Recruiters who post low IT pay

I am so tired of seeing recruiting companies and Robert Half is one of them, who post very technical jobs at $20 to 25/hr and $35K to 45K per year. What experienced IT person would ever take these jobs? I wonder who is actually taking these jobs? I can take an easier job and make money like that.

Quit trying to low ball us. You will just send someone who needs their hand held to do the job.

I agree that some of the salaries may be deflated.

But for me getting paid $20 an hour to fix computers is still a good deal even if they are making a hell of a commission from me given that Best Buy's Geek Squad pays about $10.80-$12.00 for the same kind of job. And for someone who just needs a bit of extra cash while trying to do their own thing its not bad at all.

If you don't feel like you are getting what you are worth then don't work for them and try to find a job on your own.

Alot of very technical jobs pay quite alot less than $25 or even $20 an hour here (Portland, Oregon). I have 12 years' experience and certifications and I only make $16.50 / hour (and that's with a recent raise). You make it sound easy to find a job that pays better than 45K a year.

The pay is not set by RHT. The pay is usually set and negotiated by the client. I do have one thing to say, if the pay isn't right, and you are not a match, my suggestion is not to take the position. I stress to my candidates when I interview them that: an interview works BOTH ways - the client gets to know you and you get to know the client. If there is something that is not agreed upon from either party.. walk away. Period.

with a cert that takes 9 months, compared to a 4 year degree, there's going to be a difference in price.. and when you're good, people will pay, but if the job never requires you to be good, then its a low paying position, but if you can make the company money, that position will be higher paid

Sometimes no matter how good you are or what education you have, there are so many people applying for the same job that you don't have much of a chance at the good ones. Maybe that will change with time. But even so, college degrees do not make you good at your job.

I was actually quoted $15/hr for an experienced Tech Writer! More like $60 in the Bay Area.

A tech writer here in Houston (Level 1) can go for about $45,000K. In the Bay area for the same title, $58,000K.

Uhh, the cost of living is WAAAAAAY more in the Bay area than anywhere in the country other than maybe NYC metro. And last I checked, homes were much more affordable in Houston than Portland, even though Houston is many times larger than Portland. From what I've determined, Portland has worse traffic, higher house prices and a higher cost of living than any other city/metro area its size in the country (except for maybe segments of California). Some people claim that's because "it's more beautiful here" or "we have more amenities". BS. I've been here my whole life and it was never like this. But, it's something to consider. Heck, if I could, I'd move to Montana or Idaho...

I always knew these guys were a bunch of douch bags

if you don't like the pay offered, MOVE ON to the next opportunity. not that complicated

I think the point that many here (like me) are making is that it is becoming harder and harder TO move on... Harder and harder to find jobs that you CAN make a decent living with... Too many places want to pay $12/hour which you cannot live on (at least not here). We stupid Americans are outsourcing so much overseas there isn't going to be anything left when my grandkids become adults (assuming I have children someday). It was that much easier to get by when my parents (now 66 and 65) were young adults, and it will be that much harder for the future generations.

THESE ARE THE BUSH YEARS,YOUR STILL THINKING CLINTON YEARS WHEN TECH LABOR WAS IN DEMAND AND PAID WELL.

Rick -

Take responsibility for your own life.

Suggestions to get a job (may not be applicable to all):
1. Shave
2. Bathe
3. Lose that belly
4. Cheer up

No one wants to hire an overweight slob with a bad attitude.

By the way, RHI is the worst paying company in the biz. If you tie your hopes to these guys, then you can expect to continue to whine about how much you get paid.

If you are any good, all you have to do is work your network - you will get a job. If you are no good, then maybe you are in the wrong business anyway.

Last thought - my grandma could have gotten a job during the "Clinton Years" at $90 / hour. Many, many "posers" joined the band wagon back then, and they were way overpaid.

If you find yourself unemployed or relying on RHI in this economy, then you need to realize that you "posers" have been exposed. You brought down rates for the good ones. You helped commoditize the role of IT professionals (because clients paid as much for you posers as talented people), you opened the door for outsourcing to Asia, etc, etc.

Please, go back and work at some government agency where your mediocre skills will make you shine head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Thanks!

RHT is in the talent arbitage business... see it for what it is. You don't go there to do strategy consulting or good work... nobody goes "I want to do a critical project that I consider important... call RHT for that one". Rather the opposite - i.e. I have some work that I can't get anyone to do, lets throw it out there and see who will bid the lowest.

RHT is in the commodity end of the business. The sooner you know that, the sooner you can avoid wasting your time with them if you actually have talent, a network, or options.

I recently attended an interview for a Business Analyst position, to help a multi-billion dollar organization reorganize their product delivery system. Robert Half told me that the rate would be $25 per hour. The rate was too low to support my family, as I would have to pay my own health care insurance and also have to factor in the cost of unpaid holiday and making pension payments / 401K etc. The company were very eager to hire me as I have significant professional and academic credentials that make me a perfect match for the position, together with over 20 years of experience. At the end of the interview they asked me to go away and think about the rate that I would like to come in at, as they wanted to keep me on the contract. They also wanted to set up a lunch with their director and my wife so we could discuss the opportunity further. The next day, I was told that I had lost the opportunity as I was expecting too much pay!

The interviewing company uses a lot of short-term immigrant labor to reduce their costs, so I suspect that they felt I was too expensive at $25 per hour? This is indeed sad times for a chartered professional with so much wide ranging experience, a 4.0 degree, college awards, proven success ... even building an airline web system and banking system for the largest bank in Europe.

Many companies are now telling me that I should be looking at $20 per hour without benefits. What has happened to America? I thought this country valued expertise and a hard work ethic. If this continues, we shall have to move to another State or another Country as we have a Baby due soon and need to support and prosper from our achievements.