Wage Talk

[Chisoxfn]

Tipping at DQ would be the same as tipping at McDonald's.

 

It's pretty much just a fast-food restaurant right? The one near me even has a drive-thru.

Tying in the ice cream thead, Cold Stone Creamery usually has a tip jar and if you put a dollar in they'll sing a little song.

But I thought we solved that in the ice cream thread...Cold Stone = over-rated

[Chisoxrd5]

You been mainly doing personal or corporate returns?  At least on the bright side just another 10 days or so and you'll get some much needed Rest and Relaxation. 

Found out I start September 11th and I'm already dreading busy season.  I heard it was extra rough last year, but I'm with with most of my firms clients having already gone through SOX a few times now it could mean for a little lighter busy season (but as a first year I'm sure I'll get jacked). 

Odds are I'll be in South Dakota for 1-2 months of my first year 

Hell I think corporate is what being a CPA prepares you for.  I'm sure you'll have tons of options, its just a matter of suffering through a few busy seasons before making the jump over.

 

I'm pretty much on all personal returns right now. This is actually my third tax season so I might look around a little this summer. I have to take the last two parts of the CPA this spring, ideally I'll be done with that then I can venture out into the vast unknown.

 

South Dakota? Nice...

 

Not sure how much real work experience you have but you will quickly see how little college prepares you for this stuff. :banghead

[Iwritecode]

But I thought we solved that in the ice cream thread...Cold Stone = over-rated 

 

I thought it was Cold Stone = over-priced. People making 10K a year definitely won't be stopping there.

[Chisoxfn]

I'm pretty much on all personal returns right now. This is actually my third tax season so I might look around a little this summer.  I have to take the last two parts of the CPA this spring, ideally I'll be done with that then I can venture out into the vast unknown.

 

South Dakota? Nice... 

 

Not sure how much real work experience you have but you will quickly see how little college prepares you for this stuff.  :banghead

Ya, I quickly learned that during my internship with Grant over the previous summer. I think all college was supposed to do was basically help you learn how to learn on your own.

 

I just know if they do send me out, I'm looking forward to getting that free round trip ticket every other weekend cause that will give me at least a few flights into Chicago to see some Sox games.

[Chisoxfn]

I thought it was Cold Stone = over-priced. People making 10K a year definitely won't be stopping there. 

Hell, I make a bit more than that and I never go there (and its not like I have any expenses aside from car and my own personal fun expenses, since I welch off my parents fridge food and still live at home).

 

However, if I go by a McDonalds I am more than willing to pick up a sundae. Those damn things are good for 99 cents. Desert is the only thing worth buying at McDonalds.

 

On a sidenote, why doesn't McDonalds super size sundae's, now that would turn me into a fatty

[whitesoxin']

http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm#Illinois

 

The minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50 which = $13,520 a year gross.

 

Whitesoxin', if people at your work are being paid under the minimum, here is a site they can (should) report your employer to.

 

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/

Wow, minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50?! I always thought minimum wage was determined by the federal government. That seems unfair to me. At most of the jobs I've ever had, I had to start at $5.15 which is minimum wage over here. (2 of the 3 "official" jobs I've had)

 

Thanks for the link, Steff, but the people I work with are making more than minimum wage for the state of Indiana. It might not meet the requirments for other states, however. Interesting..

 

As someone else in this thread has said, the $10,000 number came from lack of hours. They all don't get 40 hour weeks, and one of the ladies takes the summer's off to be with her children. She's a really nice woman and I feel bad for her because she's stuck here. The other two adults who work there have sort of dug themselves a hole and can't get out. It's mostly their fault for not doing much, but one of the two is actually going back to school and taking college classes to be a nurse. I thought this thread had fallen off the face of the earth until now..

Edited April 8, 2006 by whitesoxin'

[Rex Hudler]

The pay for entry-level salaried jobs can be quite low. Assistant Manager's in retail often work 50-60 hour weeks (especially in the busy times) and often start in the low to mid $20's. Obviously some markets may vary. There are a lot of jobs that don't pay well in the beginning.

 

Going away from the salaried jobs, I took a job at 27 years old that tops all in this discussion.

 

At 27, I moved to a state I had never set foot in to take an "internship", which is a fancy way of getting around wage laws. I moved knowing I may only be there for 9 months and had no benefits and no guarantee of employment after those 9 months. I was long out of school, so the "internship" had nothing to do with anything related to school.

 

I did this all for the lovely sum of $450/month + an apartment during that time. Yes that was per MONTH and I still had to pay all utilities at the apartment they provided. I think I took home $202 every two weeks!!! This job often required 75-80 weeks.

 

What made matters worse is that after that 9-month period, I was kept on "full-time" at a salary of $16,500, which sounds like a nice raise. But once you pay for your own apartement and can no longer file exempt on your taxes, it didn't net out to be much more than the first year. I did make an extra $3k and change in commission which helped, but there were still a lot of stale hot dogs and bologna sandwiches eaten.

 

It did get better in subsequent years and I soon got to the point I was making a decent living in Alabama. Sadly, the employment program is still pretty similar today. My situation was 9-10 years ago. The $$ amounts now are not much higher.

 

The profession where I literally worked for peanuts???

 

Professional Baseball!!!! (not a player)

 

Some thought I was an idiot doing so, but I had a great time and I would do it again if I were in the same situation.

[Steff]

Wow, minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50?!  I always thought minimum wage was determined by the federal government. That seems unfair to me. At most of the jobs I've ever had, I had to start at $5.15 which is minimum wage over here. (2 of the 3 "official" jobs I've had)

 

Thanks for the link, Steff, but the people I work with are making more than minimum wage for the state of Indiana. It might not meet the requirments for other states, however. Interesting..

 

As someone else in this thread has said, the $10,000 number came from lack of hours. They all don't get 40 hour weeks, and one of the ladies takes the summer's off to be with her children. She's a really nice woman and I feel bad for her because she's stuck here. The other two adults who work there have sort of dug themselves a hole and can't get out. It's mostly their fault for not doing much, but one of the two is actually going back to school and taking college classes to be a nurse. I thought this thread had fallen off the face of the earth until now..

 

 

I believe the Fed G'ment sets the minimum. Since the COA is not the same everywhere, states have the right to adjust accordingly.

 

Is that woman you're referring to married? Hopefully if she is her husband makes a healthy wage, and if not hopefully he is paying the required support for his children or she is getting the assistance she is entitled to by the g'ment.

 

It's a shame to see folks stuck in a "rut". Good for the one going back to school.

[Texsox]

Some thought I was an idiot doing so, but I had a great time and I would do it again if I were in the same situation.

 

 

Sometimes, when it works out, working because you love the work can be a wonderful experience.