underpaid or over qualified?

[Swampy]

Not a rant.

So I was walking around a job fair held at my college and I was talking to a company president that told me I was actually over qualified for a position that he was looking for. A little background, I work in the green industry (landscaping) which is extremely broad for a maintenance company (lawn care), also I'm going to school for Landscape Horticulture (which isn't like regular Horticulture from a 4 year program, but its more hands on and specialized on plants that used in a landscape vs. crops and forestry.) And with the US Army under the Engineering Corps I have training ranging from Skid Steers to Articulated wheel loaders operation. I also hold a landscape chemical applicators license for the state of WI.

With that being said I'm working for a lawn care company last year I only earned just under 13K/year with no health/vision/dental benefits, no paid vacation or holiday pay, no 401K. Working 7 out of 12 months a year. But its rebuilding and restructuring this year which will mean less wages this year, but could mean higher "standings" if it works, but the owner is kind of a ***k and doesn't like the fact I'm in the Army Reserve.

I just got a job offer from another company that is both a landscape maintenance and design/build company. With health/vision/dental benefits, paid vacations or holiday pay, and 401K. They wouldn't have me just working one division or the other but more like a floater in between division but centering on the building of a landscape. Working 9 out of 12 months a year for between 24K to 30K a year. I know a smart man would move to this company but.......

The Industry up here is all about how your name is attached to what company. There's a career breaking risk I could take by staying with the company I work for right now because they are restructuring themselves and rebuilding the company profile. The big thing is if its successful and that risk pays off will mean I will have a higher standing with in the industry, which will mean more pay, better benefits to what ever company there after I would go to. Or it could just be a sinking ship and could destroy my career.

I'm thinking of just jumping from the sinking SS Minnow, to the other company thats going to offer me a safer approach to my career, and paying me more of the start. But I don't want to throw away the chance to bump myself ahead faster by taking the risk and it being successful.

[kosmo]

Ive found the following principles to be of immense value in my life and the life of others that were willing to listen:

1. Never live in Wisconsin or Texas.
2. Never work for a company that pays you less than the military would.
3. Never own cats. If you do, microwave them.

So applying those core values to your situation, you should be working landscaping/horticulture somewhere warm so you can work 12 months out of the year. You should not be working for a company that only payed you 13 grand. You can make that at McDonalds doing a lot less work. This other company is at least double what you make now. Take it, until you finish school and then move somewhere warm. And finally, kill any cats you might have.

[Eagle]

Jump ship I say. And move to a warmer climate where you can work year-round

[gimp]

I'm pretty conservative when it comes to maintaining a solid income. So I would always be conservative when making choices like this. Benefits are huge. Better benefits could definitely cause me to work in a place with a lower salary. In your situation you'll make more, and have better benefits in what sounds like a more stable situation. The sooner you start dumping money into a 401k the better too. It adds up a lot if you start contributing early. The choice seems obvious when put like that.

It sounds like this new company would recognize, and utilize your qualifications a lot more than where your at now. I really don't know anything about the landscaping industry, but what would happen if your restructuring work? How big is the reward compared to the risk? Are you gonna be making 50k, 100k, 200k? That would be the reason to stay. It would have to be a big payout.

Eagle had a good point too. You should move somewhere that allows you to work year round.

[Fred]

Stability is key, there's a gamble with staying at the current company, being that it might pay off good, but also consider, you could be re-structured out, at a time too late to accept the new job offer.

Don't burn your bridge with your current job, give them official notice, 2-4 weeks is fine, if they want you out ASAP wish them well and start collecting your new, bigger paycheck that much earlier.

If they're paying you in dirt, you dont owe them much in return...

[Swampy]

I greatly thank you for helping me out. Yes I'll give my current employer a advanced notice probably just finish the snow season with him, Mar 31st is the end of the contracts. It should give him enough time to find another driver/employee. I really don't want to burn the bridge for the fact that this new company doesn't work out I can seek employment with him again.

EDIT: its kind of hard to get out of WI when my dream job is a Horticulturist position with in the DNR working in state parks and such. But yeah other than that WI sucks to work in.

[kosmo]

You know that theres a lot of states with state parks, right?

[Army]

Lessee nowwwww....currently working for a total "richard" for less than minimum wage for the position. No benefits at all. Work for just over half a year at a time. Company wants to restructure and rebuild because what it is doing now isn't profitable. Unknown avenues of advancement...if any.

Or:

Hire on to a already reputable company that recognizes your skills. Have benefits, to include retirement. Make twice, or more, the money right away. Work for nearly the whole year, weather permitting. Have a core position in the company that utilizes your schooling and Army training. Obviously more avenues for advancement in ranking or management.


Dude, this is a "duh!" situation.

[Lohman446]

Have to agree on this. If there is not more to the story working a full time job 7 months a year should net you well over 13K

[Swampy]

You know that theres a lot of states with state parks, right?

Yeah but which states have those stupid residency laws that saw that you must be living with in the state for so many years to seek employment for the state.

[wimag]

in all seriousness you question was a no brainer. Work for less, no benefits, and the boss is a jerk... or double up your income, actually have benefits that look out for your future.