I don’t know where else to post this. I’m not sure that I relate much with the “anti work” movement, mainly because I am not well educated on what the movement is.
I am in upper management for the company I work, and even I think about the many injustices the working class has to endure.
The one tip I can give to those seeking out employment and looking into making a move to a new company: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS negotiate your salary and compensation. If you are dealing with an employer who will not let you negotiate your salary, walk away. That is a clear indication that they don’t care about your credentials and experience, all they want is drones who will work like mindless machines.
You need to factor in the cost of you working at that company.
If your work place has a strict dress code, that means you’re accruing expenses to acquire attire, as well as the time it takes you to get ready/get dressed for work (yes, in some cases you can claim these expenses as write off on your taxes, but why should you have to wait a whole year to hopefully get some of your money back?)
The commute. Dear god, the commute. Either negotiate what it will cost you to relocate to live closer, or what it will cost you to commute.
What I do have to say about this is for you to be realistic about your expectations, and honest about your credentials and qualifications. You’re not going to negotiate a relocation package if you’re applying for a part time cashier position, as an example. But even then, YES you should be able to negotiate the cost of your commute, so long as you are a strong candidate who will bring value to the company through your expertise. Will you be taking public transport to get to work? How much will that cost you per year? How much is your prospect employer willing to make up for that cost?
Even if you’re applying for a part time cashiering job, if the employer is willing to negotiate and show consideration for things like that, then it’s a sign of a possible good company worth your time.
One last thing, when negotiating compensation think outside the box. What other ways can you be compensated other than salary?