Can we do something about people posting "too low"...

[DJ...]

Hate basketball...

Understandable, but wheelchair rugby hasn't quite caught on outside of Namibia...

 

[MickeyD]

Understandable, but wheelchair rugby hasn't quite caught on outside of Namibia...

Entering into the minefield of the corporate world...

 

[DJ...]

Entering into the minefield of the corporate world...

Landmine searching certainly is a fun sport. I'm contemplating sponsoring Farhaan Berhardien with a scholarship to the training program...

 

[MickeyD]

Landmine searching certainly is a fun sport. I'm contemplating sponsoring Farhaan Berhardien with a scholarship to the training program...

Oscar will be available soon. And he is currently unemployed and he has a distinct advantage!

 

[Voicy]

I started on R657 per month.

30 years ago

I started on R200/week ... 10yrs ago.

 

[Ridge_N]

I reckon most ads are full of it there. They all list a billion skills & years of experience for even low end jobs.

I'm with you there. It's ridiculous. It's actually getting difficult to get a job for those skilled to do it, but they get put off because of so many unnecessary skills and experience.

 

[Wasabee!]

It's the middleman who is taking a chance. Some work-from-home-mom who spams gumtree, olx, pnet, junkmail and mybb jobs hoping to get someone her client will see as a bargain and she can get a tenth of there yearly salary without even meeting the people but by just passing on their CVs. Easiest job in the world.

Thank god someone realised what these "recruitment specialists" are doing.

They always start the ad off "My client is seeking..." then you know whoa skip the BS and look for the money. Ja, another mommy with IE explorer skills trying to be match maker.

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

I own an IT company and we regularly employ desktop support technicians. There are many variables at play when looking at salaries, but the biggest one is "what can the company afford to pay".

A lot of employees on this site, have no idea what it costs to run an IT company in this economy. It takes many many years to build a client base and a reputation. But still clients want to pay the absolute minimum to keep their IT going.

It is unfeasible to pay a techie R20 000 per month to lay cables, resolve smtp issues and get printers going. But because living costs in SA are sky high, techies expect to get a paid a salary that can help them get a nice flat and a car and clothes.

I have had guys with entry level IT certifications, no international exams and 3 years "experience", demand R 25 000 per month, when applying for a Junior Desktop Support position. Based on what??...apart from their lifestyle requirements?

Also there seems to be a feeling on this forum that all bosses/business owners pull massive salaries and are living it large, where actually most of us that own small IT companies, are "getting by" and survive within a dual income family at home.

There are both sides to every story.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Oscar will be available soon. And he is currently unemployed and he has a distinct advantage!

Hahahahahahahahaha

 

[Sonic2k]

I am just getting by on around R27k a month. From that, I have to pay for a bond, school fees, and basically just food, I am left with so little money I cannot even afford to buy decent clothing, I wear clothes until they fall apart. yet, when I ask for more money and state that salaries are cheap I am labeled as being unreasonable.

Well if that is the attitude, then you can all go get stuffed!

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Oscar will be available soon. And he is currently unemployed and he has a distinct advantage!

He enjoys the hardware more than the software

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

I am just getting by on around R27k a month. From that, I have to pay for a bond, school fees, and basically just food, I am left with so little money I cannot even afford to buy decent clothing, I wear clothes until they fall apart. yet, when I ask for more money and state that salaries are cheap I am labeled as being unreasonable.

Well if that is the attitude, then you can all go get stuffed!

What is your long term plan for making yourself more marketable? If you become indispensible and the company knows it, that helps. Becoming 'poachable' can work. Some areas of IT pay better than others (if you study them up in your spare time and gain expertise). Running your own business has more upside but also more risk - you can take your time and look for opportunities whilst you are still working.

 

[Sonic2k]

What is your long term plan for making yourself more marketable? If you become indispensible and the company knows it, that helps. Becoming 'poachable' can work. Some areas of IT pay better than others (if you study them up in your spare time and gain expertise). Running your own business has more upside but also more risk - you can take your time and look for opportunities whilst you are still working.

My long term plan is to work overseas... that is what I am going to do...
I have been indispensable in several places of employ. What they do is this: They figure out what you did, then when they know... they make you document/explain what you do/did and then when they know... ka-bam... retrenchment time...

 

[Ninja'd]

I started on R657 per month.

Pffft, R475

 

[CamiKaze]

I think that it is worth mentioning that some salaries are worth shst as recruiters and companies think that they can get away with asking a developer to do a lot more for the least amount of money that they can offer. If we fall victim to this all the time then we would see more and more companies offering less for more skills so?

What is the next job spec going to look like?

Must be able to code in every language known to man for 30k? I'm sorry but they can fsck right off.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I am just getting by on around R27k a month. From that, I have to pay for a bond, school fees, and basically just food, I am left with so little money I cannot even afford to buy decent clothing, I wear clothes until they fall apart. yet, when I ask for more money and state that salaries are cheap I am labeled as being unreasonable.

Well if that is the attitude, then you can all go get stuffed!

But taking it out on some recruiter who has nothing to do with your situation is not fair either. Sure some of the salaries might not be great, but it might be worth considering for someone who isn't in your situation.

 

[Pavan]

Random aside, but any graduate who starts at 25-30k is losing out on real life experience, I feel.

I started out on R4 000/month. Some of my fondest memories are scratching together 20c coins and 50c coins (bonus) from my coin jar, so that I could got to the 7/Eleven and buy myself one Tinkie. I didn't drink, I didn't smoke ... my vice was the occassional Tinkie, and even that I had to save up for.

I agree with abzo's point though. It's enough that employers are posting their salaries here (rather than hiding them). By having a debate about the salaries each time, you'll end up discouraging employers from posting the jobs ... which is surely a loss for the forum community.

Totally disagree. You still hustle, but for the finer things in life. In any case, with the rand tanking like it is, 25k is the new 4k.

 

[F1 Fan]

Totally disagree. You still hustle, but for the finer things in life. In any case, with the rand tanking like it is, 25k is the new 4k.

This.... Full understand that companies cannot pay 20k salaries to everyone. But the reality is that a 30k salary nets you roughly 20k after deductions and if you lucky including medical. Lets say you buy a million rand house, which let's be honest is crap, leaving you with a 10k a month repayment. That leaves you with 10k left. If you single then that's a lot of money, if you married, not so much.

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

This.... Full understand that companies cannot pay 20k salaries to everyone. But the reality is that a 30k salary nets you roughly 20k after deductions and if you lucky including medical. Lets say you buy a million rand house, which let's be honest is crap, leaving you with a 10k a month repayment. That leaves you with 10k left. If you single then that's a lot of money, if you married, not so much.

Tell your wife to get a job............

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

I am just getting by on around R27k a month. From that, I have to pay for a bond, school fees, and basically just food, I am left with so little money I cannot even afford to buy decent clothing, I wear clothes until they fall apart. yet, when I ask for more money and state that salaries are cheap I am labeled as being unreasonable.

Well if that is the attitude, then you can all go get stuffed!

Why are you paying for everything? It is not the employer's fault that you need more money to live. Employers pay salaries, they do not subsidise lifestyles. All the financial responsibilities cannot rest on the employer alone.

And this is why most employers also feel exactly the same as the bit in your post that I have highlighted....