How do I answer this best and honestly is hvacmanger serious?

[anothernewguy]

Im wondering cause I have been getting asked this over and over. "What are you looking for, for pay?"

During an interview it allways comes up.

My buddy (in the field) tells me not to underbid myself cause it will make them think there is something wrong (got a record, DWIs, cant act right around customers ect, ect)

I allways answer. "Im just looking to get my foot in the door, whatever you pay your newest guys is fine by me, I dont care."

Am I doing something wrong by saying that???


I have some mechanical experience (other jobs) and school and all but.... ... what should an entry level guy in Mass ask for???



I read this on the site



"I was wondering what do entry level guys get in Mass in commercial or refrigeration(I have some residential experince). "

"hvacmanager
Professional Member"
" I would think $12.00 to $15.00 an hour would be attainable in a year."

12 dollars after a year in commercial!??!! Yikes... ... maybe I should go back to landscaping. What do get after 5 years 16 an ho

Im concererned with it (I really thought) maybe Im wrong that you would do better than that in commercial??

Is it maybe if you go to the company that hires all the ex-cons and substance abuse people then you get paid that but if you to a good company than you get the going rate????


Im confused, I just want to answer right when they ask me again.

I thought commercial was the way to go cause residential makes more than that just starting.

[thermotron1]

When I was instructing classes, teaching folks interviewing skills I would always tell the participants to put it back on the employer by saying: "what would you typically pay someone with my skills and experiences?" This turns it around on them, and allows you to get a good feel of how well that employer will be able to fit your needs.

Remember though, employers will always have a range in mind when they ask you that question. If you do answer the question of how much you would like to make and you don't fit that range they will probably not consider you any longer. That goes for being to high and to low. If you are too high, they will say that you won't be happy with what they offer. If you are too low, they will think there is something wrong with you and or your background.

What I suggest doing if you are unable to turn the question around is to do some research. Take a look at www.salary.com you can find out how much entry level techs in your area are making on average. It will take a bit of hunting around but you should be able to find it...I don't have time to look right now, but if you can't locate it I will help you tomorrow. ONce you have that information you can say: "upon doing some research I have learned that techs entering this field in this area are earning $XX.00 an hour, I am comfortable around that range."

Hope this helps.

[timebuilder]

Weeeeell...

I'm not interested in being paid less than I am worth, and certainly not than the rate on my last job.

Why not ask, "what would you be willing to pay a good tech?"

[hvacmanager]

Hello,

Thank you for quoting me. Not often I am quoted correctly.

Over the years I have seem many new Technicians come and go. I think the number I stated stands today. As a guy new to the field you will have much to learn. We never mind training guys and putting time and money into them. It helps all involved.

Keep in mind you are brand new. Just entering the trade no one knows your true value yet. It will take some time for an employer to evaluate you and your skills. Some times I start a new guy at $10.00. If I like the way he acts I can bump him up at any time. May be 2 weeks.

After 5 years in the trade you should be making money. How much you ask. Well that is based on what you have learned and your abilities. I can tell you this, no two 5 year guys are the same the majority of the time. Some will excel others will just hang on. I have seen 5 year men make well over $30.00 an hour and some make less than $20.00. It is all based on what they can do.

Remember to be paid what your worth. Get with a good company that knows how to charge for your skills. Be a professional.

[d_griff]

this is how i answered this question and i always been succesful,recently had a friend do it and it worked for him..when they ask you how much you want to make you answer.
"well if you ask me of course im going to say 50 bucks an hour,i work hard and there is alot to know,but lets be realistic,im not sure what you have in mind for me. i dont make the rules so i would like to know what you would start a guy at coming in here with my experience".
and when they tell you..if you feel its good enough you say
"well thats pretty much what i expected,i just ask we sit down together in 90 days and asses the situation so we both know how im doing.

i did this twice when i was nonunion and had to fight for my wage.. and
twice i got a raise on the 90 day review..wasnt much but hey..but you gotta stand out in the first 90 days.and i was fresh out of school...

[anothernewguy]

First off. Thanks a ton everybody. Im going to follow it to a T. Excellent advice cause it seems my buddy was right and I was shooting myself in the foot with my approach and misconception of the market.

Hello hvacmanger,

Your very welcome. I was just quoting you cause it related directly to me and I was way way confused about how I should respond (what I could expect).
I didnt realize the market was at $10 from all I have heard from the many different hvac people I have caught at Jonstone and dunkins thought differently. I just really want to end up at a good company I can learn at. Like all the new guys, Ill bust my but for a nickle (and have) but I dont want to be used so that someone else can benifit from work ethic. At the end of the day, You just want a fair shake.

$10 still confused me a little and then I looked into your other emails ... ..... ... you work at a company that rymes with Verrimack Malley corp. in methuen ma.

No offence but the ($10) riddle is solved. Im just glad I can say it now instead of figureing it out after a few years.

You sound like a nice guy so ill just let you know as nicely as I can.

Your company has been mentioned to me specifically 3 times (three different companies). Lets just say that the is a very one sided opinon of it. The advice they gave me about it was the same thing you would tell someone asking about going to work in China. You can read online to see their concept of fair labor.

Nuff said

I appologize but if the reputation is unearned. I doubt it by the passion that it was expressed (repeatedly from different sources). Again, you seem like a nice guy. Maybe this might help out in the end anyway for both of us. Please dont take this the wrong way. Just being honest. Its my life and we all have to suffer it, I dont want to be misslead because Im inexperienced and too trusting sometimes.

Nothing personal.

[hvacmanager]

"Your company has been mentioned to me specifically 3 times (three different companies). Lets just say that the is a very one sided opinon of it. The advice they gave me about it was the same thing you would tell someone asking about going to work in China. You can read online to see their concept of fair labor.

Nuff said

I appologize but if the reputation is unearned. I doubt it by the passion that it was expressed (repeatedly from different sources). Again, you seem like a nice guy. Maybe this might help out in the end anyway for both of us. Please dont take this the wrong way. Just being honest. Its my life and we all have to suffer it, I dont want to be misslead because Im inexperienced and too trusting sometimes.

Nothing personal."



How shocking to hear a few of my competitors are unhappy with us. I have always enjoyed talking with them and swapping stories. I just don't know what to make of this. Our customers are happy with us and our service guys feel that they have the support,respect and money they deserve. I have obviously ticked off a competitor and I apologize.

If you truly want to know the value of a company go see them for yourself. My door is open and I would enjoy talking with you. Not saying we would be a good fit,who knows until you sit down. I know many people in the trade and have helped more than a few locate positions with other companies. If I know your skills and goals it would be easier to point you in a direction. If I can be of help let me know.

Thanks
Gene

[anothernewguy]

Your welcome Gene. Nothing personal. Most likely just some guys in trucks not entire companies anyway (it wasn't as if I did a poll at the shop hahaha). Ive got an interview tommorrow and got some more leads today. Ill land somewhere and then just outlast them hahaha. Good talk though, who knows maybe well work together down the line. It cant be all that bad (paywise), I mean you live in Salem NH right ? (nice place). I Cant wait to get out of MA haha. Thanks again and take care.

[samp]

I will give you some advice from a tech who switched fields a few years back and is now moving up the HVAC food chain. To start most companies are not going to pay you much starting out because lots of them are small operations and can't afford to pay a guy who know nothing to ride around on there dime learning and make costly mistakes along the way. So you should better get used to making between $10-$14 hr until you get some experience. I would try and ad least get $12 hr seems reasonable around these parts for someone like yourself. Its not alot in Taxachusetts but you have to put in your time to make more. Once you finally aren't so green you can greatly increase you pay but that will depend on the outfit you work for and your own skills. This is what you would call "growing pains" no matter what field you go into you are always going to start on the bottom pay scale, and it just so happens this bottom scale is really low. Though you can only go up from here!

The other thing you should look for besides pay is a good company with a reputable managers/owners who are true to there work and word. There are a lot of shady outfitts out there and try and find one that will teach you and invest in you along the way.

[12andstilllearning]

Pay greatly varies based on experience and work ethic not yrs in the field. We start out in the 12-14 dollar range for newbies, Super techs top out at 28-30 dollar our area.
On rep anything you hear in the parts house from techs take with a grain of salt, The ones who complain most are usually former employees who could not hack being held accountable.
If you want to know who is good ask the vendors they know who replaces the most parts and who does it right.

Just one old techs opinion. :)