I should have seen it coming..

[Fly4Free]

I feel lost. I am an employee of a company that has posted a rather nice profit for the last year. I started working for the airline in May. Before that, I had an average salary of ~20-35/hour. I took a job that had benefits, travel, and an admired local company (America West) were the items the drew me in. I thought I could work where I was for 3 months, move into another job at work. Well.. it partially happened, I got promoted to International sales 2 months after my hire date. (They usually won't even consider promotion before 90 days.)

<SCREECHING TIRES> Hold it here.. I have a degree, credentials and references. I worked for companies like Intel, Anheuser-Busch and even the MLB.

Sad fact.. I'm now facing the possibility of not having a roof over my head. I can't afford the rising costs of STUDIO apartments in PHOENIX. When I shopped around, I got the CHEAPEST place I could find, $419/mn with utils. Now it's $530/mn with utils. I've lived here 2 years. They won't give me a break and my paycheck each pay period is what.. $450.

I have no idea what to do. I've submitted my resume for part time jobs. I've applied for full time jobs. I've looked at other apartments, they are about $600/mn. I am single. I have two cats. I tried roommates.com, no luck there.

I don't know what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Itestwell]

I feel lost. I am an employee of a company that has posted a rather nice profit for the last year. I started working for the airline in May. Before that, I had an average salary of ~20-35/hour. I took a job that had benefits, travel, and an admired local company (America West) were the items the drew me in. I thought I could work where I was for 3 months, move into another job at work. Well.. it partially happened, I got promoted to International sales 2 months after my hire date. (They usually won't even consider promotion before 90 days.)

<SCREECHING TIRES> Hold it here.. I have a degree, credentials and references. I worked for companies like Intel, Anheuser-Busch and even the MLB.

Sad fact.. I'm now facing the possibility of not having a roof over my head. I can't afford the rising costs of STUDIO apartments in PHOENIX. When I shopped around, I got the CHEAPEST place I could find, $419/mn with utils. Now it's $530/mn with utils. I've lived here 2 years. They won't give me a break and my paycheck each pay period is what.. $450.

I have no idea what to do. I've submitted my resume for part time jobs. I've applied for full time jobs. I've looked at other apartments, they are about $600/mn. I am single. I have two cats. I tried roommates.com, no luck there.

I don't know what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?

Ooh, that's a tough one..... Can you marry a pilot quickly?

Just kidding... Isn't this a no- brainer? GET OUT AND USE YOUR DEGREE!

 

[Fly4Free]

Ooh, that's a tough one..... Can you marry a pilot quickly?

Just kidding... Isn't this a no- brainer? GET OUT AND USE YOUR DEGREE!

I've tried. I guess the market in Phoenix for a talented, experienced IT Professional is oversaturated. 5000 people applying for one job, it's rediculous.

 

[Dog Wonder]

I've tried. I guess the market in Phoenix for a talented, experienced IT Professional is oversaturated. 5000 people applying for one job, it's rediculous.

Try US Airways, they have a terrible time finding competent IT people.

 

[Fly4Free]

Try US Airways, they have a terrible time finding competent IT people.

Well, yeah, cause they outsource it all to EDS.

 

[Jonnyd]

Well, yeah, cause they outsource it all to EDS.

I would say try another airline. You may have to move cities but they're pulling people away for almost double the salary. I know someone who just left to go to Jetblue after barely having a year of experience and he's getting paid double, and that's not just because the standard of living is a little higher. He's paying as much to live where he does now in NY as he was in Phoenix. It seems to be really the only way to make money nowadays is to switch.

 

[Workingman]

Well, yeah, cause they outsource it all to EDS.

Try the medical field.

 

[flyingcat]

He's paying as much to live where he does now in NY as he was in Phoenix. It seems to be really the only way to make money nowadays is to switch.

Either he was living at Hayden Ferry lakeside, now commutes from rural New Jersey, or lives in a dumpster in Manhattan.

 

[Jonnyd]

Either he was living at Hayden Ferry lakeside, now commutes from rural New Jersey, or lives in a dumpster in Manhattan.

I'm not really sure but he's a heck of a lot happier there. He says he loves the area he's in. The non-rev benefits aren't as nice because obviously B6 doesn't fly as many places as we do but they still run 2 flights a day from JFK to PHX so he can still get back and forth if he wants to.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

It might seem naive, but why not ask for a raise. If you got a promotion earlier than expected, maybe a request for a larger salary might also work. It couldn't hurt...

 

[Jonnyd]

It might seem naive, but why not ask for a raise. If you got a promotion earlier than expected, maybe a request for a larger salary might also work. It couldn't hurt...

You could ask for one, but don't expect it to be any more than 3%!!

 

[rjh]

I feel lost. I am an employee of a company that has posted a rather nice profit for the last year. I started working for the airline in May. Before that, I had an average salary of ~20-35/hour. I took a job that had benefits, travel, and an admired local company (America West) were the items the drew me in. I thought I could work where I was for 3 months, move into another job at work. Well.. it partially happened, I got promoted to International sales 2 months after my hire date. (They usually won't even consider promotion before 90 days.)

<SCREECHING TIRES> Hold it here.. I have a degree, credentials and references. I worked for companies like Intel, Anheuser-Busch and even the MLB.

Sad fact.. I'm now facing the possibility of not having a roof over my head. I can't afford the rising costs of STUDIO apartments in PHOENIX. When I shopped around, I got the CHEAPEST place I could find, $419/mn with utils. Now it's $530/mn with utils. I've lived here 2 years. They won't give me a break and my paycheck each pay period is what.. $450.

I have no idea what to do. I've submitted my resume for part time jobs. I've applied for full time jobs. I've looked at other apartments, they are about $600/mn. I am single. I have two cats. I tried roommates.com, no luck there.

I don't know what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?

There's always part time jobs to be had out there, you just may have to do something that isn't your first, second, or third choice.

 

[barbeetantrums]

If you have any large debts...credit cards, esp...go to a bankruptcy attorney and get the monkey off of your back.

 

[N965VJ]

If you have any large debts...credit cards, esp...go to a bankruptcy attorney and get the monkey off of your back.

Yikes!

And trash your credit rating for how long?

That would look terrible on a resume.

 

[XUS]

Dear Fly4Free,

I understand your situation and I hope that I can offer some good advice. I assume you are a Reservation Sales Agent, and my advice to you is based on this assumption.

I know you are in PHX, and I am in INT. In INT, there is the opportunity to work overtime for certain classifications (CSD, Preferred, etc). This work pays time and a half over 40 hours. There is also the opportunity to work shifts for someone else (basic RES classification) and that person will pay you a premium to work their shift. You get paid regular rate by the company(even for hours over 40), but that person pays you a premium to work a shift for them - anywhere from $6 - $10 an hour. People just put up a sign, and they are easy to find here. Ask around, they may have that in PHX.

As for going outside the company, UPS and FEDEX need driver helpers and package handlers this time of year. Check them out.

I would also look into part-time babysitting jobs in your apartment community (if you think you can do that). It's not that hard (usually) and pays pretty well. Don't underprice yourself.

Stay encouraged. Don't lose hope. It will turn out OK for you.

I feel lost. I am an employee of a company that has posted a rather nice profit for the last year. I started working for the airline in May. Before that, I had an average salary of ~20-35/hour. I took a job that had benefits, travel, and an admired local company (America West) were the items the drew me in. I thought I could work where I was for 3 months, move into another job at work. Well.. it partially happened, I got promoted to International sales 2 months after my hire date. (They usually won't even consider promotion before 90 days.)

<SCREECHING TIRES> Hold it here.. I have a degree, credentials and references. I worked for companies like Intel, Anheuser-Busch and even the MLB.

Sad fact.. I'm now facing the possibility of not having a roof over my head. I can't afford the rising costs of STUDIO apartments in PHOENIX. When I shopped around, I got the CHEAPEST place I could find, $419/mn with utils. Now it's $530/mn with utils. I've lived here 2 years. They won't give me a break and my paycheck each pay period is what.. $450.

I have no idea what to do. I've submitted my resume for part time jobs. I've applied for full time jobs. I've looked at other apartments, they are about $600/mn. I am single. I have two cats. I tried roommates.com, no luck there.

I don't know what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?