accepted for a part-time network engineering position. Being contract work they asked me what I charge. I replied, "$12 an hour." After a look of surprise they accepted me for the position and said, "Our last guy charged $200 an hour, you're a bargain." FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I finally got an offer for a salaried position with the company I've been working for as a contractor for the past two years. They offered less than what I make now, but hey, benefits! FML
Today, I discovered my employer is advertising for a contractor position within my team performing basically the same role as myself. Except the pay is seven times more. FML
Today, after months of searching, I was offered a job. After hearing how excited I was on the phone, HR docked the initial salary offer by 40% in the written contract. She said it was non-negotiable. Guess I'm back to job hunting. FML
Today, I work in HR and last week we'd hired an apprentice for our repair shop. He was great. I spent $500 company dollars on his uniform. Later, he called me saying he had been offered a job paying $10 more an hour than what we were offering, as much as our experienced workers make. I either have to match it, or be out a helper. FML
Today, the person recently hired to work in my spot during my days off started at a higher hourly rate than me, after I have been here for nearly three years. I asked for a raise and got a dollar more; meanwhile, my regional counterparts make 4 dollars more per hour. FML
Today, after trying so hard to get myself back on my feet, I had an amazing interview and I was hired on the spot. I was so happy, until I read the position I was given, and it turns out I didn't get full-time, I got barely enough hours to even be part-time. FML
Today, after weeks of my brother being laid off from work, I was able to finagle him an interview for one of the entry level positions at my work. He got the job, only to refuse it because it doesn't pay enough. I thought 9 dollars an hour was a lot more than 0 dollars an hour. FML
Today, after working my ass off for 2 months, receiving perfect reviews, and going out of my way to take on extra work to get a job offer from the location where I temp, I finally got an offer for a permanent position. Included in the offer was a $3.00 an hour pay cut and no insurance. FML
Today, I was forced into accepting a "promotion" for a position that pays less than what I get right now. FML
Today, as usual, I got to my internship early, did everything my bosses asked. At the end of the day, I was fired after 3 weeks of working unpaid overtime because they found an applicant with more experience for the job I applied to and they wanted to cut costs. FML
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Top comments
intensitive 11
How do you be in a position like that and not know how much your competitors are charging?
kikiface 1
what the hell do you do that $200/hour is an acceptable pay rate? I need to get into that field
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Comments (179)
boopityboppity 11
Are you drunk?
njmachine 0
You're obviously not qualified as a network engineer. There's no way you could actually be trained for the position, and be competent at it, and grossly misjudge the going rate. Sounds to me like you're a high-school or college computer geek with a few CompTIA and Microsoft certs who is doing part time computer repair and maintenance for a small local business, not as a career. They were probably hiring someone with a degree and a lot of experience for $200, but their needs are probably just simple small networks and maybe an Active Directory domain, which is something you don't need a degree, extensive training, or a lot of experience to handle.
2bobbybowdens 0
Well it's a mistake you won't make again. And you'll probably get a reputation for great value if you make a good job of it so you can work your price up and still never be out of work
iloveloosy12 0
lol you fail! only 12 an hour? hha
FernandoTorres_fml 0
I know, right? Your mum makes more than that on the streets! *This is becoming too easy*... (like your mum)
OGReaper 2
you are a moron, you say what do you think is fair. probably wouldve shit yourself and gave it away when they said something like 150 an hour but at least you wouldve had a shot. idiot.
nyynkss91 0
your a f'in moron!! I do the same work and charge 150hr. if you even came to me about work and said said 12hr i'd tell you there's the door and have a great day. because you obsouly don't know what your doing.
JamieR1263 0
ALWAYS say you'll charge more than you really would. then if they say that someone else will do it, lower your bid.
Maplewood 0
He probably WAS saying more than he would work for. He'd have probably been happy with $9/hr.
FerrariCake 2
There's a couple thousand guys in India who would be willing to charge $4 and hour for the same work. Sad, but true.
IDigSmartLadies 0
$12 an hour? You're barely making minimum wage. You realize you'll have to pay taxes on this, right? You'll be paying your income tax, medicare, social security, local, as well as the employer's portion of the social security for being self-employed. YDI for not thinking this through and understanding what the job actually pays. Lie that you have something else and move on. Your opportunity cost (the amount of money you risk losing while taking a lower-value position) is more than you'd make taking a $12 per hour gig.
kikiface 1
wait, barely minimum wage? in the us, federal minimum wage is $7.25. he's well above minimum wage, although he won't be making nearly as much as he could
rockstatic 0
Yeah, look for new work, and charge $150 in the future. A month from now, whether you find work or not, say "yeah, I followed up on what you said, and I'm getting some other offers for $150 an hour. I'd rather stay with you guys. How's $150?" If they say no, tell them it's still cheaper than their previous guy.
scythefwd 0
They won't accept an offer that is 10x what he already asked. They can go get a guy much more qualified (he didn't even know going rates) and experienced in the field for that. The guy making 200 an hour very well could be extremely qualified.