Just want to cry!

AlwaysWorking

Hi everyone

Sorry, I'm just looking some sympathy today! I never thought my debt free journey would be such an uphill struggle!

I was made redundant from my property related job in January and have been doing temp work (admin) part time for the last couple of months. I had a second interview today and dared to hope the nightmare of sleepless nights worrying about money was nearly over.

I was offered the job...at minimum wage. I have a relevant degree and nine years experience. The interviewer asked me at the last interview what my salary was at my last job...then called me back to offer me less than half of that. I hope I'm not offending anyone, that's not my intention...it's just that my mortgage, rates and essential bills come to more than that...so I couldn't live on it.

Employers are really taking advantage of peoples' desperation at the minute! :rolleyes:

DevonGirl

Can you negotiate a higher salary, based on your education and experience?

What salary was it advertised at? If it was in a range of figures i.e. 11k to 15k, you can bet that employers will go for the bottom figure! - but I doubt they'd go much above mid-point.

DG

lxpeanut

I would try and negotiate them up a bit. If it wasn't advertised with a salary then they should be a bit more flexible. It must be hard having worked your way up and got the experiance to feel that it isn't valued now.

AlwaysWorking

It wasn't advertised with a salary...if I'd known it was minimum wage I wouldn't have applied to be honest. The job certainly isn't one that you would expect to be minimum wage. I don't think negotiating will work - even if I got another thousand a year out of him that wouldn't give me enough to live on. He said I'd get a raise of £500 a year after 6 months to if things went well, but then went on to say how a few of the staff are currently working to 9pm (not paid!)....so a 12 hour day with the hope of £12,000 in six months if I jump through enough hoops?!

I'm just so down and worry I'll never get another job and dig myself out of this mess.

emmaxox_2

They definately are taking advantage of peoples desperation, I know a few of my friends who have left uni have stayed in their part-time jobs from whilst they were students because they are on a better hourly rate!

Becoming debt free will feel like an uphill struggle, but remember nothing worth having is ever easy!

McKneff

Could you claim any benefits because it is such a low wage.

SueP19

Gosh thats terrible, its sounds to me as if he is hoping to find someone who is so desparate for a job that they will take it.

The saying is "If you don't value yourself no-one else will"

Stand proud and value yourself

GeorgeUK

If you can't afford to take the job, then there's no need for you to do so. They're wanting slave labour - i think you're better off not accepting any job in that place.

If you have financial commitments that need to be met, there is no sense in accepting less than what you would consider to be your basic pay - the chances of pay rises in the current climate are pretty slim. And what happens when they announce that they may need to make paycuts?

You've done the right thing - inform them if you still need to contact them that you would not be willing to accept less than £x (and allow negotiating room in that). Try not to lose too much sleep over it - you got some good interview experience and hopefully you'll get some other interviews soon.

One thing i would mention though - when i temped i found that the agency NEVER tried to get me a permanent position. Make sure you sign up to some agencies not for temp work but strictly permanent positions only. Call them at least once a month to check if they have anything that may be suitable.

Good luck.