30 years ago a high school diploma could get you a job paying $8 an hour

[Servonaut]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4500112

Jeez all these losers do is whine.

DaveTheWave  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-20-08 12:32 PM
Original message
30 years ago a high school diploma could get you a job paying $8 an hour
 Advertisements [?]Today a friend of mine who works at chiropractor's office said she's gotten over 200 applications and resumes for a part-time assistant position they advertised last week that only pays $8 an hour and she said at least a third of them are from people with various associate and bachelor degrees.

Liberal_in_LA  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-20-08 12:33 PM
Response to Original message
1. An acquaintance applied for a low paying med asst. job. was told there were 400+ apps ahead of hers.

DaveTheWave  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-20-08 12:44 PM
Response to Reply #1
8. Yeah, that's the one all the diploma mills and late night TV commercials are soliciting
 Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great trade but the schools only care about getting people enrolled and collecting the tuition. The commercials are done real fancy and make you think that within eight months you can have a high paying job with benefits in a field where there is a shortage of qualified personnel. The reality is after school they send you to a temp agency and you stand in line behind the 400+ apps. for $8 an hour which usually goes to "someone with experience".

 

Dr.Phool  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-20-08 12:58 PM
Response to Reply #8
17. Haven't you heard? The airlines are hiring!
 Yes, the airlines. That's what it says in my classified ads.
Must not be those same airlines that are cutting flights, laying people off, and going out of business.

Yikes ! I better tell the people at work. 

DaveTheWave  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-20-08 01:04 PM
Response to Reply #17
21. Our local AT&T and one insurance company used to do that here
 You'd hear about 400 - 700 people getting laid off then look in the paper and see that they were hiring with paid training.

sheeptramp  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-20-08 12:39 PM
Response to Original message
4. I work as a research tech at a university field facility
 Edited on Thu Nov-20-08 12:40 PM by sheeptramp
I have a BS in the field.
I make about 8.50 an hour.

greyhound1966  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-20-08 12:41 PM
Response to Original message
6. Same story everywhere.
 I have a BS, top of my class (3rd), over 10 years experience, and I'm applying for entry level positions and going up against people with Masters and Doctorates and even more experience. I'm told that any technical position advertised gets from 50 - 400 apps the first day.

And "our" leaders are in favor of increasing the 401(k)/L-1 visa caps!

Yeah kids go to college, it's the ticket to your future (running a fast food restaurant).

Wow, sucks to be you guys.

I have a HS diploma and make 3 times that with benefits.

 


   

[jukin]

PURE ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT.

Thirty years ago I had four years experience as a drafter/designer and had just got a BSME.  I got topped in at $18K per year and that was doing pretty good.

[franksolich]

Wow, sucks to be you guys.

Yeah, think of Ms. Ed, the unappellated eohippus, who's allegedly an R.N. (registered nurse), and who allegedly makes only $24,000 per year.

If Ms. Ed were a Roman Catholic nun who (a) took a vow of poverty and (b) became an R.N., I'd believe it.

But Ms. Ed is definitely no nun.

[USA4ME]

Don't worry, DUmmies.  Il Duce, your lord and savior, will turn things around by the end of January, 2009 and all will be perfect.

.

[Zeus]

Yeah, think of Ms. Ed, the unappellated eohippus, who's allegedly an R.N. (registered nurse), and who allegedly makes only $24,000 per year.

If Ms. Ed were a Roman Catholic nun who (a) took a vow of poverty and (b) became an R.N., I'd believe it.

But Ms. Ed is definitely no nun.

Must suck to live & work where she does. I know LVN's that earn better than that.  Around these parts RN's earen about $30/hr at the bottom end. It's not COL pushing wages up either. These parts have the Lowest COL in the nation.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Yeah, think of Ms. Ed, the unappellated eohippus, who's allegedly an R.N. (registered nurse), and who allegedly makes only $24,000 per year.

I frankly don't see how that's possible, unless she is only a part-timer, or works in a menial job at an insurance company, or is employed in a one-doc clinic in North Elk-Rectum, Idaho, and has to take her wages largely in butchered game animals. 

[Chris_]

PURE ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT.

Thirty years ago I had four years experience as a drafter/designer and had just got a BSME.  I got topped in at $18K per year and that was doing pretty good.

22 years ago, I was just graduating High School with 2 years experience already as a professional draftsman, and went to work immediately for a Gub'mint contractor on the Bangor Sub Base - with a security clearance - for the whopping sum of $6.50 an hour.

Took me 8 years to get a 4 year BSME, but by the time I had the paper in hand, I was already doing the work.

My whole professional career, I've never been more than 3 weeks out of work.  Mostly because the employers/clients I've had like to know they're getting someone who actually DOES THE WORK for them, rather than sittin' at the desk, slurpin' company coffee and surfin' the DUmp all day.

Betcha I fare better in the coming Depression than 99% of the DUmmies...

[Texacon]

sheeptramp  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-20-08 12:39 PM
Response to Original message
4. I work as a research tech at a university field facility
 Edited on Thu Nov-20-08 12:40 PM by sheeptramp
I have a BS in the field.
I make in the high 4 figures!!

I had to fix that one.  It was killing me!   

KC

[Chris_]

I had to fix that one.  It was killing me!   

KC

I agree.  It was a moral imperitive to set the record straight. 

[Texacon]

These folks kill me.  Like having a college degree is supposed to entitle you to making good money.  I have a friend that gets pissed off at me because he has a bachelors degree and earns about half what I do with my high school diploma.

We have had discussions about it and he is quite frank with me.  He feels he is absolutely entitled to make more than I do because while I was out making money he was bent over a set of books.

I was always taught hard work and dedication was the ticket and it seems to have worked so far.  Wonder how many over there with degrees feel like my friend?  I would love to sit down with all the college educated over there and play "I'll show you my annual earnings if you'll she me yours".  I'll bet 95% of them would have massive bleeding from the ears when we were done.

I love this country.

KC

[djones520]

Guess military service is above these people complaining about their jobs then.  That Batchelors degree will get them quite a bit a bit more in the paycheck.

[Servonaut]

Guess military service is above these people complaining about their jobs then.  That Batchelors degree will get them quite a bit a bit more in the paycheck.

What would really blow their mind is military service is the reason I have the
job that I have now.   

[Uhhuh35]

What would really blow their mind is military service is the reason I have the
job that I have now.   

Me too!

[Zeus]

These folks kill me.  Like having a college degree is supposed to entitle you to making good money.  I have a friend that gets pissed off at me because he has a bachelors degree and earns about half what I do with my high school diploma.

We have had discussions about it and he is quite frank with me.  He feels he is absolutely entitled to make more than I do because while I was out making money he was bent over a set of books.

I was always taught hard work and dedication was the ticket and it seems to have worked so far.  Wonder how many over there with degrees feel like my friend?  I would love to sit down with all the college educated over there and play "I'll show you my annual earnings if you'll she me yours".  I'll bet 95% of them would have massive bleeding from the ears when we were done.

I love this country.

KC

My kids used to ask me how it was mom has a masters of education and I have a HS Diploma yet my income was about 3X hers. Eventually after may times giving a PC answer it dawned on me they ain't going to quit asking until they get a satisfactory answer. So one time I told them that No.1 mom's income comes from the Taxpayers and she has what I call an attendance contract. meaning all she has to do is show up for work & she gets paid. I on the other hand derive my income from the private sector and have a performance contract meaning I actually have to provide something to get paid. They never asked again.   

[JohnnyReb]

They are all looking for a "position". None of them want a "job".

You can buy an education but you can't buy ambition.

[Chris_]

They are all looking for a "position". None of them want a "job".

You can buy an education but you can't buy ambition.

Most DUmmies equate "ambition" with "greed".  They wouldn't buy it if it was selling at 10 cents on the dollar.

[mamacags]

I worked with tons of high school drop outs who were millionaires at Lowe's.  All it takes is some brains, some investing in your company, and working hard for 20 years or so.  I know that this kind of criteria eliminates most DUmmies though.

[Vagabond]

It' simple really, if you show up to work, show that you can do the work, and do it successfully without someone over your shoulder, and keep trying to add skills the marketplace needs you will be well paid.  It has always been that way.

They complain about Bush.  Without my upcoming trip, my income has tripled under his presidency.  DUmmies are idiots.

[Chris_]

My dad dropped out of school in the 7th grade. He did finally get a GED. When he retired a few years back he went to work with me for awhile. When I was trying to figure out what to pay him I asked what he made per hour at his old job. He said he didn't know as he was on salary. When I asked what he would be making per hour if he took his salary and divided it by the hours he usually worked he answered $27 per hour. That's pretty good for a 7th grade drop-out. Of course I assured him he wouldn't be making anything near that with me. I did end up paying him more than $8 per hour though.

[BlueStateSaint]

You can buy an education but you can't buy ambition.

And, you can't buy class or manners.

[Chris_]

Most DUmmies equate "ambition" with "greed".  They wouldn't buy it if it was selling at 10 cents on the dollar.

They use the word "luck" to describe "success." Never do you hear the term "hard work."

[Texacon]

They use the word "luck" to describe "success." Never do you hear the term "hard work."

What they truly fail to realize is; Those who make the most usually are taking the biggest risk.  I start out at $0.00 for my salary each and every month.  By the end of the month I have bills to pay.  I either make what I need or I don't.

Now, as I become more successful the DUmmies would like to penalize me when I hire someone.  We should be on equal footing in their mind and I shouldn't be allowed to 'take' more of the income from the business even though it was ME who put my ass on the line to success.  They can bite me.

KC

[JohnnyReb]

What they truly fail to realize is; Those who make the most usually are taking the biggest risk.  I start out at $0.00 for my salary each and every month.  By the end of the month I have bills to pay.  I either make what I need or I don't.

Now, as I become more successful the DUmmies would like to penalize me when I hire someone.  We should be on equal footing in their mind and I shouldn't be allowed to 'take' more of the income from the business even though it was ME who put my ass on the line to success.  They can bite me.

KC

Exactly....They want all the benefits but none of the risks/headaches/problems. Talk about "true/pure" greed.....sheesh

[NHSparky]

Guess military service is above these people complaining about their jobs then.  That Batchelors degree will get them quite a bit a bit more in the paycheck.

They don't even want to go there.  My base pay when I went to boot back in 1984 (where I came in as an E-3, not E-1) was a whopping $695 a month.

[Wineslob]

Where do these DUmmies got their "numbers"? 8.00/hr was high pay back then! Most "good" jobs started at 5.00/hr.

30 years ago I was just starting in the workforce, HS dip my only qualifaction. I was lucky to make min wage which at that time was 2.45 /hr. I then started working for ManPower in the "industrial" section because I could make 3.15 /hr. I did everything from dig up posts (costruction site clean up) to haul beds out of motels for conventions. I busted my ass at rice fumigation for 3 years making 3.50 an hour. I finally wound up with what is my present day job in 1985. I started out at 5.00 hr which I thought was a kings ransom. Because of all the past EXPERIENCE I had I've been able to do very well to this day.