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The value of a great recruiter and a great union

I never had a great experience with a recruiter until now. I’ve been looking for a new job within my field (construction estimating) because I’ve been massively undervalued. I was hired at $45K a year salary, overtime exempt. A year later, no raise and I came to find out that a new hire was brought on for $55K a year, fresh out of college with no estimating experience. Another year goes by, I get a $6K raise but I’m applying to every estimating job I see. I go through many interviews, and it just seems like no one is biting. Maybe I’m bad at presenting myself (I’m autistic). Finally, I’m contacted by a recruiter. She is looking for candidates for a fully unionized company. I tell her exactly what my current day to day is and she says “huh, it doesn’t seem like you should be in a junior role”…


I never had a great experience with a recruiter until now. I’ve been looking for a new job within my field (construction estimating) because I’ve been massively undervalued. I was hired at $45K a year salary, overtime exempt. A year later, no raise and I came to find out that a new hire was brought on for $55K a year, fresh out of college with no estimating experience. Another year goes by, I get a $6K raise but I’m applying to every estimating job I see. I go through many interviews, and it just seems like no one is biting. Maybe I’m bad at presenting myself (I’m autistic).

Finally, I’m contacted by a recruiter. She is looking for candidates for a fully unionized company. I tell her exactly what my current day to day is and she says “huh, it doesn’t seem like you should be in a junior role”

She presents me to this company, and they set up the most straight forward interview I’ve ever had. It felt like they were trying to convince me to join rather than judge me with a microscope. They ask for salary requirements, and I say “$65-70K”. A week letter I get an offer of $68K, eligible for overtime. I’ve never been so shocked and excited in my life. On top of that compensation, I get a pension plan, health, dental, vision, and life insurance. 8:30-4:30 schedule, where previous I was 8-5.

Come time for sending my two week notice and I’m extremely nervous. I’ve always day dreamed about quitting but when it came down to it I just hate confrontation. I send the letter and my manager immediately calls me. She whines about keeping me during Covid and getting me the raise. I try to stay as calm as possible, and calmly say that I will help facilitate the transition as much as I can.

This union and company will change my life. I will be able to afford my two bedroom apartment completely on my own while my partner pursues her PHD. I will have a shorter commute, and much more time for myself. It feels like a dream, and I hope this post can give others encouragement to seek out the companies that deserve them.

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