help: Salary range for this job description??

[masshass81]

update #3
Went again to interview with their operations manager this morning. Then just got an email with a revised offer - 30,000! WoooWEee!

Thanks ATOT for the advice!!

Cliffs:
1. Interview
2. Lowballed w/ 26k
3. ATOT
4. Sandwich
5. ......
6. PROFIT!

update #2
Called, said I was looking for 30-34k and brought to his attention the numbers mentioned from CNN Money and salary.com. He said he is not in charge for the decision of pay, so he said he will talk to the one who is responsible and get back to me.

He also reiterated they were not looking to fill a position like this, but made it to fit my skills. Pretty much, 'hey we're helping you out'.... These guys better put it up to 28k at least. I'm not looking for that much, but c'mon 26k with all those responsibilities is so low relative to what other companies offer in orange county.



UPDATE #1

Lowballed!.... I'm going to call this guy and try to raise it.


Dear Michael,

Thank you for your interest in your employment at Solar Technologies, Inc.

Based on our discussions and understanding, we are pleased to offer you a full-time position with our company. The start date is effective March 28th, 2005. Based on your interest in working in an environment that provides vast areas of your interest, Solar Technologies has created a position that meets your interest.

Your annual base salary will be $26,000.00. The company offers medical and dental insurance; up to two weeks paid vacation each year and a 401(k) plan with the company?s match of $0.50 per each dollar contributed by the employee. You will become eligible for these benefits, as outlined in our employee handbook, on your three-month anniversary of employment with the company.

Your responsibilities will include but not limited to:

Finance
? Invoicing
? RMA processing
? Accounts payable preparation
? Credit references checking
? Physical inventory check

Sales Support
? Customer and part number data entry
? Prepare and generate purchase order and sales orders
? Data sheet library

Technical Support
? IT (server; LAN; phone system)
? Solar website design and maintenance
? Database management

Operations Assistance
? Shipping
? Receiving
? Inspection of Goods

Your workday may focus on one or a few of the areas listed above and the focus could shift from day to day. You may also be asked to support other areas of operations and we hope that you will be able to work in different areas of this company.

blah blah blah, get back to us by the end of the week.. blah blah..

Sincerely,


Dean Lauderdale
Controller





OP

Went into interview for sales position, then convinced him I would be better at accounting, then he noticed I do web design and have PC hardware experience. Hes going to make a position for my skills, here would be my duties:

-PC Maintenance/Support
-Assisting the controller with invoicing and balance sheet
-Website maintenance
-Server, basic SQL updates and maintenance
-Assisting engineer with testing RMA'ed equipment (LCDs, controller cards, etc.)
-Sales support, pretty much data entry

I have a BS in Business Administration from UC Riverside.

This guy kept on stressing that he's making something out of nothing for me and that this would be a great opportunity for experience. He was hinting that the experience would be more valuable than compensation, da da da and "since we're a small comapny that was looking strictly for sales people, I would have to offer something that would warrant the making of this position."

Pretty much I hope he does not offer me something so low. I'm thinking 30k/yr would be resonable especially since he won't have to hire the part-time engineering assistant he was talking about if I accept. It just worries me that he asked what minimum wage was at and what I made at my previous position (11.50/hr as loan processor) in addition with him saying experience would be of greater value than compensation for someone like me.

He will be getting back to me on Monday with an offer.

 

[Isocene]

Im a CS major graduating in may so I feel what you are going through.

I think you should get at least 35k. Thats alot of things to be responsible for. And if you've got a good attitude that will make them you all the more. Especially in a small business environment.

 

[minendo]

$8/hr

 

[Chrono]

maybe $8.10/hr

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: minendo
$8/hr

Seriously? (sarcasm meter sucks) Thats the starting wage at In-N-Out.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: masshass81

Originally posted by: minendo
$8/hr

Seriously? (sarcasm meter sucks) Thats the starting wage at In-N-Out.

Well then guess you should consider the male on male industry after all.

 

[RIGorous1]

Originally posted by: Isocene
Im a CS major graduating in may so I feel what you are going through.

I think you should get at least 35k. Thats alot of things to be responsible for. And if you've got a good attitude that will make them you all the more. Especially in a small business environment.

I agree with isocene, 35k is about right, but if you are fresh out of college and are lacking in experience then take 30k. If they do low ball you with 30k make sure that there is room for fast growth because that much responsibility is easily worth 40-50k within 2-3 years. That is of course assuming that they like you, cause if they don't then don't expect any growth especially in the small business sector.

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: masshass81

Originally posted by: minendo
$8/hr

Seriously? (sarcasm meter sucks) Thats the starting wage at In-N-Out.

Well then guess you should consider the male on male industry after all.

:laugh: ..took a minute

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: RIGorous1

Originally posted by: Isocene
Im a CS major graduating in may so I feel what you are going through.

I think you should get at least 35k. Thats alot of things to be responsible for. And if you've got a good attitude that will make them you all the more. Especially in a small business environment.

I agree with isocene, 35k is about right, but if you are fresh out of college and are lacking in experience then take 30k. If they do low ball you with 30k make sure that there is room for fast growth because that much responsibility is easily worth 40-50k within 2-3 years. That is of course assuming that they like you, cause if they don't then don't expect any growth especially in the small business sector.

Thanks for the input, yes I am fresh out. Experience only consists of 1.5yrs at a movie theatre and 2 months of loan processing (it was a temp job). Other than that, I've been building comps, taking IT courses, and did some web design, but no on-the-job experience in those areas.

Can't wait to talk to him. I dont know his definition of low compensation his, but didn't want to talk about it before the offer is made. The sales position was a 24k/yr + commission and benefits, bleh! But he said account managers there avg 45-65k/yr.

 

[brtspears2]

That job is 25-30k tops.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Take 30 and be happy, build up experience, the money will come later in life.

 

[her209]

That's like a 50k job, easy!

 

[masshass81]

Yeah, I'll definitely take if he offers 30k. 28k is the absolute minimum, which is very reasonable IMO.

Thanks again for the input everyone.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

There's potential with this position

He was looking for someone else, but is trying to get away cheap with you, from what I see

Whatever he offers, counter with 20-25% more, look for a nice number that sounds good

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: her209
That's like a 50k job, easy!

Well considering my lack of experience (posted above), do you still think so?

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
There's potential with this position

He was looking for someone else, but is trying to get away cheap with you, from what I see

Whatever he offers, counter with 20-25% more, look for a nice number that sounds good

Exactly, I really think he will try to low ball. Thanks for your input, I'll definitely do that.

On another note, if he does try to low ball, I'll bring to his attention that CNN Money (personal finance, college section) did a survery for Winter 2005 and found that the average starting pay for Business Administration is 38,357.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/09/pf/college/nace_survey/index.htm

I also checked out salary.com and compiled an average in my area for bookeeper, data enrty, and PC maintenance tech I... which is $35,861 and 32,776 for the 25th percentile.

 

[ghostman]

I'd agree with salary.com and CNN Money - it probably would average $35k and probably grow no more than $40k without more responsibility/skills added to the position. But consider what benefits they provide (health, dental, retirement, vacation time, etc.) and whether there will be room to grow.

$50k+ is not likely. That's the usual starting number I see for big firms, like financial and tech companies.

 

[bozack]

I do less than that and make upwards of 60K...

 

[Zenmervolt]

In that range, without experience in the field, you're looking mid 30's. If you have a little experience in the field, perhaps upper-mid 30's.

I've just gotten a position in the low 40's that runs 12-14 hours each day starting at 4 am (currency trading and portfolio analysis) at a top-tier investment management house and the only reason I'm in the low 40's and not the mid 30's is that I've been on a temp contract with this company for the last 6 months and they've seen me blow away every other temp they've had in recent memory. When my old group was asking what they'd do when I transitioned into the new group, I suggested that they just hire another temp to do the work I'd taken on in my time there. The response was that there was no way they could reasonably expect a temp to do it and that they'd been very surprised and happy to have managed to get me even for the time I'd been there.

So basically, unless you have demonstrable experience in the industry, or glowing internal recommendations, you're probably looking at mid 30's in the market I'm in.

ZV

 

[lukatmyshu]

What area are you in ... that plays a big role in what you should be getting. And definitely don't be scared to negotiate ... I didn't and lost a potential 6 grand (although they made up for it by giving me 15 grand in raises a year later).

 

[wiredspider]

Is this in Cali? If so, then 30K seems way to low IMHO... Not like you are uneducated either....

 

[masshass81]

Yes, this is in California. More specifically, in Irvine/Orange County area (SoCal).

I really appreciate everyone's input. I'll be sure to update when the offer is made.

 

[masshass81]

ttt for update

 

[Rumpltzer]

If you want more money, ask for more. Advice on the Web says you should ALWAYS ask for more money no matter what position you're being offered or what compensation is being offered.

The idea is that it doesn't hurt. It's not like they'll retract their original offer if you ask for more, so it's a "win-only" situation... except they may think you're a greedy bastard.


I just did this three months ago. I was at a job for nine months after graduating, and it was boring. I was offered and interview and then given a salary offer 3% (exactly) over my previous salary. I stalled on accepting the new job and then asked for more money. They took a week to think about it and then said no. I took the job anyway because I wanted it.

Nothing lost except some time... and I was trying to stall anyway so I wouldn't miss out on the annual bonus at my last job.

 

[cjgallen]

I had a similar job for $20k/year.