Just had a job offer, but.....

[jakobeast]

I was just offered a job (pending pre employment physical and such) with Sperry Rail service. They inspect the rails throughout the continent, Mexico and Canada included. It would involve me being away from home for weeks, and upwards of 6 months at a time.



I think i could do that, however, there has been no mention of pay. Going through the interwebs, I think they start at 10 bucks an hour, plus per diem(I think I say about 170 for 2 weeks) and they pay for hotel when necessary. I am not sure I can do that. Mortgage and such is a *****.



So, because there are so many smart and knowledgeable folks here, wanted to get some opinions. I will of course do whatever you tell me.





































































Thats not true, but I like bouncing ideas off y'all.

 

[phranchk]

$10 an hour doesn't seem like much for a labor job.

 

[Pez68]

Well, obviously the first thing to do is to confirm what they want to pay you. There's absolutely no way I would do a job like that, with that much travel and away from home time, for $10 an hour.

 

[jakobeast]

I would be driving a truck on the rails. I am not entirely sure how much labor is involved, as they do NDT(non destructive testing) inspecting. I am a little familiar with that, cause when I worked at the propeller shop, we did a lot of that stuff. Eddy current, magnetic testing, and so on.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy-current_testing---here is some info on eddy current testing.



Of course, I would ask all these questions when i have a face to face. I assume that you drive the truck on the rails and all the equipment is either inside or accessible on the outside.



Here is some info on the company----http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperry_Rail_Service



I don't have kids, so being away isn't a big deal to me. The pay is a little on the wtf side, but if that is like, training, then after a month or two it goes up and after a while a fella can make some good money, then it might be worth it.

 

[Pez68]

I don't know how someone can survive on $10 an hour. I really don't. That's like $20,000 a year. I know high school kids who make near that..... Waiters and waitresses that make WAY MORE than that. Hell, I made almost double that waiting tables more than ten years ago. You will have to ask about OT, OT limits, OT rates, etc. The only way that job is worth it, is if the OT is ridiculous and plentiful. Somehow I doubt it.

 

[jakobeast]

I don't know how someone can survive on $10 an hour. I really don't. That's like $20,000 a year. I know high school kids who make near that..... Waiters and waitresses that make WAY MORE than that. Hell, I made almost double that waiting tables more than ten years ago. You will have to ask about OT, OT limits, OT rates, etc. The only way that job is worth it, is if the OT is ridiculous and plentiful. Somehow I doubt it.

I am sure there is OT. I never count that though, as well as bonuses, as neither of those are guaranteed. I am a little interested in the per diem, and how that all works out. It would be a great way to see the country and Mexico and Canada.



Again, I am pretty sure you don't stay at 10 bucks for long.

 

[jakobeast]

Ok, check this out. Direct from the hiring packet....



Starting pay for a driver is set at $10.00 per hour with advancement to:



$10.50 per hour after 90 days of continuous employment.



$11.00 per hour after 180 days of continuous employment.



Additional advancement and pay increases are based on performance and promotional opportunities.



In addition to your hourly rate of pay you will receive an untaxed weekly meal allowance of $161.00 per week.



So there ya go.

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

Not nearly enough money to travel that much.



If I remember right from when you worked at the prop shop, you seemed to enjoy it, don't know if that was cause of the aviation link but have you ever thought of doing something in that field? I'm just basing it off you working there. Airplane mechanics can make pretty decent money, the trick is getting the certs.



Just throwing it out there.

 

[jakobeast]

Not nearly enough money to travel that much.



If I remember right from when you worked at the prop shop, you seemed to enjoy it, don't know if that was cause of the aviation link but have you ever thought of doing something in that field? I'm just basing it off you working there. Airplane mechanics can make pretty decent money, the trick is getting the certs.



Just throwing it out there.

I enjoyed working there for sure. The aviation link was a bonus. It was seriously to me not a job. I would go there, hang out, have fun, grind some props, learn shit, and get paid. The problem was it didn't pay enough. If I was single, didn't have a mortgage it would be fine.



I almost went to A and P school. Unless you get with a big airline, the money usually isn't there either. I don't see me at a big airline.

 

[Pez68]

Ok, check this out. Direct from the hiring packet....



Starting pay for a driver is set at $10.00 per hour with advancement to:



$10.50 per hour after 90 days of continuous employment.



$11.00 per hour after 180 days of continuous employment.



Additional advancement and pay increases are based on performance and promotional opportunities.



In addition to your hourly rate of pay you will receive an untaxed weekly meal allowance of $161.00 per week.



So there ya go.

Yeah, I wouldn't do it.

 

[jakobeast]

Yeah, I wouldn't do it.

It is a tough call. Yeah the pay isn't great, but there is great opportunity.



I also applied to a city job in Mundelein. I really hope they would call. 20 bucks an hour plus benefits.

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

I enjoyed working there for sure. The aviation link was a bonus. It was seriously to me not a job. I would go there, hang out, have fun, grind some props, learn shit, and get paid. The problem was it didn't pay enough. If I was single, didn't have a mortgage it would be fine.



I almost went to A and P school. Unless you get with a big airline, the money usually isn't there either. I don't see me at a big airline.

You could get hired by an airline, trust me. They are really short mechanics right now, but most airlines don't have maintenance hubs in Chicago so you're outta luck there.



Can't say I know too much about those jobs, all I know is the certification process sucks. Shame though, just judging from the kinds of jobs you've talked about and you being interested in planes, it would have been a good fit.

 

[R K]

While 20k to start is not a lot it could always lead to other opportunities within the rail road system. Assuming they cover all traveling and living expenses while you are on the road I might consider it. I started at 9$ an hour years ago. Not always is that a dead end. It could be good for you in many different ways as well.

 

[Pez68]

I think Jako mentioned they pay for a hotel when necessary, and $161 a week for food. That's around $30 a day, so $10 a meal. Unless you work 6-7 days, in which case.....that's not going to cut it.



I would want examples of what additional advancement is available. What kind of career path do they offer to someone that starts out driving a truck on the rails? What kind of training and education do they offer? Know what is in front of you and what you need to do to advance, because at face value, that job is not worth the money.



$20,000 a year is a lot different now, than it was years ago. That pay would hardly pay most mortgages in this day and age.

 

[R K]

LOL, thanks for breaking it down Pez. Knowing Jako I stand by what I said.

 

[TSD]

Ok, check this out. Direct from the hiring packet....



Starting pay for a driver is set at $10.00 per hour with advancement to:



$10.50 per hour after 90 days of continuous employment.



$11.00 per hour after 180 days of continuous employment.



Additional advancement and pay increases are based on performance and promotional opportunities.



In addition to your hourly rate of pay you will receive an untaxed weekly meal allowance of $161.00 per week.



So there ya go.

No way in hell Id deal with all that shit for 10 bucks an hour. I mean I know it says "promotional pay and advancement" but after that 11 dollars how long are we talking? If its like you will be making 20 bucks an hour 1-2 years from now Id say go for it, but if 1-2 years is 5-10 years? Why waste your time, I would really want to get the low down from someone on how long its going to take to make some serious money.



Like others mentioned, I was making 12 bucks an hour as an independent commercial painter, the summer before I went away to college in 2001 at age 19. That just seems so low, considering minimum wage these days.



I made more than that as a PFC when I joined the army in sept. 2001. If you have a hard on for travel, join the damn navy, you will really fuckin travel there and make more money. Shit I was making 9 bucks an hour at UPS in 1999, starting pay.



I am by no means ragging on you, but I am just saying, over 10 years ago I've worked jobs that pay more or in the ball park of this job that required far less BS, I landscaped in summer of 02 for 8.50 an hour, I worked construction in summer of 03(framing houses, no prior experience), I made 11 bucks an hour. After that I just decided not to work summer jobs, take summer classes and milk the govt. for money via the Army GI bill, plus drill pay, plus grants, plus paid for tuition. Life was good back then. I got 5k a semester on grants, 300 a month for drill pay, and nearly 1k a month for my GI bill, so basically i was getting about 20k a year, for 2 days of "work" a month(translation: I got to shoot guns, ride in blackhawks/bradleys, and hang out with cool dudes...and they paid me alot of money by comparison for it), and I had a 200 dollar rent payment. Goddamn that shit ruled, thats why i milked that shit from 2002-2006 (despite working two summers in 02 and 03 before I started saying **** this and working the system). Believe me, I thought about re-upping and riding the wave for another 6 years. I didnt, because I thought, I never got deployed, I am not going to tempt fate, boy was I right, a few months after my IRR was up, my unit got deployed to afghanistan.











but I totally digressed there.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I guess the real answer to this is, can you and the wife life on what she makes and you making $11 bucks an hour? That's only $22,880 a year without taxes taken out. I know I'm of the younger group on the boards, but for me 22k is not a lot to start out at unless I'm 100% sure that I will be getting constant raises through meeting training levels or promotional opportunities.



Just my .02 cents...

 

[jakobeast]

You could get hired by an airline, trust me. They are really short mechanics right now, but most airlines don't have maintenance hubs in Chicago so you're outta luck there.



Can't say I know too much about those jobs, all I know is the certification process sucks. Shame though, just judging from the kinds of jobs you've talked about and you being interested in planes, it would have been a good fit.

I have a friend whose husband works as a A & P for American here in Chicago. He has been trying to get out for a while now. Meanwhile, Chasman who pops in here every now and again seemingly loves it. But then again, in the whole American system, his seniority number is around 300. Meaning there are about 300 people with more seniority then him worldwide.

 

[jakobeast]

While 20k to start is not a lot it could always lead to other opportunities within the rail road system. Assuming they cover all traveling and living expenses while you are on the road I might consider it. I started at 9$ an hour years ago. Not always is that a dead end. It could be good for you in many different ways as well.

It isn't a lot, I am well aware of that. Like I said, if I didn't have a mortgage, this would probably be a done deal.



And I agree, it could be good in many, many ways.

 

[jakobeast]

No way in hell Id deal with all that shit for 10 bucks an hour. I mean I know it says "promotional pay and advancement" but after that 11 dollars how long are we talking? If its like you will be making 20 bucks an hour 1-2 years from now Id say go for it, but if 1-2 years is 5-10 years? Why waste your time, I would really want to get the low down from someone on how long its going to take to make some serious money.



Like others mentioned, I was making 12 bucks an hour as an independent commercial painter, the summer before I went away to college in 2001 at age 19. That just seems so low, considering minimum wage these days.



I made more than that as a PFC when I joined the army in sept. 2001. If you have a hard on for travel, join the damn navy, you will really fuckin travel there and make more money. Shit I was making 9 bucks an hour at UPS in 1999, starting pay.



I am by no means ragging on you, but I am just saying, over 10 years ago I've worked jobs that pay more or in the ball park of this job that required far less BS, I landscaped in summer of 02 for 8.50 an hour, I worked construction in summer of 03(framing houses, no prior experience), I made 11 bucks an hour. After that I just decided not to work summer jobs, take summer classes and milk the govt. for money via the Army GI bill, plus drill pay, plus grants, plus paid for tuition. Life was good back then. I got 5k a semester on grants, 300 a month for drill pay, and nearly 1k a month for my GI bill, so basically i was getting about 20k a year, for 2 days of "work" a month(translation: I got to shoot guns, ride in blackhawks/bradleys, and hang out with cool dudes...and they paid me alot of money by comparison for it), and I had a 200 dollar rent payment. Goddamn that shit ruled, thats why i milked that shit from 2002-2006 (despite working two summers in 02 and 03 before I started saying **** this and working the system). Believe me, I thought about re-upping and riding the wave for another 6 years. I didnt, because I thought, I never got deployed, I am not going to tempt fate, boy was I right, a few months after my IRR was up, my unit got deployed to afghanistan.











but I totally digressed there.

Yeah, 10 years ago I was making about 11 or so an hour. Give or take. I couldn't join the armed forces. God bless those that do. I just can't.



The info packet didn't say anything about raises after 180 days, but it did mention something about advancement opportunities, and bonuses when you advance.



If i can figure out a way to get a few of the pdf pages on here I will post them.