WV Program: Open for business...a failure so far. (Huntington: 2009, rental)

[Threerun]

Here's a discouraging story.

We moved to North Central WV in December, coming from the Eastern Panhandle. My wife is a graphic designer by profession, graduated with honors, and has a very reputable resume including years working for a large firm in Frederick MD, and another smaller firm in South Berkeley County in marketing and design.

She worked in Frederick (before we had kids) and made $45,000 p/yr. That was 10 years ago.

When she took a job in Inwood WV, she worked PT and made $18 an hour. Annualized that's about $35-37,000 if she worked 40 hours. No bennies, but a great, flexible job while we were raising our young family.

About a month ago she went on a job interview in Jane Lew for a company that grosses around $500MM a year with national exposure. They had an opening for an 'experienced graphic designer, marketing experience and knowledge of electronic pre-press, print ready media, etc..etc..'

My wife has all those credentials and more. The electronic pre-press experience being her strong suit, as she managed that process and staff in Frederick MD. So she went to the interview and the marketing director basically said "I see you have all the experience necessary, blah-blah.. Let me tell you what the starting wage is for a person with a college degree and some experience. $10 p/hr, tops at $12 p/hr..

My wife was stunned. $10.00 an hour working FT for someone with that kind of a background is akin to prostituting her experience.

The marketing director said there were 26 interviews that had already been completed for that job!!

By the time you calculate gas, wear and tear, and in our case a small amount for after school care for the kids, it's plain stupid for her to take that job. Thank-goodness we don't need her salary, so she'd be better off free-lancing just to make some extra mad money. Maybe, just maybe Morgantown is a bit higher, but I doubt by much, seeing as though WV grads had applied for that job in Jane Lew.

That my friends, is why the cream of the crop vacates this state when they get the chance. $10 p/hr vs. $25-$30 is a huge difference, regardless of cheap housing prices.

[kevinm]

Originally Posted by Threerun

Here's a discouraging story.

We moved to North Central WV in December, coming from the Eastern Panhandle. My wife is a graphic designer by profession, graduated with honors, and has a very reputable resume including years working for a large firm in Frederick MD, and another smaller firm in South Berkeley County in marketing and design.

She worked in Frederick (before we had kids) and made $45,000 p/yr. That was 10 years ago.

When she took a job in Inwood WV, she worked PT and made $18 an hour. Annualized that's about $35-37,000 if she worked 40 hours. No bennies, but a great, flexible job while we were raising our young family.

About a month ago she went on a job interview in Jane Lew for a company that grosses around $500MM a year with national exposure. They had an opening for an 'experienced graphic designer, marketing experience and knowledge of electronic pre-press, print ready media, etc..etc..'

My wife has all those credentials and more. The electronic pre-press experience being her strong suit, as she managed that process and staff in Frederick MD. So she went to the interview and the marketing director basically said "I see you have all the experience necessary, blah-blah.. Let me tell you what the starting wage is for a person with a college degree and some experience. $10 p/hr, tops at $12 p/hr..

My wife was stunned. $10.00 an hour working FT for someone with that kind of a background is akin to prostituting her experience.

The marketing director said there were 26 interviews that had already been completed for that job!!

By the time you calculate gas, wear and tear, and in our case a small amount for after school care for the kids, it's plain stupid for her to take that job. Thank-goodness we don't need her salary, so she'd be better off free-lancing just to make some extra mad money. Maybe, just maybe Morgantown is a bit higher, but I doubt by much, seeing as though WV grads had applied for that job in Jane Lew.

That my friends, is why the cream of the crop vacates this state when they get the chance. $10 p/hr vs. $25-$30 is a huge difference, regardless of cheap housing prices.

Because there were 26 other applicants for the same job willing to do it for less, THAT is what the job is worth. If you were the only one applying for the job, you would have room to negotiate.

Because only 16% of WV has a college education, low paying jobs are the norm unless you start your own business.

[Threerun]

It's also a quick stopping point for most designers. Get a little experience while they get to wring out the talent pool. Basically a sweat shop. The really good designers are gone when the graduate, Pittsburgh at a minimum but more than likely on to larger metro areas.

If WV wants to keep their good grads, they'd better figure out how to attract businesses other than medical that can pay better than $10 p/hr, lol.

[David Kennedy]

First of all that HR Hack was lying...26 interviews maybe...including the 20 from India.
This is an example of why I say these people go to the same schools and take the same course.

Jane Lew is equated to Denmark for several reasons...In the Shakesperian..."something's rotten in Denmark....Wildern&&& Plant-tion, Po*l Factory...and other business...always hearing a story about one of them that is always screwed up...and such a great location too on I-79...

[Threerun]

The HR Director relocated from NY, and said the company mother ship in NY calls the shots on salaries..

They've gone through several designers from what we found out..

It's a sweat shop. Use the talent until they find better dough elsewhere. The newly graduated get to add a glossy 4 color print that made it to press and stick it in their portfolio for references.

Thing is they shouldn't ask for 'experienced' designers, knowing full well they aren't likely to get them (or of they did at that price, I wonder just how experienced they are- maybe MS Paint, lol.)

[David Kennedy]

New Yorker from the 'Mother ship calls the shots...well, there you have it...(My mental pic of that person is scary)

This economy is ready for some competition from a basement factory...federal start-up grants are out there....Sometimes I wish I were a native american woman with two black grand-mothers...that's the way to get the free money...this is a joke statement.

[Threerun]

Not so many federal grants exist, and usually when they do they're for specific persons eligible and/or industries.

Grants.gov

There are guaranteed loan programs through the Small Business Administration. Available through any participating lender, usually if there exists some weakness in the credit analysis that would otherwise prohibit them from underwriting a standard (non-guaranteed) commercial loan.

[David Kennedy]

Thank-you, I was not aware of the fine print...business loan with a higher interest rate...

[harborlady]

Oh DK, and don't forget the 5 layers of gov't hoop jumping to qualify for that higher interest rate, too!
Getting approved for a grant might turn you into quasimodo rofl

[David Kennedy]

In wv...grants depend a lot on WHO you are...and who you have in Washington...