Sitting at work...
 

...browsing the planet and not getting much done. They moved me to Sundays to sit here as the only tech in the building and take care of walk ins. I work for a local ipod/iphone repair shop, and generally like the work. The holidays have us behind by quite a bit and the techs around here put in a ton of unpaid hours to keep the place as close to "caught up" as possible. But moving me to Sundays means I'm not here on Fridays (which is usually a day we get a lot done and don't receive as many shipments). Without me here though, Fridays are now putting us further behind.

Anyway, the pay is kinda garbage ($11/hr) but I do have some benefits and it's full time. Just frustrated that I'm here on Sundays and still not making a living wage. So, now to my question:

What the hell do I have to do in this freaking city to make $30 or $40K a year? I have a college degree and generally work my butt off and make myself valuable to my employers. Just... Frustrated that the only jobs out there seem to pay in the mid $20Ks at best, and companies are so freaking stingy with raises. I'd have to work here for many many years it seems to even build up to what anybody would call "middle class" earnings.

I'd love to answer your question, but it would result in this thread getting moved to DC.

save your $$$ and start your own repair biz.

Fair enough.

This thought has occurred to me on more than one occasion. If the guys around here can do this, anybody can.

Can't work you on Sunday's if you say your religious.

Outspoken atheist... That ship has sailed.


I guess I could convert, but I think they'd see right through that. Anyway, the fact that I'm here on a Sunday kinda sucks, but that's just adding fuel to the "damn I don't get paid enough" fire. Hard to even blame em though. Hell, at least they GAVE me a job. Probably applied to three dozen other places that didn't even call back, and the other job I turned down (phone sales) only paid $10.50. It's just rough man. I was making more than that just out of high school and working at a music store (was making $13.50 as a manager there). Can't believe I'm worth less to employers now that I have a college degree and work experience... Just mind boggling.

I mean, I could go get a forklift job and make $14+ somewhere, but that isn't exactly the life I envisioned for myself.

last year I loaned a friend $6K so he could start a puter repair shop. last month he paid me $9k and made $72k profit this year. Just him and his friend. the store is located in san francisco.

What's your degree?

Also, remember this: You get job opportunities through networking. Talk to everyone you know, make a good impression, and get their contact info. If you are working on a customer's phone, chat them up and find out what they do. Work the connections. Sending resumes and applications "cold call" style rarely works.

Always keep your resume up to date and always keep some copies with you to quickly hand someone.

What degree did you earn, and what was it that you expected to do with that degree?

But fixing phones for peanuts is?

I was told over and over again as I was growing up that the degree was the important part, and that I should study something I'd be interested in. So I went for theater and philosophy. ooops.

I actually love fixing phones.

Oh. That degree really means nothing in the normal job market other than satisfying a "4 year degree" requirement. Why aren't you pursuing theater? Are you willing to move? Start checking out job openings in NYC.

well it sounds like you might want to try the self run business part.

Yeah, that sounds awesome. Congrats to your friend, and to you for the nice roi!

Dude...Theater and Philosphy?????

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/worst-....html?page=all

I hear there's good money on the streets if you don't mind working nights

That degree with gain you no working/employment advantage unless you use it as a platform to getting a Master's in something useful.

But if you like fixing phones, sounds like a small business venture could be something you should look into.

There are plenty of jobs. You just have to look really hard. Finding a job is a full -time job in itself.
A lot of jobs train you as well.

Yup. Sad that so many people are only willing to prescribe individual solutions to systemic problems.

I have always looked at theater as more of a hobby and a skill set. Helped me develop social skills and leadership skills that I sorely lacked in high school. But never thought I'd make a career out of it. Same with music, philosophy, art, etc... I have a lot of hobbies and interests that have made me a much more well rounded person. Since college I've become a big fan of science and math too... Kinda wish I had done engineering or programming now. Oh well.

Dude, don't rub it in. I mean it's not like I have 60K in debt now or anything... Er... Well, at least they don't have debtors prison now. :)

How i read this thread ...

Get your MBA, Rockhurst has a 1 year plan.

There's something I hadn't thought of. Interesting...

When I started in the IT field 30 years ago it was the best job you could have. It paid well and was a highly respected profession. After most of the businesses were converted from big computers and mini-computers with expensive climate controlled rooms to server client systems...the need for techs declined. To save money help desk jobs were exported to India. All of this created a surplus of IT technicians which of course drove the wages down. If cutting back a little was profitable then why not get rid of every tech you can? (that is the attitude of the modern corporations. Companies expect you to now do the work of three people and get paid much less for it. What makes this situation even worse is that most people in management have no clue of how long it takes or how difficult can be because they have never had to do it themselves. And because they are getting pressure from people who have no clue to increase productivity with less resources...they pass that on to you. IT is now prettty much a crappy career path. But this faulty phylosophy is not limited to the computer industry. It is the norm for pretty much all of the field service companies. At least that is what I concluded from conversations with a lot of field people. Too much greed in upper management seems to be a common ailment everywhere.

When I left ESU, they were considering starting an MBA program through their Metro Learning Center up there. It would likely be cheaper than Rockhurst, and at least when I did their on-campus program, they had a year program.

In other news, you could get a government job. Most of the time, unless it is a big managment job, they just require a non-specific degree.

You could also look at FSA or NRCS. I'd probably wait until they pass the next farm bill, but those jobs pay OK, and are fairly stable.

Other than that, I can't tell you much. I'm too far away from KC to know much of anything. But when I was at Emporia I went to a few job fairs up there. Keep your eyes peeled for those.

Also not a terrible thought. Plus, those jobs looks better on resumes years down the road... Certainly better than working at a mall at tmobile anyway... Which was a waste of a year.

If you like fixing phones, I'm guessing that you like "techy" stuff. Go down to your IBEW Local, and sign up for testing. You will be tested on math, reading comprehension and some other deal, then given an interview. You will then be scored on both, and put on a list for the apprenticeship program based on the total cumulative score.

Sounds to me like you would like the low voltage VDV(voice, data, video) classification. Install and maintain computer and phone networks, install security, cctv, catv, fire alarm possibly low voltage lighting, fiber optics, nurse call and all kind of cool systems.

Your first year apprenticeship wage might even get you a raise. You will have school for at least 3 yrs, while working a 40hr work week, gain benefits after 90 days and wind up making $25+/hr(don't know the actual scale in your local) PLUS health and welfare benefits on top of that, and a 401k, plus other retirement benefits. Possibly vacation, depending on your local contract.

I'm currently a in my 7th or 8th yr, make enough to pay 2 mortgages and all associated bills, plus car payments and such all while the old lady makes dirt.(something in the 30's/yr).

I'm doing a 16 story hotel right now. Data, phone, cctv, catv, door controls, paging, fiber out the ass, fire alarm. It's fun, rewarding and helps to know you're "the guy" for the company. Stressful, but rewarding.

If you're a good employee, you will get the security of working for a single employer instead of jumping shops constantly like some guys. Not that that is all bad, some guys like it, get "vacation" and unemployment when things get slow that way.

If things ever go South with my employer, whom has been my only employer since I was a first year Cub, I'd probably just start my own company, possibly non union and do more low voltage systems our local electricians won't give up, such as low voltage lighting.

Good living if you're into it...

Well, they're 8-5 gigs for the most part. If you're seriously considering the MBA route, it would help to not have a 60 hour a week job.

The other thing to consider if you're considering the MBA route, you will most likely need to take some prerequisites, so a year job won't be doable (probably).

would you be interested in a job installing gfiber?
they'll be around for years, pays good, has benefits
http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH14/ats/car...C&cws=1&rid=28

when you did this process, was there a waiting list? i think its fairly huge in KC

Not sure if it helps, but I graduated with a degree in Geography in 2005. It's taken me seven years to get a "living wage" in computer tech support. I didn't know anything about computers going in, but I learned as I went. With your electronics repair knowledge, I'd look for a tech support job.

Work for kcpl...we make good money