Job interview tips, advice, help, etc.

[brainanator]

I wouldn't be working in Houston, that is just where the home office is. I would be working up in North Dakota on the oil fields, and sometimes in the Pennsylvania area. 2 weeks on 1 week off I think. or something like that....
I will also be driving 4 hours to interview with the Montana Dept. of Transportation, I've interviewed with them probably 3 times through my college career, so we'll see what comes of it.

[BP-Revo]

Originally Posted by rawfuls

Walked into work today, and was told that I would be getting $1000 at the end of my summer "internship".

Not too happy, but not too upset.

Was hoping for quite a bit more, however at my age, I'm lucky to be getting a job & slight pay at it.

Though, I have put a little over 54 hours within the past 2 weeks, so I guess it's time to dial the hours back.

That's a bit absurd. Assuming you keep up your current work hours until the end of summer, you're putting in roughly 27 hours a week at this point. 27 hours a week at 10 weeks (what most set-length summer internships are), is 270 hours.

$1000 for 270 hours results in less than $3.75 an hour. United States minimum wage (I'm fairly sure you live in the US) is $7.25 an hour, nearly twice that. You're pretty much getting the shaft here.

Most internship offers I see earn a stipend of roughly $3000 for 8 weeks, which if you consider 40 hours a week is over $9 an hour, some offer more at $4000 or $4500 for the same time period.

I would talk to him about this. Make it clear you aren't thrilled about this but also bring up the legal issues about this, though try to bring it up in a way where you are looking out for him, not trying to twist his arm.

[JERRY2KONE]

Yea we see interns in the US Department of State and I can tell you for sure that most of them make $10 per hour or better, plus the Department flies them to US Embassies around the world to do these internships. Our teenagers (16-18)work their summer breaks and most of them make $8.50 to $10.00 per hour. This guys is for sure taking advantage of you and hoping that no one will be the wiser. If you sit back and take that crap you are setting yourself up for the same kind of employer treatment in the future. One of the things about learning the work force is knowing what your worth and standing up for yourself when it is needed. Even if you say something and he tells you to have a nice day you can do better working your summer at McDonalds working the french fryer 20-30 hours per week. Don't you work your butt off for this Dusche and get poop for payment for a full summer. Thats just wrong.

[brainanator]

most engineering internships pay at least $15 an hour.
Of course the experience on your resume is what pays off in the end (who am I kidding...the $$$ is what you care about NOW, lol).

[rawfuls]

Hey guys, just as an update since today was my last day @ work, and I start school on Monday.

I talked to him about 3 weeks into the job and we had a pretty good conversation, his main reasoning behind the $1000 stipend was because that was more or less the best he could do.

Since he is a fairly small business, I understood, so I brought up the idea of editing my hours per week to make it a fair hourly wage.

I went with twice a week, 6 hours a day, and for an estimated 8 weeks, is about 96 hours total. (Beside the 54 hours in two weeks, my first two weeks), divided by a thousand, equals out to about $10.4/hour, which actually is a great wage for a 16 year old, IMO.

As far as the 54 hours/2 weeks, I was actually given a few "bonuses" of $20-$40 a couple times, usually when a big fat invoice was paid by one of our customers; just about 4 times or so.

Sure, I could be making more by lifeguarding (which I originally wanted to do, but ended up giving the IT field a shot first), about $5 more; but this IS my first legitimate year in the commercial industry, and at 16 years old, I'm fine with the wage.

He asked if I would be willing to work weekends during the school year; I told him as long as I would be receiving a set hourly wage.
He replied by saying I would receive a wage, a little under our other two, very experienced (One worked for Geek Squad, I know, awful, but later worked for a very large company in business & residential, and now just works whenever he is needed; our other has an internship w/ a couple large companies, one being Microsoft. A+ certified...
Both are mid-20's), who are making about $16-20/hourly.

As long as I make right above $12/hour, I'm happy.

[brainanator]

$12ish an hour on the weekends during school isn't bad by any means! Hell, I've got 3 years experience working at hastings entertainment (books/music/movie retailer/renter) and when I went back to work there for something to do while I looked for an engineering job, they're paying me $7.50....same wage as a first hire. I changed my schedule to only work there a couple days a week, lol.

[PBO]

You're obviously a well balanced person who has the ability to see reason but the reason he gave you "because that was more or less the best he could do" IMO is absolute BS. I believe he took you on because he thought he'd make a great return on his small outlay. When you addressed the issue he rolled over & by default agreed to a higher rate (less hours, same remuneration)

I think you have the outcome you should have had in the first instance & good for you for taking control of the situation but don't fall for the old line "I'm a small struggling business" - he was happy for you to work every hour you did & he wasn't going to suggest otherwise. He would have charged as many of your hours as he possibly could

It's important to stand up for yourself

[rawfuls]

brain: Roughly in that ballpark, I'll be more than glad to take it :)

PBO:
totally understand what you mean, but it was already a bit too late in the summer to try and find another job, I also applied to other shops to no avail, mainly because of my inexperience.

[PBO]

Originally Posted by rawfuls

totally understand what you mean, but it was already a bit too late in the summer to try and find another job, I also applied to other shops to no avail, mainly because of my inexperience.

Don't take what I said the wrong way, you did the right thing & you got the right outcome - it's just a shame you needed to put the employer on the spot to get it

Trust me on this though, you have learnt a valuable lesson - one you will benefit from many times over in your life. Well done

[JERRY2KONE]

In fact the biggest lesson you should have learned is to make sure you discuss the pay before you do even one hour of work. Its not rude to ask, and in fact expected if you really want to be respected on the job. No one in his right mind will work without knowing up front what he will be paid. The only exception to that rule is if the employer insisits on seeing how well or not so well your work ethic is, before making a final decision on what your time is worth. Kind of like a probationary period. For me I would not go more than a week though. I have enough experience to be more demanding on having a pay rate up front. Still it all worked out for the best and you left with your head held high, because you made sure that you were heard. Good luck in school young man.

[simplechamp]

Also, you need to look at total compensation, beyond just hourly wage or salary. Insurance benefits, 401k, pension, profit sharing, etc. can be a big part of your "pay" for doing your job.

Of course if you're looking into summer jobs during HS and college this doesn't really factor in so much, but keep it under your hat because in the future it will.