**This is kind of a rant, but I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way!**

As most of my readers know, I got laid off about 3 weeks ago and I have been applying for a new job. Let me tell you – I don’t wish this on anybody! Not only are there very few jobs to actually apply for and there is tons of competition for a job, but these jobs pay peanuts! I mean seriously!

I have a wide variety of experience, but for the last 6 years I have been in administration for small companies. I didn’t make fabulous money, but I was happy making $13.50-$14.00 an hour at these positions. Most of the jobs I am finding in administration want to pay you $9.00-$12.00 an hour! Are they joking!? It is such an insult for someone to seek out an employer with insane qualifications and then only pay them $9.00 to $12.00.

Some of the examples I am running across is that you must have a degree;

x

amount of experience; bilingual; and then you are expected to do job duties that essentially amount to “do everything you are told when I need it” (which if anyone in administration knows, that’s usually how it goes, right?).

I’m sorry, but a degree deserves more than that. $12.00 might be acceptable, but less than $12.00 an hour. I don’t think so.

My experience costs money. Therefore, I am not going to work for you for $2-$5 LESS than what my experience paid me.

? You all know my stance on that.

You essentially want me to be your office slave who does what you want, when you want, at your beck and call? So not only do I have to put up with my hubby and kids at home expecting me to drop everything when they want something, but now I have to do that at work. Honey, you can better believe it’s going to cost you.

And what’s worse – there are people actually settling for that which in turn, tells the employers that their behavior is acceptable! I mean, I understand if you have no choice and you really need a job, but employers need to recognize that if you demand this, you need to pay this. No cutting corners.

With all that said, I am sure you can assume that my disgruntled attitude means I still have not found a job. Unfortunately, with the lousy pay and the competition, I’ve had minimal hits. I recently had someone (an employer) tell me how people are turning away the over-qualified people. For me, I seem to either be overqualified in one area or under experienced in another area, so the search continues…