I hate this economy and job market

DeAnna · March 19th, 2009, 03:05 PM

argh!!! As I've been saying for months, employers are just using the "bad economy" to unload salaries and low ball people on job offers.

So I went to an interview last week at a travel company (I have 20+ yrs experience in various aspects of travel and have a mktg. degree).

It was just for a res agent and the ad said between $10-$14 per hour. I mentioned to the interviewer I was leaning towards $14 based on my experience and background. They call me this week to make me an offer - a whopping $11/hour!!

So I was silent for a while, and told her I would get back to her. Hubby suggested try negotiating with them so when I call her back I told her if there was any way they would increase the offer, blah, blah, blah.

She says she did speak with the director but they couldn't, but they didn't want me to be unhappy so maybe after 1 year there would be a salary review and went on about how many people had applied for the job, everyone always thinks they are worth more, yada, yada, yada..

I guess I'll have to take it (for now) since hubby is also unemployed. Drive 50 miles r/t every day for $11 an hour.

Gaddabout · March 19th, 2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeAnna

I guess I'll have to take it (for now) since hubby is also unemployed. Drive 50 miles r/t every day for $11 an hour.

Yeesh. That's ungainful employment. I'll keep my eye out for your industry. I do some work with CareerBuilder. On which side of town do you live?

O · March 19th, 2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeAnna

argh!!! As I've been saying for months, employers are just using the "bad economy" to unload salaries and low ball people on job offers.

So I went to an interview last week at a travel company (I have 20+ yrs experience in various aspects of travel and have a mktg. degree).

It was just for a res agent and the ad said between $10-$14 per hour. I mentioned to the interviewer I was leaning towards $14 based on my experience and background. They call me this week to make me an offer - a whopping $11/hour!!

So I was silent for a while, and told her I would get back to her. Hubby suggested try negotiating with them so when I call her back I told her if there was any way they would increase the offer, blah, blah, blah.

She says she did speak with the director but they couldn't, but they didn't want me to be unhappy so maybe after 1 year there would be a salary review and went on about how many people had applied for the job, everyone always thinks they are worth more, yada, yada, yada..

I guess I'll have to take it (for now) since hubby is also unemployed. Drive 50 miles r/t every day for $11 an hour.

The industry I work in is somewhat related to travel. I work in the corporate theatre, audio/visual, event services industry.
Nobody and I mean nobody are doing meetings right now. This industry has come to a complete stop. It's worse than it was after 9/11.
This not only affects me as a freelance technician but it also affects resorts and all who work in the hotel industry, etc, and it also affects those who work in the travel industry.
Things are bad for those of us in all of the related industries.

82CardsGrad · March 19th, 2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O

The industry I work in is somewhat related to travel. I work in the corporate theatre, audio/visual, event services industry.
Nobody and I mean nobody are doing meetings right now. This industry has come to a complete stop. It's worse than it was after 9/11.
This not only affects me as a freelance technician but it also affects resorts and all who work in the hotel industry, etc, and it also affects those who work in the travel industry.
Things are bad for those of us in all of the related industries.

Been in my industry for more than 23 years, and nothing, and I mean NOTHING has ever even come close to approaching the destruction I have witnessed over the last 18 months... And if anything, the pain is picking up steam...

Jersey Girl · March 19th, 2009, 05:47 PM

That sucks, DeAnna. Sorry to hear about that.

There is NO work in PR at all. I am actually thanking my lucky stars that I went back to school when I moved here for special ed because those jobs are relatively in demand.

Sad thing is, if I try to go back into PR in three years, I will likely get asked why I was out of the industry for six + years. Sucks all around.

O · March 19th, 2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 82CardsGrad

Been in my industry for more than 23 years, and nothing, and I mean NOTHING has ever even come close to approaching the destruction I have witnessed over the last 18 months... And if anything, the pain is picking up steam...

The reality is how much pain can one withstand?
Right now............................................... .. It's pretty painful!

82CardsGrad · March 19th, 2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O

The reality is how much pain can one withstand?
Right now............................................... .. It's pretty painful!

For me, I can withstand it... It sucks, but I'm 44 and I'll live to fight another day, only much more informed and intelligent as a result of all this crap...

However, I feel for the thousands of people I know who have been trashed in my business... Good people doing good work, and they've been destroyed...

LVG · March 20th, 2009, 06:11 AM

I'm watching companies who have been in business for 20-40 years, good strong subs, bite the dust. I've already lost two large window companies (Jordon and Atrium), my concrete company is on it's very last legs and I'm just trying to get them to finish, rumors are flying around about my truss company which has been in business for over 100 years, it's just bad out there.

I had a superintendent come into my office yesterday and begged me to hire him as a laborer for $18 / hr - just because he knows it's gainful employment for the next 18 months. I've seen guys with 30+ years of superintendents experience not be able to get a job.

I've watched companies fail because they can't make payroll for one week because the credit market has dried up and the lines just arn't there any more.

There's a few blips of hope on the far horizon - a buddy of mine who does small commercial projects is getting funding, but his jobs are less that 5 mil typically (mine are 50+ mil).

Also heard yesterday that Stock Building, who just owns a ton of subcontractors and suppliers, is either going to be sold by August or they're just going to close.

Dback Jon · March 20th, 2009, 06:59 AM

How much of this is the credit crunch, do you think?

And isn't this what the bailouts were supposed to fix?

D-Dogg · March 20th, 2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersey Girl

Sad thing is, if I try to go back into PR in three years, I will likely get asked why I was out of the industry for six + years. Sucks all around.

Yeah, and the answer "because PR sucks bungholes" doesn't usually result in a job offer.

D-Dogg · March 20th, 2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dback Jon

How much of this is the credit crunch, do you think?

And isn't this what the bailouts were supposed to fix?

Yep, but instead of loosening credit, the banks are sitting on that money.

The bailouts were ludicris, and not in an entertaining rapping kind of way. No oversight, approved at gunpoint. Shocking that they aren't working.

DeAnna · March 20th, 2009, 08:02 AM

This particular company is pretty large and I'm sure has a healthy bottom-line. They were hiring up to 10 people for this account, so it has nothing to do with the economy. It's just good old fashion low-balling and cheapness.

I'm waiting for a pharmaceutical company who is supposed to be hiring in their corp. travel dept. once their new drug is approved by the FDA. Now it seems it won't be until 3rd qtr of 2009.

Jersey Girl · March 20th, 2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeAnna

This particular company is pretty large and I'm sure has a healthy bottom-line. They were hiring up to 10 people for this account, so it has nothing to do with the economy. It's just good old fashion low-balling and cheapness.

Guess they figure that if you won't work for that cheap, someone else will.

There are so many people out of work that employers really have the upper hand. They can get rid of people they don't want and have no trouble filling the position. They also can hire people willing to work for little money just because they need a job.

I swear I thank God everyday that I have a place to work.

Bada0Bing · March 20th, 2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersey Girl

Guess they figure that if you won't work for that cheap, someone else will.

There are so many people out of work that employers really have the upper hand. They can get rid of people they don't want and have no trouble filling the position. They also can hire people willing to work for little money just because they need a job.

I swear I thank God everyday that I have a place to work.

Yeah, I'm pretty thankful too. I work in the real estate industry, so I could be toast any day. I've been working my butt off to make sure I'm not the weakest link. This is the first day I've been on the internet at work in months. And it's only because I've done pretty much everything I can possibly do.

Gaddabout · March 20th, 2009, 11:02 AM

Just be glad none of you work in the media.