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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: aschrauth on December 17, 2022, 01:19:21 AM

Title: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 17, 2022, 01:19:21 AM
Hello everyone and Merry Early Christmas

Just curious from everyone, what is the most miles you would ride on your scooter to your workplace?

I was offered a job that I applied to that is twenty miles one way from my location working at a cable company technical support call center. The pay is Excellent at $20.00 an hour with multiple opportunities for advancement and pay plus free cable internet and TV. I currently work at a nursing home and have been for four years making twelve dollars an hour as a resident companion (someone who makes beds, Feeds residents, Etc.

 I have a BA degree in criminal Justice and have no interest being in the nursing field as a nurse or a CNA. Personally, I think it is too hard on your body for what you make plus it doesn’t help that the nursing home that I work at is one of the lowest paying homes in the state of Missouri as well as people leaving at a rapid pace due to not wanting to work in healthcare field due to the low pay and the constant short staffage. In addition there is little room for advancement at this company without being inside the nursing field. 

On the other hand, I was offered a job at Walmart in the Auto Department changing tires, Batteries, Headlights, and oil. This location is only six miles one way from my house and pays at eighteen dollars. However, my middle brother works at the same location and states it is not worth what they pay you for work that you do.

 As someone who is absoutly terrified of change I find it very difficult to do anything out of the ordinary but I know If I want to grow I need to step out of my confort zone.  What would you do if you were in my shoes and do you think that it is worth it to ride my scooter or should I just travel by car?
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on December 17, 2022, 03:38:26 AM
Man, get out of that dead end job!
No one likes change, but if you can work with people - as you do now - and have a BA, then you can hack anything that tech job can throw at you!
Get there however...car or scooter, but move yourself where advancement is possible.
Your future looks promising....if you'll take on your fear of change. Remember....all new jobs are pretty scary at first.  Then it gets better.
We've all been there!
Best wishes!

Stig
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 17, 2022, 04:03:32 AM
Man, get out of that dead end job!
No one likes change, but if you can work with people - as you do now - and have a BA, then you can hack anything that tech job can throw at you!
Get there however...car or scooter, but move yourself where advancement is possible.
Your future looks promising....if you'll take on your fear of change. Remember....all new jobs are pretty scary at first.  Then it gets better.
We've all been there!
Best wishes!

Stig

Thanks Stig, I have somewhat of a fear of traveling far distances from my home; I dont know why, My grandmother was the same way; In my heart I know I am worth way more than what i currently am making now. I think the most thing that I am frightened about is change. How far have you rode at once. Thing I am most afraid of is the commute on my scooter.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Neil955i on December 17, 2022, 11:29:12 AM
My opinion fwiw, take the job. Tough for six months as you “bed in” then it starts to flow. Next question is how you commute. 40 mile round trip?  From personal 20+ years commuting 50 mile round trip by motorcycle, OK only occasionally on anything less than 250cc  I once tried a 175cc bike and quickly traded it in for a 750!

So, if mixing car and scooter is an option, fine. If not, then I’d advise car only or up the size of your ride?

Good luck with the new job, I’m sure you’ll smash it!
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: CROSSBOLT on December 17, 2022, 12:14:28 PM
I used to commute 60 miles ONE WAY to go to engineering school (worthless) so my wife (at the time) would not have to commute the same distance to attend nursing school (good school of real value). I did most of that 120 miles per day on my first motorcycle. I did eventually get my first car because the winters got pretty severe.

There. Got the "there I was at 20000 feet" story out of the way to say, GO FOR IT! Well, first, ask God for advice and listen to Him, not us. I did not do that one simple thing and wound up over 50 and overqualified for nearly any job and was nearly unemployable.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on December 17, 2022, 12:17:29 PM
I agree with Neil.
Take the job....and take the car. 20 mile scooter commute is more stress than you need at this point, all things considered 🙂
If possible...maybe do some "practice runs". Break up the distance in quarters. 5 miles. Then further, etc., as you get used to the route.  Possible to have someone accompany you for awhile?
Unease at starting new job, and unease at getting too far away from one's nest....is not as uncommon as people think. It is not a deal breaker, and it is something you can conquer.

We're rooting for you!

Stig
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Iahawk on December 17, 2022, 04:15:27 PM
I'll chime in here, too...make the move, take the job! I'm a Regional Sales Manager for a large Healthcare company..and I've managed a lot of salespeople over the years. There's nothing wrong with moving jobs to better yourself and career. Take the new job, show that you're an asset to the company, be great at your job, help your co-workers and show that you have ambition and want to continue to move up and take on more responsibility.

As crazy as it sounds, the best way to really grow your income is to take a new job/position every few years. We joke that if you want a big raise you have to quit the company and get hired back at your new desired pay.

12 to 20 is a significant increase...and I'm sure that is a starting wage. With strong performance you should be able to keep bumping that up.

It's a cliche, but true, change is the only constant in life. Good luck!
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 17, 2022, 11:36:29 PM
I'll chime in here, too...make the move, take the job! I'm a Regional Sales Manager for a large Healthcare company..and I've managed a lot of salespeople over the years. There's nothing wrong with moving jobs to better yourself and career. Take the new job, show that you're an asset to the company, be great at your job, help your co-workers and show that you have ambition and want to continue to move up and take on more responsibility.

As crazy as it sounds, the best way to really grow your income is to take a new job/position every few years. We joke that if you want a big raise you have to quit the company and get hired back at your new desired pay.

12 to 20 is a significant increase...and I'm sure that is a starting wage. With strong performance you should be able to keep bumping that up.

It's a cliche, but true, change is the only constant in life. Good luck!

20.00 is the starting wage. My brother works for the same company as well and has been with them for six months and already makes over $25.00; there is tons of room for advancement.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Iahawk on December 17, 2022, 11:41:33 PM
Aschrauth - I'm still a Regional Sales Manager for the Healthcare Company. I manage a multi state Region with 7 remote sales reps. Each of them cover half a state or more. We sell surgical disposables, infection prevention products and some capital equipment to hospitals. I travel about 1/4 of the time, visiting my reps and spending a few days with them calling on the hospitals. I hire, train, coach and encourage my reps, It's fun taking someone new to the industry, coaching them along and watching them grow, develop and eventually get promoted to other positions. Sales isn't for everyone..but I thoroughly enjoy it.

I've spent a lot of windshield time in my career...some commutes can be good. It gives you time to unwind and decompress from your workday before you get home! You'll never know how it will be unless you give it a try.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 17, 2022, 11:44:27 PM
Aschrauth - I'm still a Regional Sales Manager for the Healthcare Company. I manage a multi state Region with 7 remote sales reps. Each of them cover half a state or more. We sell surgical disposables, infection prevention products and some capital equipment to hospitals. I travel about 1/4 of the time, visiting my reps and spending a few days with them calling on the hospitals. I hire, train, coach and encourage my reps, It's fun taking someone new to the industry, coaching them along and watching them grow, develop and eventually get promoted to other positions. Sales isn't for everyone..but I thoroughly enjoy it.

I've spent a lot of windshield time in my career...some commutes can be good. It gives you time to unwind and decompress from your workday before you get home! You'll never know how it will be unless you give it a try.


I agree. Im no stranger to seeing surgical equipment in the Healthcare field.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 17, 2022, 11:57:37 PM
@Stig / Major Tom@Neil955i@CROSSBOLT
@Iahawk
 I want to thank everyone if I did not currently reply to your post on the words of encouragement, It means so much to me to get other peoples opionions and I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to reply to my post.

 I had an interview @ walmart today and was offered $17.00 to work as an Automotive tec. If I do accept the job it would start on the 21st of january( Two weeks). I have an in person interview with the Cable company ( Charter) as a call center represenitive next Thursday. My gut feeling tells me to take Charter but an Auto Tech  job is close to home and within my confort zone. When I had my interview they stated they were really short staffed and that worries me that I am going to be worked to the bone changing oil and tires. My gut tells me to take the job at charter and leave the grunt  work at walmart along ( No disrespect to anyone who works at walmart)
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: CROSSBOLT on December 18, 2022, 12:24:52 AM
@Stig / Major Tom@Neil955i@CROSSBOLT
@Iahawk
 I want to thank everyone if I did not currently reply to your post on the words of encouragement, It means so much to me to get other peoples opionions and I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to reply to my post.

 I had an interview @ walmart today and was offered $17.00 to work as an Automotive tec. If I do accept the job it would start on the 21st of january( Two weeks). I have an in person interview with the Cable company ( Charter) as a call center represenitive next Thursday. My gut feeling tells me to take Charter but an Auto Tech  job is close to home and within my confort zone. When I had my interview they stated they were really short staffed and that worries me that I am going to be worked to the bone changing oil and tires. My gut tells me to take the job at charter and leave the grunt  work at walmart along ( No disrespect to anyone who works at walmart)
Knowing several walmart  people personally my decision would be with Charter and I know nothing about them. Charter sounds smaller work item size, lighter, cleaner, mo' money and devoid of astoundingly lame decisions of Walmart bigshots not even near the store. We spend a lot at the local Walmart but I would gladly go elsewhere. If my opinion mattered...
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Iahawk on December 18, 2022, 03:07:51 PM
I grew up around a dealership and my first job out of college was selling cars..I've seen a lot of techs and the wear and tear that occurs over time. Wonderful, necessary work they do...but if you have an option of earning more without all the physical wear and tear that will involve..I'd take the higher paying, non physically demanding job.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Iahawk on December 18, 2022, 11:27:33 PM
one last comment...I just spent 3 1/2 hours in my garage swapping my summer tires and wheels for my winter rubber on the steelies. Doing that plus cleaning and lubing my slide pins on all 4 calipers...pulling tires off my wall mount rack, doing all the work and putting the summer tires up on the rack....and I'm beat. Granted, I'm middle aged and getting a little soft...but still, ..damn...I couldn't imagine doing that multiple times each day, all day, every day. Tire work is very hard on the back...sure hope you'll consider the cable company job!
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 19, 2022, 04:41:52 AM
I grew up around a dealership and my first job out of college was selling cars..I've seen a lot of techs and the wear and tear that occurs over time. Wonderful, necessary work they do...but if you have an option of earning more without all the physical wear and tear that will involve..I'd take the higher paying, non physically demanding job.

You are exactly right! I decided to decline the job offer at walmart. I enjoy working on my own scooter and car, not so as much as other peoples. I think I will take the call center position, it is a desk job with great benifits; plus without all the wear and tear on my body.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 19, 2022, 04:44:33 AM
one last comment...I just spent 3 1/2 hours in my garage swapping my summer tires and wheels for my winter rubber on the steelies. Doing that plus cleaning and lubing my slide pins on all 4 calipers...pulling tires off my wall mount rack, doing all the work and putting the summer tires up on the rack....and I'm beat. Granted, I'm middle aged and getting a little soft...but still, ..damn...I couldn't imagine doing that multiple times each day, all day, every day. Tire work is very hard on the back...sure hope you'll consider the cable company job!

I did my tires for the first time last year because they were dryrotting and I dont think the pair that came with my scooter were OEM. My God I never want to do that again, the fustration, in my honest opionion I think I will do it again but instead of using tire spoons I will get a small tire changer, like one of the ones sold at harbor freight. I Had to replace my fuel lines this weekend. I did it back in July but I used Chinese fuel line and it hardend and cracked. From now it is Tygon line for everything.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 19, 2022, 04:57:52 AM
Knowing several walmart  people personally my decision would be with Charter and I know nothing about them. Charter sounds smaller work item size, lighter, cleaner, mo' money and devoid of astoundingly lame decisions of Walmart bigshots not even near the store. We spend a lot at the local Walmart but I would gladly go elsewhere. If my opinion mattered...

Charter in Missouri is a cable company that provides customers to services similar to at&t such as internet, Tv or phone services. I ended up declining walmarts position due to the fact of the grunt work that would be involved in being an automotive tech. I would much wrather work on my own ar and scooter instead of someone elses.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Viper254 on December 19, 2022, 10:26:49 AM
I know I'm very late to the party here but I also have a long commute, albeit only 1 or 2 days a week nowadays - 50 miles each way.

You do get used to it. Only in the last few months have I had something with more than 20 horsepower to do the route with; you just get used to the slow trundle towards where you need to be.

Now, we; as I expect do most; have certain pressure on cost of living which means I couldn't afford to drive this commute if I wanted to, despite my partner owning a reasonably economic car. So doing the trip on a small capacity, efficient bike is now a necessity.

Stay wrapped up warm. Fit a pair of heated grips - there's low-draw ones especially for scooters out there. You get used to it, and after a while you even start to like it.

Having worked out what 12$ is in £, I can see this is going to make a real difference to your quality of life, and wish you all the best for it!
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: randyo on December 19, 2022, 06:10:39 PM
My ex-wife retired from Walmart, for her, it was a decent job, she quickly rose from greeter to department manager, (she had been an assistant manager at a Burger King prior) pay scale & benefits escalated quickly to, because of her quick advancement, other employees didn't like her much.  Even after we were divorced, she gave me her extra employee discount card. Saved me a ton of $$ when I opened my new office

But, being a grunt in the auto dept at Walmart probably isn't a place for quick advancement unless there is high turnover and the dept manager is nearing retirement
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 20, 2022, 03:58:49 AM
I know I'm very late to the party here but I also have a long commute, albeit only 1 or 2 days a week nowadays - 50 miles each way.

You do get used to it. Only in the last few months have I had something with more than 20 horsepower to do the route with; you just get used to the slow trundle towards where you need to be.

Now, we; as I expect do most; have certain pressure on cost of living which means I couldn't afford to drive this commute if I wanted to, despite my partner owning a reasonably economic car. So doing the trip on a small capacity, efficient bike is now a necessity.

Stay wrapped up warm. Fit a pair of heated grips - there's low-draw ones especially for scooters out there. You get used to it, and after a while you even start to like it.

Having worked out what 12$ is in £, I can see this is going to make a real difference to your quality of life, and wish you all the best for it!

Thank you from across the river in the United States. Is pay any different than where you are located?
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Viper254 on December 21, 2022, 08:05:08 AM


Our minimum wage is about $14, but the cost of living is more I think - swings and roundabouts!

Ride safe.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: Neil955i on December 21, 2022, 10:03:35 AM
Our minimum wage is about $14, but the cost of living is more I think - swings and roundabouts!

Ride safe.

Particularly the cost of fuel (gas), thank you Mr PooTin
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 25, 2022, 04:39:42 AM
Our minimum wage is about $14, but the cost of living is more I think - swings and roundabouts!

Ride safe.

I have been at my current job for four years now and only make 12 dollars an hour. Mimimum wage in missouri is 11.15. I dont know who is the fool here, me for staying with the company or the company for paying its employees a laughable wage. Seeing rent in my area goes for over 900+ for a one bedroom one bath apartment. It is very hard to make ends meet. Hopefully by the end of December I will get this job offer, I hope.
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: randyo on December 25, 2022, 06:01:05 PM
NH goes by Federal minimum wage, $7.25 currently, imho, keeps kids off the streets doing vandalism, instead they are working at the local supermarket bagging groceries,  yes, even though the number of self checkout lanes are increasing, we still have plenty of cashiers and bagboys/girls
Title: Re: New year; New potential Jobs.
Post by: aschrauth on December 26, 2022, 04:40:50 AM
NH goes by Federal minimum wage, $7.25 currently, imho, keeps kids off the streets doing vandalism, instead they are working at the local supermarket bagging groceries,  yes, even though the number of self checkout lanes are increasing, we still have plenty of cashiers and bagboys/girls

THats how I saved up and bought my first car was working $7.25 an hour at a greenhouse loading mulch into peoples cars and watering flowers. It may not be a lot but for a young teenageer who still lives at home it was for me. My parents did not give allowances, they believed that the roof over your head and the food you eat was your allowance so $7.25 was alot for me.