I have a good Union Steelworker job that is secure, has good benefits, pays well and has a well written collective bargaining agreement that protects me from quite a lot and I don't gotta grovel every year for a raise. I'm not really looking to leave.
But out of habit, I'm always skimming Indeed for stuff that pays better. I been punching above my belt on some things, you never know, but I've also applied to a lot of garbage since last November. It was starting to really make me grind my teeth seeing many vague or zero salary listings to constantly skim past.
I interview really well, I have a good resume and I am likable and easy to get along with and it shouldn't matter, but we know it sadly does… I'm young (early 30s), clean cut, Caucasian and male w/ wife and family. I'm an ideal demographic.
I've began to apply to a lot of Machine Operator/Production/Manufacturing positions with no pay scale listed and generic red flags with talk of “we're like a family” or “fast paced!” or “must be available to work any shift and overtime”. If there's no pay listed though I apply often. Mostly to machine operator, manufacturing or production work listings. My resume can get me 18 to 22 an hr realistically on short notice, but I do better than that already.
Hear me out, I know it seems like a waste of my time but it's not. It's the best practice I've ever had for saying the word “No”. I been averaging 1 to 2 interviews a month for these shit listings that hide their pay scales until last minute since I started in November and it's the most fun I've ever had related to work.
I try to interview as best I can traditionally, really trying to get to the offer stage. Half the jobs ask me what I want, without making the first offer, I tell them 10% more than what I am making currently plus for them to match my current vacation, paid time off and sick time. Which is probably around $10 more dollars an hour than they actually planned to offer. They always thank me, shake my hand, and tell me they'll call me tomorrow and never do. Those are the boring ones.
The ones that tell their pay scale without asking me what I want first are the more interesting interviews and I tend to learn more from those.
Because when a guy offers me $14 to $16 an hour, when the going rate for my resume is $21 on average but as high as $26, I can politely, professionally and quickly chide them for hiding the pay scale on Indeed, blaming them for wasting both our time and gently bully them into an apology.
I get practice at saying no professionally and politely and I get the opportunity to waste their time, which is significant sometimes when they do a phone interview and then in person interview, then a tour of the work area and they wait until the very last second after all that to reveal pay.
I also get to see cool things, like a Dairy plant, massive bakery, a candy manufacturing plant and a foundry among a few interesting places I've interviewed the last few months. All those tours were kinda interesting each in its own way and I enjoyed them.
I always schedule for right after work and make them interview during times that suit me, no matter what they ask and I apologize in advance for showing up dirty, “as I am leaving work and don't have time to change or shower”. I do nothing to accommodate other than bring a resume.
At first my clap backs at them when I complained about the low pay, hidden pay scales and my wasted time were a little cringey, but I started to quickly get better at it and sound more natural over time to the point where they always look a little guilty now and apologize.
I think it was great real time practice telling people they're assholes professionally and politely without saying it in so many words though, I couldn't recommend it more to anyone with the time or interest in trying it themselves