$25/hr no overtime pay for PE with 9 yrs exp 7

[westheimer1234]

i got laid off recently. no job openings in my field at least until mid next year.
i work for EPC oil and gas.
i have a PE with 9 yrs exp.

i got a job offer for $25/hr, no 401k, no overtime pay
from a small company.

i was thinking accept it and leave later.
but my interviewer said his biggest fear is accepting me
and then me leaving after a few months.

they are looking for permanent position.

 

[EddyC]

I cannot find anywhere in the state regulations where it says that its illegal/unethical to quit a job a short time after starting it.

One of my former employers hired 2 of us at the same time. After a week, he threw 1 of us out, for no cause other than "I don't think its working out".

 

[KENAT]

At will employment works both ways. So if this is an 'at will' position that's your answer right there.

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[Twoballcane]

The first job that I had out of college was a field engineer, which was a glorified technician. I was overqualified for the job, but they needed people to fill a difficult region (NYC). The manager was afraid that I would leave after a few months if an engineering job came. So he made me sign a statement that I would not leave for two years. Fortunate for me, the same manager was let go eight months after I was hired. At the same time an engineering job offer came which I took. Because the manger left, there was no history (and nobody remembered) the deal I had with the manager which gave me a way out after just working eight months with the company.

To the OP, just be carful, they may ask the same.

After thinking about this, I wonder how legal this arrangement was. Maybe other can chime in.


Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[Keith1029]

Two Ball, I seem to recall a clause (in Canadian law) that says that a non-compete contract is non-enforceable if it is worded in such a way that it precludes someone from making a reasonable living in their field. That is, if you are an X engineer and a company makes you sign a non-compete that specifies “you will not work as an X engineer anywhere else” (as opposed to “you will not work as an X engineer in a specific capacity for a specific competition) then it is illegal and non-enforceable. Does anyone have more reliable information on this than my memory? I would tend to think that an agreement not to quit and get a better job would fall under the same heading. Practically speaking, I don’t think that any kind of agreement not to quit is enforceable, because you can always just show up and do nothing productive until they fire you (provided you don’t need a reference I suppose); productivity can’t be forced.

 

[apsix]

I wouldn't sign a contract without the employer at least guaranteeing employment for the same period as you agree to stay for.
A contract has to work both ways.
It might not mean much with smaller companies.

 

[TDAA]

Unemployment in CO was only $12.5 an hour. That being said, I was able to better my situation financially. I did have to relocate though, and am still trying to sell a house. At least I am still in the state. I got picked up through some connections pretty quickly, but I know others that have been out for a long time.

I would ask where future salary ranges could be expected as you become familiar with the industry. After that decide if you want it long term. Is it an at will state?

I expect it would finish along these lines:
"Can you guarantee that you will keep me employed?"
"No, we cannot."
"Well, I cannot guarantee that I will stay for a set amount of time either, but I am willing to put forth my efforts into making this ..."

 

[tickle]

Please do not take the job, with the expectation that you will quit when the next one comes along. This is the wrong attitude to go into a job. If that is the case, go and flip burgers to keep you off of the streets.

Look at the job as an opportunity to progress. I like the idea raised by moltenmetal.

 

[apsix]

"Please do not take the job, with the expectation that you will quit when the next one comes along."

Why not? It's likely to provide useful experience, unlike flipping burgers. The longer you are out of the game the harder it is to get back in.

Moving on to the next one may be the only opportunity to progress.

 

[ScottyUK]

Take the job. They have a need to fill the position, and you have a need to earn a living. If they can't or won't pay enough to keep you in the long term then that is a *choice* they are making, not something forced upon them by law. If they *want* to keep you then they can, but they need to compete on equal terms with other the employers who also prize whatever skills you have.


----------------------------------

If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[GregLocock]

"Please do not take the job, with the expectation that you will quit when the next one comes along. This is the wrong attitude to go into a job"

What a strange attitude. If my employer doesn't attempt to equal what I see coming from a new opportunity, why would I hang around? Never have up til now.



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[Twoballcane]

I would like to add that I would take the job. The phrase "steping stone" comes to mind.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[KENAT]

Tickle, what the hell fairy tale world do you live in?

Ever tried living on burger flipping money as an adult? My guess is that unemployment pays as much if not more.

Plus it's still a gap in engineering employment which would be an issue.

While it's better to enjoy what you do, at the end of the day unless some of you are independantly wealthy, we work to earn a living. The OP can almost certainly make a better living at the eng job than flipping burgers.

Sure, don't dwell on the attitude but expecting not to have it when the job clearly is relatively low paid compared to the experience, come on.

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[oldfieldguy]

Take the job. It's not like they chain you to the desk by your foot. It may happen that it's something that you LOVE and they find exactly what they need and you get more money and they get what they want and the world's a better place.

(You may get a winning lottery ticket, too. It COULD happen)

Or it could be totally horrible and you leave at the end of the first week.

Likely, though, is that you will go to work there, rock along for a while feeling things out as you further explore the job market, and if something else comes along that looks better, you talk to the boss and say "Here's the deal..."

You'll probably feel better working than waiting, though.

It's difficult to leave an employer that has built up a trust in you, but sometimes it has to be done.

old field guy

 

[Hoagie]

Take the job and then keep looking for a better paying one. 'Forget' them for offering an experienced PE so little.

 

[vc66]

Please do not take the job, with the expectation that you will quit when the next one comes along. This is the wrong attitude to go into a job.

Huh? Isn't that what most people do? Why wouldn't I expect to leave for a better opportunity, ever?

Weird.

V

 

[PEDARRIN2]

I know we all look for the best opportunity - but to me, personal integrity is important.

If I am interviewing for a position, and the interviewer states a reluctance about hiring me since he is afraid I will leave soon after I am hired for better opportunities and I don't say anything - though I am doing just that -- then I think that is dishonest. My company had that happen to them. They hired a senior level engineer who was here for a couple months, but was still looking, and left for a company that was closer to home. If it was known he was going to still be looking, he would not be hired.

How would we feel if the roles were reversed.

Say you get the job, but unbenownst to you, the company kept looking for somebody "more qualified" and when they found one - they canned you?

Would we consider that ethical/honest? Not saying it doesn't happen, but would anybody want to work for that company once word got out?

Now I am not saying that one cannot still be looking for something better, but I would talk to the interviewer before hand that I felt the position was going to be short term - unless the pay/benefits were more in line with experience. That way there are no suprises when you do find something.

 

[KENAT]

Pedarrin, companies do that kind of thing all the time. There have been a lot of lay-offs places lately, one of the factors often cosidered is who is the more valuable employee to keep.

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[vc66]

PEDARRIN2-

To me, that's not personal integrity. I have no loyalty to my company, as they have no loyalty to me (as expressed very clearly within my "at-will" contract).

I always have my resume out there, just in case. I haven't found one place that I've worked at that I've liked enough to not think there could be something better in the job market.

V

 

[MechEng2005]

I agree with those saying take the job, keep looking, and don't feel bad about it.

I compare it to the following: If I lived in a small town and went to the only gas station nearby and then they started building a new one across the street. If the owner of the older gas station told me, I'm worried I won't be able to compete because I've been marking prices way up since I was the only option available. I certainly wouldn't continue going to that gas station just because we had a working relationship. I also wouldn't start driving to a different town and going someplace else so that I wasn't continuing at the old gas station with the intent of leaving soon. The relationship is just that, a working business relationship. There are other factors of course, but that's the way I see it.

Of course, if I considered the owner of the firm a good friend, maybe I would pay a little more for loyalty to a friend. However, I would also work for a lower salary if I thought of my boss as a good friend. (To a reasonable extent in both cases, of course)

-- MechEng2005

 

[Keith1029]

If you agree to work for a company, and feel you should stay on with that company out of loyalty even if they are paying you less than half of what your worth, then you are a chump who is being taken advantage of.

As a business, they expect you will leave if it is in your best interest to do so, and you expect that they will let you go if it is in their best interests to do so. By expressing their worries that you are going to leave soon, but hiring you anyway, they are acknowledging that they are under-compensating you and are fine with it. Also, by telling you their “fears” they are making an underhanded play at your sense of loyalty in the hopes that you won’t pursue fair compensation in another job so that they can take advantage of you further. That is a lack of integrity. Follow supply and demand in the job market; use the job as a stepping stone to something reasonable.