A couple of years ago I was offered a job as the lead tech at a newly opened auto repair shop. This was a chain shop with many locations in the midwest.
They required 10 years of experience and your own tools. Tools being required is normal and not unexpected but just keep in mind that a mechanic always has to buy tools and most journeymen or master mechanics have 20,000 dollars worth of tools at least. Anyway…
During my interview I was offered the job of “lead tech” for 9 dollars per hour with bonuses paid for performance. The more hours you bill, the more you make. Not all that uncommon in this trade but the low base pay was very unexpected. I asked how much work they had, since they had just recently opened. He told me they had hardly any work.
I stood up, put my hand out to shake his hand, and thanked him for his time, but I would have to pass. I'll never forget the shocked and puzzled look on his face as he stood up and said if I didn't have the vision to see the great oppurtunity he was offering that I probably wasn't right for the position. He did not shake my hand and I told him if I wanted to make 9 dollars an hour I would just go next door and apply at mcdonalds. They closed the doors on that shop for good about 6 months later.
Just thought I would share. It was a great fuck you to those corporate shop managing hacks who are used to people desperate to work for shit pay.