my job dilemma

[black95maro]

so i currently work at the ford dealership in Flemington and a i make a lousy eight bucks an hour because I'm part time and I'm not certified in anything yet. anyway I've been there for almost 2 years and haven't gotten a raise. haha so that's a problem in itself. so i have been offered a job to work at the new Lowes in Flemington for ten something an hour starting. problem is... I usually work at ford, weekdays after school and all day Saturday (7-5). Saturdays are very busy and they've told me they count on me. BUT, in order to work at Lowes i need to be flexible to work Saturdays.
my options
1. forget Lowes, ask for a raise at ford, not make as much but get experience and learn.
2. quit ford, work at Lowes a lot, make lots of money
3. (what I'm leaning towards) tell Lowes I am flexible to work Saturdays but prefer not to and if they schedule me for a Saturday try and get someone to cover.

[madness410]

yeah bro with this economy be thankful you have a job...but if i were you, do whatever makes you happier.

unfortunately for me i make more than the average 20 year old where i work, but i absolutely hate the work. i would love to be a personal trainer but the fun job doesnt outweigh the money job.

i would talk to your manager, tell him your case, youve been there for 2 years, havent seen a raise and you got offered another job that pays more elsewhere and see what he says. be straight up. odds are they might have a hard time giving them out because ford is in the crapper.

[Frosty]

If worked anywhere for 2yrs and only made $8/hr I'd be out of there quicker than you could say my name.

It's a tough call, do you LIKE working at Ford? Liking a job is important but doesn't pay the bills.

[BonzoHansen]

Do you want to be a tech for a living?

[black95maro]

If worked anywhere for 2yrs and only made $8/hr I'd be out of there quicker than you could say my name.

It's a tough call, do you LIKE working at Ford? Liking a job is important but doesn't pay the bills.

yea, i like the job a lot. my boss can be a dick but everyone else is awesome. not to mention they don't care about side jobs :)

Do you want to be a tech for a living?

yes but not for ford haha

[Frosty]

Then talk to them first about a raise...if you're truly that valuable as you said they should be willing to budge on a wage. Quite frankly a $1-2 raise on an $8/hr part time employee would even make a dent in their bottom line.

[madness410]

If worked anywhere for 2yrs and only made $8/hr I'd be out of there quicker than you could say my name.

It's a tough call, do you LIKE working at Ford? Liking a job is important but doesn't pay the bills.

depends how old this kid is...if you are in high school 8$ is a gold mine these days. when i was a senior i was making 6.50 an hour. anything better than minimum wage is great when you are in high school.

but yeah 2 years, no raise...id say just ask them you have nothing to lose. plead your case and tell them you have been working there hard and you sound valuable to them.

[Tsar]

The answer depends on what are your long term plans? What do you want to do in 5 years? Tell me this and I'll give you some wisdom :lol:

[Slow 88]

I would get with the shop mgr. and let him know that you were offered a job, but that you are hesitant on taking it because you like what you do....BUT, you feel like you are not valued because of the fact that you have not recieved a raise in over 2 plus yrs...If he does not tell you what you want to hear then go to Lowes..

[black95maro]

depends how old this kid is...if you are in high school 8$ is a gold mine these days. when i was a senior i was making 6.50 an hour. anything better than minimum wage is great when you are in high school.

but yeah 2 years, no raise...id say just ask them you have nothing to lose. plead your case and tell them you have been working there hard and you sound valuable to them.

I'm 19 and I've been in tech school for about 8 months. and you guys are right i need to ask for a raise but what about Lowes?

I would get with the shop mgr. and let him know that you were offered a job, but that you are hesitant on taking it because you like what you do....BUT, you feel like you are not valued because of the fact that you have not recieved a raise in over 2 plus yrs...If he does not tell you what you want to hear then go to Lowes..
i like the sound of that

[Frosty]

The answer depends on what are your long term plans? What do you want to do in 5 years? Tell me this and I'll give you some wisdom :lol:

I'm sure he'll be waiting with anticipation...:rolleyes:

;):D

[black95maro]

The answer depends on what are your long term plans? What do you want to do in 5 years? Tell me this and I'll give you some wisdom :lol:

I want to be a tech. i get out of tech school this time next year. but until then i need money. That's my biggest concern right now

[Tsar]

I want to be a tech. i get out of tech school this time next year. but until then i need money. That's my biggest concern right now
Then follow what slow 88 said. You don't really need lowes on your resume for your long term goals; although if ford keeps being a PITA you can always look for another job at another dealer.

[Tsar]

I'm sure he'll be waiting with anticipation...:rolleyes:

;):D
Bite me old man :lol:

[87Fbird]

I would go for the money. Get it while you can while the economy sucks. Later on when you're out of school and the economy gets better there might be alot of other jobs you could choose from and be happy doing what you do.
I've been laid off for over a month now, you're lucky to have a choice between jobs.

[Jensend]

My guess is that being given no raise after two years of working as a part time "lube tech" (for want of a more precise term) and with your employer aware of your schooling and career aspirations, it's likely that they have little intention of giving you either more money or opportunity to advance. Dealerships are all about the bottom line. The less they pay out, the more they make. Entry level techs are currently in abundance.

I'd suggest you take the earlier advice and be straight up with the service manager. Tell him you need to make more money and that you want to know that there's latitude with the company. Explain the economic aspect of the Loew's offer and see what he says. If there's no money and no latitude, you're already at a dead end at that dealership. Go to Loew's and make more money while you finish your training.

[bobb1589]

i would say go with slow 88's suggestion... i have a friend that work's at lowe's and they actually cut his hours back from pretty much full time to 15, so i wouldn't be too quick to go work at lowe's... i think they would definitely give you a raise at the dealership, its a very reasonable request

edit: jensend's suggestions is also valid

[B4C]

I wouldnt even show up for $8 an hour Fords really boning ya. Im going to graduate from Ford ASSET and be fully certified in 3 weeks and ther gonna offer me..........A WHOLE $12 AN HOUR!!!!!! WWWWHHHHOOOOPPPPPPIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!:cry: Get a job in an independant shop so you dont have to deal with the warrenty bull $h!t.

[79CamaroDiva]

Forget about lowes. While 10-something an hour may seem like a big jump, its still peanuts, and you couldn't live off of it. If you're part time, say 20 hours/week, and its a $2 an hour difference, is a whole 40 bucks a week worth your happiness? You say you like your job now, and you know they intend to keep you, who knows what would happen at Lowes.

[black95maro]

thanks for the advise guys I will be preparing what I'm gonna say to my boss this weekend for Monday. will update!

[Saitin]

trust me when i say you don't want a retail job.

[nj85z28]

my gf is a manager at lowes. it really is one of those cut throat jobs just like any other retail/customer service places. shes miserable there and they really dont give raises too much either. i think shes been there 3-4 years and is making ****.

[NJSPEEDER]

How about try being honest with Ford and tell them that you can't really afford to work for the small bills anymore. Say that you got an offer from Lowes and that you would rather stay at Ford if you can, but with school bills going up it is getting harder and harder to live off of loyalty alone.

Basically, if they really value and rely on you, they will try to work with you. If not, off to the money.

[enRo]

I think you should ask Ford for a raise, and if not, you quit and work at Lowes. Why make $8 an hour at one job and $10 an hour at another WHEN you can work $10 an hour at all times?

[BurninrubberGT]

anything better than minimum wage is great when you are in high school.


i made 7.30 in high school...def wasnt great expecially with a mod habit lol...i still make 7.30 a year later and can just get by with insurance payments and gas

my friend is actually getting a job at lowes haha, i say talk to your manager about a raise, if you cant work things out go to lowes

[Jersyboyy]

I say talk to ford and get a raise/ or try to squeeze in a few more hours in your workweek.
Like said before you only making an extra 40 at the new place and you dont know if those hours are gonna be their in a month and if you will be their in a month. Plus ford is good on your application when you want to go to another dealership with that tech school cert. If you make an extra buck at ford and a few extra hours a week and you like it their then your golden!

[Z28Justin]

forget lowes i worked there for 2 years (not anymore tho), they are a large retail chain just like walmart to them your expendable. they will work you as hard as they can and give you no credit for it.

my friend just quit as well after 3 years, they gave her a much harder position with out asking her, she said not with out a raise so they said we'll give you one at the new year (about a month) she asked for it in writing and they said no you can trust us. when the new year came they said they meant the fiscal year witch meant middle of feb. when feb came she asked for the raise again and the manger and HR rep laughed at her and walked away. another 6 weeks went by with out a raise, so she quit and her last pay check came in the mail with the raise on it. They did that just so she couldn't complain to corporate that they lied to her, but wouldn't have gotten it with out quitting. right now shes taking them to court because they refuse to give her her W2 for 2008 and say it's not their problem. there just an awful company that is going under, their even closing their stores an hour earlier now.

[LuvMyF8LWS6]

I work in the Service Department at a Ford dealer and I understand your situation. We had a few guys in your position who weren't paid the best, however they worked right under our Senior Masters which is the best **free** education you could ever receive!

I am 100% compliant that $8/hr is not enough, especially for that amount of time you've invested, however, if in a year from now you're certified and looking for a job, you are golden in any dealer's eyes. We had a 20 year old tech working with the "big guys" because he trained with the Sr. Master for 2 years and on STARS (Ford certification), while our quick lube guy was 24 because he just learned from backyard garage folks.

Getting into a dealer on the ground floor is a great way to learn and become very valuable to any dealer. Just speaking from experience.