Wages are ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Just been doing some job hunting over the last couple of months just incase my present job should literally go south. And have been getting feed back from a great many employers in Edmonton and Calgary and for the most part the big thing that most say is that they utilize a wage scale published by a firm in TO that canvas wages from across Canada. I am not really sure that is a bright thing for an organization to do considering most people in Alberta are only one pay cheque away from being homeless. But I have seen it more times then not the employer situation in Calgary looking for employees in highly technical fields are only willing to pay 40-60 thou.

I just so happen to spend 10-12 thou a year upgrading to be in the cutting edge areas of programming and I have to do that in order to keep up with the technology. Certainly a wage of only 60 thou doesn`t really cover my current mortgage payment and if it was not for renters in my basement I would be one of those standing in the line at Mustard seed looking for hand outs.

So yah, wages have to change or someone needs to straighten out those wage survey firms to say that yah the rest of canada the scale is 40-60 but if your in Alberta this scale doesn`t apply.

Any thoughts?

 

[GarthChapman]

The companies` objective is to hire you for the least possible amount. Your objective is to get the most you can. Each will use tactics to further their goals. Quoting those surveys is just one of their tactics.

In the end it is all about supply and demand, and that means you are in the best job market in the country, and one of the best in the world. Wages are somewhat impacted by cost of living, and that is why they are higher here than in other parts of Canada. If they can get quality people to work for them for what they are offering they will not offer more. If I read correctly you are in the programming field - and, for at least some areas of your industry, that means much of your competition is in countries like India, where the cost of living is very low and therefore so are the wages.

So if what employers offer doesn`t cut it for you, you can choose between
1) moving to where the income is higher or the cost of living is lower
2) changing careers
3) cutting your expenses

 

[Thomas Beyer]

QUOTE (cwevenson @ Sep 6 2008, 10:33 PM)
Just been doing some job hunting over the last couple of months just incase my present job should literally go south. And have been getting feed back from a great many employers in Edmonton and Calgary and for the most part the big thing that most say is that they utilize a wage scale published by a firm in TO that canvas wages from across Canada. I am not really sure that is a bright thing for an organization to do considering most people in Alberta are only one pay cheque away from being homeless. But I have seen it more times then not the employer situation in Calgary looking for employees in highly technical fields are only willing to pay 40-60 thou.



I just so happen to spend 10-12 thou a year upgrading to be in the cutting edge areas of programming and I have to do that in order to keep up with the technology. Certainly a wage of only 60 thou doesn't really cover my current mortgage payment and if it was not for renters in my basement I would be one of those standing in the line at Mustard seed looking for hand outs.



So yah, wages have to change or someone needs to straighten out those wage survey firms to say that yah the rest of canada the scale is 40-60 but if your in Alberta this scale doesn't apply.



Any thoughts?


It is a free world ! No one is forced to work for 40 or 60 or 120K, and no one is forced to pay 60 or 80 or 120K .. presumably others are willing to work for 60K.



No one forced you to get a mortgage. That is your choice.



My first job in Canada paid less than 30K .. and I thought much better of myself then too .. so I had to suck it up .. or better: upgrade your skills and be the best employee they ever had .. and in no time do they recognize your talents !



Also: some fields have much higher competition from India or off-shore shops, such as programming or web work .. so find a niche that you are good at that cannot be outsourced ! Usually sales or marketing jobs pay much better, but you have to be technology literate and people oriented !



Read this post here on "how to make money" !! http://myreinspace.com/public_forums/General_Discussion/61-3347-5_ways_to_make_money.html .. then you will make more .. in time ..



Your attitude determines your altitude !!

 

[EdRenkema]

I have a friend that I train with as a competitive cyclist, he is the best in Canada in his chosen sport-cyclocross, that is his total focus. He works in a nursery and at one of the most highly paid nurseries in Canada (arguably) and he hates it. The only thing he focuses on is wages, job satisfaction to him is secondary, BTW he`s been there 28 years. I can see his attitude turn miserable on Sunday afternoon because he`s going to work Monday morning. At times we argue bitterly because I tell him he`s not forced to work there, its a free world so why not be a little happier while making possibly less income.
My own income has shrunk by almost 40% in the past 9 months, but I also have more time to focus on my RE investing. As I see it that is opportunity and motivation. I`m not being condescending I`m simply pointing out anyone that is a part of REIN has tremendous opportunity to better themselves through aquisition of cashflowing assetts that appreciate in value, providing one uses the education and mentoring available.