Job Hunt Thread

[Steve9347]

Anybody who is or has been a hiring manager: If you regularly do thorough or semi-thorough internet research on job applicants, I am looking for somebody to do one on me so I can get feedback on what things are out there on me that might be red flags to potential employers. If you are willing to do this, please PM me and let me know exactly what personal info of mine that you need.

PM me your full name if you want. I'm not running a credit or criminal history check, though. On the marketing side, I just look to make sure you're not dumb enough to have your name attached to anything moronic and no super incriminating photos.

 

I'm pretty laid back as a hiring manager, though. If you can do the job, I don't really gaf about your personal life.

[cabiness42]

PM me your full name if you want. I'm not running a credit or criminal history check, though. On the marketing side, I just look to make sure you're not dumb enough to have your name attached to anything moronic and no super incriminating photos.

 

I'm pretty laid back as a hiring manager, though. If you can do the job, I don't really gaf about your personal life.

 

PM Sent.

[Steve9347]

How do I figure out what my freelance hourly salary should be?

I've taken my current salary, divided it by 2080, and tacked on $5 - $10.

[Soxbadger]

So I kind of need to present my bosses with what I want for them to keep me (forever, to use their words). I can negotiate a lot of things, but Ive never asked for a raise in my life. I dont want to insult them but I definitely want to ask for enough that their first answer is a counter.

 

Any suggestions?

Edited April 28, 2015 by Soxbadger

[bigruss]

Lots of factors in play there, where are you vs a market comp? Do you have another offer on the table that is setting a bar? What % raises have you gotten recently? Have any coworkers gone through a similar situation that would be willing to share information?

 

 

[Chisoxfn]

So I kind of need to present my bosses with what I want for them to keep me (forever, to use their words). I can negotiate a lot of things, but Ive never asked for a raise in my life. I dont want to insult them but I definitely want to ask for enough that their first answer is a counter.

 

Any suggestions?

If it is forever and you are talking law, I would think everything goes into the partnership and what stake and how it works, how things get paid out, etc. You also have to get a good gauge for your market value (externally) but also be able to realize and understand what you bring to the business / generate too.

[farmteam]

So I kind of need to present my bosses with what I want for them to keep me (forever, to use their words). I can negotiate a lot of things, but Ive never asked for a raise in my life. I dont want to insult them but I definitely want to ask for enough that their first answer is a counter.

 

Any suggestions?

You work for a Plaintiffs' firm right? It's a little different then given contingency cases. Perhaps larger base salary and great % of cases you bring in?

[Soxbadger]

Its actually a very unique situation where I dont really have to get clients. Generally speaking I turn down most of the potential clients unless they are exactly what I am looking for. Flexibility and lifestyle are really my number 1 goals, which pretty much only this firm would provide for even close to a comparable salary. I am getting below market right now, but I also generally work 9:30-5:30 and spend a good amount of that time screwing around on the internet.

 

So really its mainly about how much money can I ask without being completely ridiculous. I mean 100% salary increase sounds insane, but there are other people who make similar and who are not as necessary. I was thinking about trying to ask some people what the salary ranges were, so I could just try and position myself at the high end. They already agreed to me working at home whenever I want, so I think it really becomes are they actually willing to commit to me being partner one day, or do they just want to pay me more and keep that off the table.

[iamshack]

So I am assuming the "forever" part is sort of meant to mean a salary which you won't discuss again for some time (5 years?). I wouldn't negotiate anything that is meant to stay static for a long period of time unless it is just impossible to turn down at this point.

 

If you like this firm, it's great that you can stay by negotiating something, but you can't anticipate what might happen in the future...and you'd hate to have to leave because that is the only way to increase your salary in 5 years (we negotiated that "forever" contract with you 5 years ago, remember?).

 

 

 

 

[Texsox]

So I kind of need to present my bosses with what I want for them to keep me (forever, to use their words). I can negotiate a lot of things, but Ive never asked for a raise in my life. I dont want to insult them but I definitely want to ask for enough that their first answer is a counter.

 

Any suggestions?

 

You can't insult them at this point. You already work there *and* they want to keep you long term. I would also look beyond current salary. Think about the benefits, your upcoming life events. I was able to negotiate a very favorable loan with one company based on my staying for a set number of years. In reality it functioned more like and advance. But it allowed me to use their money for three years and only paid a tiny amount for interest. The same company later paid my country club initiation fees and monthly dues as long as I used it for business entertaining (a win win).

 

You would want to establish a review schedule, certain performance standards that will lead to increases and or bonuses. This is why Scott Boras earns so much money.

 

 

[Texsox]

but there are other people who make similar and who are not as necessary.

 

You may be more comfortable asking what do I need to do to earn $X? This moves the issue around to the other side of the table and you don't look demanding. "I would like to earn $125,000 next year, what would I need to do to earn that?" Then they have to provide a scenario and flushes out their high number.

[Soxbadger]

I met with them, they basically said that they envision me managing within the next few years. They gave me a slight raise immediately (approx 5%) and then I asked that I be paid in the top half of the other attorneys in our firm.

 

Probably not my best negotiation but getting more money today is always nice and I can still always leave haha.

[bigruss]

Interviewed last Friday for the supervisor position of my team, went really well but I don't think I'll get it due to my lack of experience. They are hiring internally, and I know 2 other candidates (not sure of any others) that also went for it, one of which is buddy's with the hiring manager. If he gets it I'll be pissed, I don't think he was even qualified enough to get an interview much less the job, if the 3rd guy gets it I wouldn't have any issues since he deserves a chance.

 

The waiting game definitely sucks.

[Jenksismyhero]

I met with them, they basically said that they envision me managing within the next few years. They gave me a slight raise immediately (approx 5%) and then I asked that I be paid in the top half of the other attorneys in our firm.

 

Probably not my best negotiation but getting more money today is always nice and I can still always leave haha.

 

Never read your posts on this, but you and I sound like we're working in the same type of firm. I make less than market rate, but I also work about 40-45 hours a week with plenty of time to search the internet and not feel stressed about getting stuff done. I get a decent bonus every year, nothing crazy, some profit sharing/401k contributions, and then referral fees for whatever I bring in. Could I make more at another place? Absolutely. Probably 20-30% more. But it would sacrifice my ability to get home by 6:15 and spend time with my son before he goes to bed.

 

My concern is 5 years from now if I don't get raises what I should do and/or how marketable i'll be. I have no idea what kind of horizontal movement there is in the litigation market. And I do probably 60/40 defense and plaintiff work, so i'm not really specialized like most.

 

[farmteam]

Never read your posts on this, but you and I sound like we're working in the same type of firm. I make less than market rate, but I also work about 40-45 hours a week with plenty of time to search the internet and not feel stressed about getting stuff done. I get a decent bonus every year, nothing crazy, some profit sharing/401k contributions, and then referral fees for whatever I bring in. Could I make more at another place? Absolutely. Probably 20-30% more. But it would sacrifice my ability to get home by 6:15 and spend time with my son before he goes to bed.

 

My concern is 5 years from now if I don't get raises what I should do and/or how marketable i'll be. I have no idea what kind of horizontal movement there is in the litigation market. And I do probably 60/40 defense and plaintiff work, so i'm not really specialized like most.

I didn't realize you were that split, I thought you were mostly plaintiff. You do insurance defense?

[Jenksismyhero]

I didn't realize you were that split, I thought you were mostly plaintiff. You do insurance defense?

 

Only when insurance companies refuse to pick up a tender. We represent a couple of big utilities and then some random businesses. Mostly property damage/PI work, but also contract disputes, employment disputes, etc. The defense work really pays the bills and then the plaintiff stuff we can sort of pick and choose what we want to do, so it's mostly larger med mal or wrongful death cases. Although we do have the occasional bulls*** $20k auto cases too. It varies, which is nice. Keeps things interesting. I can't imagine doing the insurance defense stuff, working the same types of cases over and over again.

 

 

[farmteam]

Only when insurance companies refuse to pick up a tender. We represent a couple of big utilities and then some random businesses. Mostly property damage/PI work, but also contract disputes, employment disputes, etc. The defense work really pays the bills and then the plaintiff stuff we can sort of pick and choose what we want to do, so it's mostly larger med mal or wrongful death cases. Although we do have the occasional bulls*** $20k auto cases too. It varies, which is nice. Keeps things interesting. I can't imagine doing the insurance defense stuff, working the same types of cases over and over again.

I do more government liability and get variety, but the ones who just keep doing small potatoes PI stuff? No idea.

[2nd_city_saint787]

Question. I just started a little side job picking up bank bags. It's about 1 hour a day. Boss man told me I get about 100 bucks a week. When I asked if that's after taxes, he said there is no taxes....Is that even legal? I'm labeled as a sub contractor. Wouldn't I just have to pay taxes come tax time? Any tax specialists out there care to tax a guess on what I'd owe if I make 3k from this the rest of the year?

 

For what its worth I did have a background check and drug test to get hired.

Edited May 21, 2015 by scs787

[Iwritecode]

Question. I just started a little side job picking up bank bags. It's about 1 hour a day. Boss man told me I get about 100 bucks a week. When I asked if that's after taxes, he said there is no taxes....Is that even legal? I'm labeled as a sub contractor. Wouldn't I just have to pay taxes come tax time? Any tax specialists out there care to tax a guess on what I'd owe if I make 3k from this the rest of the year?

 

Legally speaking, you are supposed to report any and all income. But if you get paid cash and there's no W-2...

[Balta1701]

Question. I just started a little side job picking up bank bags. It's about 1 hour a day. Boss man told me I get about 100 bucks a week. When I asked if that's after taxes, he said there is no taxes....Is that even legal? I'm labeled as a sub contractor. Wouldn't I just have to pay taxes come tax time? Any tax specialists out there care to tax a guess on what I'd owe if I make 3k from this the rest of the year?

If you're a sub-contractor they can pay you and you'd be basically operating as your own "business". They would therefore not have to take taxes out of your income, but if your income was high enough you would have to file taxes on your own. Here's a guide as to whether or not you'd have had to file based on 2014 numbers.

 

If your income is low enough, basically they would write you in their accounts as a subcontractor expense and you would just be able to pocket the money without filing a return - the exemptions are large enough that you should be paying federal taxes on only a $5000 a year job anyway.

 

If you are earning a larger dollar amount from a different job, then if you're listed as a subcontractor you probably will have to report that income as a side position on your return once it reaches a certain threshold.

 

They will also have to report your income to the IRS as a subcontractor once it reaches a certain level as well.

 

State rules may differ from federal ones as well, I should note.

[2nd_city_saint787]

Thanks for the info balta. Didn't want to get myself into any trouble, nor did I want to get my boss into any trouble(I also work for him once a month for his wrestling promotion).

 

The company looks legit, website, job listings on indeed/monster, businesses all throughout the country, so I figured there shouldn't be a problem but just wanted to make sure.

[Balta1701]

Thanks for the info balta. Didn't want to get myself into any trouble, nor did I want to get my boss into any trouble(I also work for him once a month for his wrestling promotion).

 

The company looks legit, website, job listings on indeed/monster, businesses all throughout the country, so I figured there shouldn't be a problem but just wanted to make sure.

I did the independent contractor thing on a summer job in HS, no taxes were taken out initially but my employment was still IRS reported by the owner and I still had to pay them at the end of the year if income got high enough, so that's my version of it.

[Chisoxfn]

I did the independent contractor thing on a summer job in HS, no taxes were taken out initially but my employment was still IRS reported by the owner and I still had to pay them at the end of the year if income got high enough, so that's my version of it.

Yeah, the employer has to 1099 you for anything you make in (as long as you make at least X amount...what that amount is I don't remember anymore). Unless of course they are doing it all under the table (which would be illegal) but that doesn't sound like the case. Their are also specific definitions as what defines a contractor, etc, but I'm not going to get into that either.

[bigruss]

Interviewed last Friday for the supervisor position of my team, went really well but I don't think I'll get it due to my lack of experience. They are hiring internally, and I know 2 other candidates (not sure of any others) that also went for it, one of which is buddy's with the hiring manager. If he gets it I'll be pissed, I don't think he was even qualified enough to get an interview much less the job, if the 3rd guy gets it I wouldn't have any issues since he deserves a chance.

 

The waiting game definitely sucks.

Well I didn't get it, which isn't a shock but it's disappointing. And while the feedback was 100% positive they gave me no reason why I didn't get the job nor anything to really work towards.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Took a job. Quit two jobs I really liked, including one that really made me happy. Moved my whole family to Iowa. Started the job in September... only to find out it wasnt the job I was told it would be... not even close. In fact, it was a job I'd never have taken. So, yea that sucks.

 

Job hunting to move back to IL.

Edited June 5, 2015 by HuskyCaucasian