Re: The plot thickens ...

[Stephen Martin <smartin -at- RC -dot- GC -dot- CA>]

Cheryle Wiese wrote:

> First, to everyone who sent me e-mail - thanks for your support!
> EVERYONE who responded thought I was right to question the offer of
> $24K. One man even said "Run Run!"

<snip>

> interview with "Company Tightwad" to see if my comment about "my
> research shows that $30K would be a fair starting salary" woke them


During my interview for my first contracting job, being billed as a
Junior Programmer I made the mistake of asking for a salary in the range
of $20,000 - $25,000.  Of course they gave me $20,000, even though I had
found out later that they would have given me $25,000 if I'd only asked
for it.

Two years later I left that company, at $21,000 for another position at
$20,000 and three months, during the annual salary review, was given a
raise to $26,100.

After two months of warming a desk I was downsized from that company
(last October).  Apparently I have trouble holding down a job for longer
than two years. <g>

I started pouring through the online job postings and e-mail/faxing my
resume hither and on, asking for $25,000 - $30,000. Two months later I
was offered a three month contract, with chance of renewal, in another
city (out of the Province even).

Interviewer> I see you're asking for $30,000.
Me> Yes, that's right. (just glad we're talking at the top end of my
range)
I> Well we'll give you that and because you'll be relocating we'll give
you another $5,000.

Two days later I was on the train for the interview and was given the
job two more days later.  Unfortunately, while I was working for the
client (Bell Sygma) they started purging external contractors (800 out
of 1200 were dismissed), and so at the beginning of April I returned to
Ottawa and began the job hunt again.

One month later I had two companies fighting for me, one for a position
with Northern Telecom, the other with Revenue Canada.  My mother's
husband, also a Tech Writer, worried that I might miss out on jobs
because I wasn't charging enough, apparently Junior Tech Writers start
at $40,000+, so I raised my asking price to $25 - $30 an hour, and got
the job with RevCan.

Good luck with your interviews, and keep your sights set high.

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