I called about a job!

 I don't have much experience, but $10.50 does not seem unreasonable. When I was working basically as a secretary at my college's Pubic Affairs (public relations, really) office I was getting 30 hours a week, $10/hour. And that was as a summer job, and I was a student. Housing (in the dorms) was included. If you have good experience/qualifications, I think $10.50 would be reasonable to ask for, especially since you said it would be a management position.

But again, I don't have much experience, so don't put a lot of weight on my opinion.  

Full-Time I work in an office, I run the Human Resource Dept. Part-time I'm a CEI (Dog Trainer) at PETCO too.

I started off making $14/hr at the office job plus free benefits. Now I make salary. Sadly, it's still not enough to pay the bills. So that's where PETCO came in to the rescue, haha.

I work closely with our GM at PETCO and due to the corps strong budget cuts & labor hours it's impossible to pay employees more than $10/hr. So working at PETCO you'll never get a raise but there are always merits or salary if you get promoted or work at the headquarters.

Clerical Office Jobs here (in MA) pay $10 - 15 per hour. Promotions from that usually end up in salary (30,000 - 45,000) or $15-18 per hour.

Office Managers on average make about 28,000 - 35,000 SALARY. You'll be doing Bookkeeping, Filing, Maintence, Customer Service, (maybe Payroll if you don't have an HR dept), etc.

I find both of my jobs to be beyond easy... PETCO is the easiest retail job I have ever had in my life & my office job is very business casual / stress free.

I personally say do what I'm doing! Stay at PETCO, it's a great source of secondary income plus it gets you away from sitting on your butt all day in an office (trust me it makes you go nuts sometimes... hense why I'll check the forum every now and then)

GOOD LUCK!

I'd definitely try to keep my CEI position.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE that part.  Unfortunately, I will probably never get a promotion as long as my manager is there.  She HATES that I have experience basically.  I do question things, but I always do it the PETCO way in the end.  I just like to know WHY we do something a certain way.  I personally, think its a good thing to know why we do something a certain way.  She is going to be so mad when she finds out I'm looking for another job since I left once already.  When I left last time, I was going to keep my classes.  I moved them later so that I would be able to get from one job to the other. The new job lied to me about being able to leave to go to those classes, so it didn't work out.  She blames me for not being able to keep the classes.  I really had all intentions of keeping them, but like I said, I was lied to...about many things at that job, which is why I came back to PETCO.  However, if she won't let me keep my classes, I will go to another kennel and train.  I have good contacts there and could make more money. 

Any more suggestions on the pay rate or for when I go talk to them? 

$10 - 13 per hour is absolutely reasonable (for just starting out in the office world). GOOD LUCK!

I HATE change and I'm so nervous!  I'm always afraid I'm going to fail at a job and not have anything to fall back on.  I quit my last job change and went back to PETCO.  I'm afraid that will happen again.  Although, if I took this job and ended up hating it, I'd at least get some experience and be more likely to get another office job that I like better.  So, I guess I could use it as an opportunity for experience either way.  I feel like I am obligated to stay at PETCO even though it is definitely not in my best interest.  I get so stressed, the dread of going to work ruins my days off, and I can't afford anything.  I'm mostly worried about my work at my mentor's.  I'd have weekend off, so I could spend extra time there then.  It wouldn't be like my 4on/4off rotation at the vet where I was so exhausted that I didn't want to do anything on my 4 days off.  I could still go a few days a week also since it stays light out late.  I guess I'm just rambling, but it helps to actually write what I am thinking. 

It's okay! I know exactly what your talking about!! I've had ups and downs like that.

I've been there deffinitely (but with the Resturant business) I used to make $700 - $800 a week!!! being a waitress... (it was such great money but ruined my life seriously, I was always stressed out to the max and never could relax during time off) then I realized I needed to do something better with my life and just get an entry level job and even if I hated it the experience would bump me up in the world eventually. Now I live paycheck to paycheck and it's very stressful. I don't have a single day off... zero... some days I work both jobs! But you know what? When your young you just gotta bust your butt and make a life for yourself and I know one day things will settle down.

And that's how it will be for you too! Having two jobs may be stressful, new, and feaful; but once you make the switch and commit you will see the future and the big picture. I have faith in you! Great things will come your way!

When I was interviewing for a new job about a year ago - I got the best advice from a vet. He said, when applying for a job, don't mention money (right off the bat), or what you hate about your current job. Say that you want the new experience, and you are looking for an educational change. He said when you say bad things (even unintentionally) about your current job it makes the potential new boss wonder what would happen to their company if something happened that you didn't like.

Edited to clarify (should have read before posting.....) Don't write that you are leaving your job because you hate their policies and you aren't treated fairly. Eventaully, you can metion that stuff, but let your boss get to know the real you before hearing all the negatives.

I would ask for at least $10.50 - that sounds more than resonable to me!

oh...what I would do with that kind of money....haha.

erica1989

when applying for a job, don't mention money (right off the bat), or what you hate about your current job. Say that you want the new experience, and you are looking for an educational change. He said when you say bad things (even unintentionally) about your current job it makes the potential new boss wonder what would happen to their company if something happened that you didn't like.

Definitely! Unless they really pry, I wouldn't say anything negative about your current job. If they do ask pointedly, you can allude to the fact that they treat you like dirt, but do it tactfully - "not the working environment I was looking for" "philosophical differences about customer service" or something similar, but your best bet is just to focus on all of the benefits of the job in question ("great learning experience" "opportunity for growth" "chance to serve the customers" or whatever) so it's more that you want the new job because the new job is just so awesome!!!! instead of you want the new job because the old one sucks.

Everyone likes a motivated worker, anyways. :) 

ooh - and don't forget - I'm looking for more of a challenge. Employers love that one!

And... if you have a myspace, facebook, etc. Private it. Employers do look at them, and will make snap judgements on things they see there, even if it's nothing that seems bad to you (not saying there would be anything bad about you, but for the lurkers too). Google your name, and see what pops up, just to be safe!

That is always good advice, for all of us.

Can I take that idea and make a thread of it today?

Go for it! I think it's pretty important stuff.