Think I should argue what I got paid?

[Paulson]

Ok, for an isp (it's a company new to internet...) I set up some equipment for them...

Fine. The provide internet service, and are an ISP, well anyways, my mom works for em and they know I got some knowledge when it comes to computers...

anyways, I spent 2 hours one day setting up a temporary webpage on a new computer... (it was their fault it was 2 hours, not mine)

also, just this week I set up their main web server on win NT, which is new to me, and it took me a little while with no help, and was 4 hours.

Not to mention, I also created a tutorial for them

Today I got my paycheck. A great $75. It took me approx. 7 1/2 hours to complete all the above. and that's ALL I got...

Think they're using me or what? I'm pissed, and so is my mom...

I don't know, I was figuring at least $100. Ugh...

 

[DannyLove]

seems about right if you were working for $10/hr. unless you think you're worth more than find better jobs out there, or complain and demand more (which i doubt anyone would do)

danny~!

 

[pulse8]

You definately screwed. Anyone else would've cost them $75 an hour. It's a touchy subject, though, because your mom works for them. You didn't know what you were going to get paid ahead of time?

 

[IcemanJer]

only $10/hr to do all that?? I say they gypped you big time!! :|:|

 

[WordSmith2000]

never Never NEVER do work without a contract! It is so simple and easy to say, "here, my services will cost you 100/hour, and this is what you get for those services." Have them sign the paper, and then do the work. If they don't pay, take them to small claims court.

When you don't provide them with a contract first, they think you are an ignorant putz that they can push around and underpay...and they would be right.

 

[Paulson]

Well, I'm not going to tell you the figures, but just to do installs on computers, the main guys working there get about 4 times as much.

just to put into perspective.

 

[AMDJunkie]

Think about it, you got paid $10 an hour. Don't complain.

 

[Paulson]

Well, it's my mom's fault that I couldn't ask my going rate before doing it.

I've made $100 working on just one person's computer for about 2 hours.

:|

Well I don't care if my age has anything to do with it either.

I set this up at a vital time for them, and this was under pressure.

:|

 

[Viper GTS]

The days of high-paying low-skill tech jobs are over, $10 an hour doesn't seem all that unreasonable for someone with little to no experience.

You're making a hell of a lot more than I was at your age.

As has already been mentioned, avoid this in the future by setting your parameters up front. Make sure both parties know exactly what the deal is before any work is done.

Viper GTS

 

[pulse8]

<< Think about it, you got paid $10 an hour. Don't complain. >>



$10 is NOT a lot for the stuff he did. He should've gotten paid closer to what it would've cost to have a professional do it. Not quite as much, but close.

 

[Paulson]

I don't have LITTLE experience.

So far I set the damn server up with little help and no instructions...

ugh, oh well.

Well I'm not going to get screwed over again...

 

[Paulson]

I also set up their ftp server so they could update it.

Not to mention things beyond that too, that weren't limited.


I hope to hell that I have no boss when I get a little older. I'll have to pay josh and dcpsoguy for the work they've done. (for my site, because it's awesome now...)

 

[dvda]

Dude you got ripped off. You deserve about 20/hr for setting up any kind of webserver. It would be fair to pay you 15/hr for writing the tutorial, but the job that you did is worth about $250. Setting up a webserver and writing documnetation for setting up network settings? That would have cost them about 60/hr from a certified pro.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Paulson, you're young, they took a chance with you. Next time you can ask for more, now that you have a reference to point to.

 

[Paulson]

They took no chance with me.

I have knowledge with setting up webservers. (I've figured it inside and out now that I have my own webserver...)

I don't want to sound braggy, but for what I know, I certainly don't think I got what I deserved...

 

[Fermilevel]

Since you aren't a business and are not paying taxes, $10/hr is respectable. If you want to consider yourself a contractor, pay for a professional education, get a business license, liability insurance, pay taxes, pay rent and utilities on business space, and write up a contract before starting work, then you can negotiate <$250> for the work that needs to be done. Either way, you still end up taking home $10/hr.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

They took no chance with me.

From their perspective they did. You're what, 14?

 

[WordSmith2000]

10/hour?????

I cannot recall the last time I charged 10/hour--maybe, never?
When I started doing computer consulting work (nothing so hard as setting up servers, setting up EMAIL was about as tough as it got) I billed at 25/hour. Now I will not walk into someone's house or business unless I get 100 for the call, and 50/hour after the first hour. And I still turn away work.

The funny thing is, I don't know a huge amount about computers, in comparison to the geeks here...but the people who want to pay the best rates know a whole lot less!

Do NOT charge what you think you are worth...charge the going rate. Call local service companies, and find out what you would have to pay, per hour, to have them come to YOUR HOUSE to do service work. THAT should be your rate...and if that rate is 10/hour, I feel sorry for you.

I live just north of Miami, BTW. My rent may be high, but I could not get pay rates like this where I used to live!

 

[Viper GTS]

They took no chance with me.

I have knowledge with setting up webservers. (I've figured it inside and out now that I have my own webserver...)

I don't want to sound braggy, but for what I know, I certainly don't think I got what I deserved...

Yes, they did take a chance with you. There are lots of companies out there that guarantee that they know what they're doing. They took a chance on a kid, &amp; it worked out well.

Next time set a rate, then they have to pay you what you asked.

Consider this to be your trial, &amp; be happy with what you got.

Viper GTS

 

[Paulson]

I'm 15.

and aside from linux, I pretty much am accustomed to windows NT and win2k server...


BTW, if I couldn't do it, I wouldn't have asked for anything...

 

[Red Dawn]

Consider it getting paid to learn. What took you 7 1/2 hours might have only taken a proffesional an hour or 2 plus ther'd be a guaranty behind it. That's not to say that you aren't worth more, but unless you specify what you want you are only going to be to get what they give you.

 

[huypham]

Don't Complain.

Seriously. Even at 15, you were getting paid more than $10, considering taxes, an hour. At that age, no matter your experience, they were still taking a chance on you. You had no experience setting up a main web server in NT you say? I bet you an experienced engineer could have done it in half the time.

Plus, its on your resume. When it comes to getting into a good college, or a scholarship, kid, they did you a favor.

I come from a similar background, similar situation when I was that age. Not to brag, but I had a working knowledge of NT and Linux. From day one, I got paid $5.15 an hour. Years passed and it wasn't until I was 17 that I even got a job paying above $10. But my resume was full, my experience was high, had great recommendations and some little tech college in Boston took a chance on me.

Huy

 

[Rio Rebel]

If I were the business, I would have paid you more. There's no way I would have paid the kind of rates some of these guys are talking about, but $100-150 would be fair.

I don't think they &quot;ripped you off&quot;. I think they paid a little low.

A lot of people talk about what they &quot;should&quot; get, but those rates are for established, proven consultants who do it professionally. $10/hr. was not unfair, but probably slightly on the cheap side.

I wouldn't pay a kid $50 to cut my grass...and I wouldn't expect to pay a professional lawn service $20 to do it, either.

 

[pulse8]

I didn't know you were 15. Then you got a decent deal for your age and experience. It's more than I ever got at 15. I would say keep working for them if they want you to and you'll get good working experience to take with you after you graduate.

 

[Paulson]

Well Red, I really do doubt it would have taken less time, because while setting this up, I was also explaining every step of the way...

I don't know. Everything I do I feel people just want me to do it because they feel I don't deserve as much as what someone working for a company would get...

I spent 6 hours working on someone's house installing a router, only to give up and later find out it was THEIR bad cable. I didn't get ANYTHING for it, and it pisses me off.

ugh.